Hope for Tomorrow Warns of Signs of Alcoholism

Beckley, WV – Hope for Tomorrow, an addiction treatment center with locations in Beckley and Point Pleasant, recently released a blog about the signs of alcoholism (alcohol use disorder). It explores alcohol use disorder’s nondiscriminatory nature, what alcohol use disorder looks like, and its impact on someone’s health and life.

First, Hope for Tomorrow informs the audience that despite the apparent gray area between alcohol habits that are and aren’t okay, alcohol use disorder is a diagnosable condition. The official diagnosis is made through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). According to the article, DSM-5 criteria include drinking more than intended, a life revolving around drinking, cravings, alcohol interfering significantly in life, and continued drinking despite the consequences, among other factors.

The blog then warns of the deep impact alcohol can have on the body and brain, especially for those who drink chronically. It shares the symptoms of intoxication someone may frequently spot in an individual with alcohol use disorder: lack of balance and coordination, sweating, memory blackouts, diarrhea and vomiting, fast heart rate, slurred speech, and extreme drowsiness. It explains that hangover symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and body aches, often come the day after intoxication. The article highlights the difficulty those symptoms can cause in daily life, and how they might impact work and tending to other responsibilities.

Hope for Tomorrow also addresses the health complications that can come with chronic alcohol use. “It can irritate the digestive system, causing ulcers. Alcohol can cause brain cells to shrink, blood pressure to rise, and liver disease, which is fatal when untreated. It also weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses,” they warn.

The article addresses how alcohol use disorder impacts the brain and behavior. “Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it ramps up inhibitory neurotransmitters and lowers excitatory ones. When alcohol is consistently present in your brain, your brain adapts to try to find a balance. This ends with lowered levels of inhibitory neurotransmitters and increased levels of excitatory ones when you aren’t drinking,” the blog says. It continues to explain the impact of this mental change, and the way it influences behavior. People who drink alcohol chronically might have lives that revolve around getting and drinking alcohol. They might make new friends who validate their drinking habits, only go to events that involve alcohol, and ignore things that once mattered to them, the blog says.

Near the end of the blog, Hope for Tomorrow puts alcohol use disorder into perspective through several statistics. The most striking is one about alcohol-related deaths: “West Virginia averages 7.24 deaths for every 10,000 adults due to excessive alcohol use.” It also offers hope, however, sharing that, “About 136,000 people were in treatment for alcohol use disorder in 2020.” Hope for Tomorrow suggests individuals with alcohol use disorder should look at the statistics as a motivator and reminder they aren’t alone.

In the conclusion of the blog, Hope for Tomorrow offers encouragement for people with alcohol use disorder: “Realizing the negative impact alcohol use disorder can have on someone’s health and life can be scary. The good news is that abstaining from alcohol can reverse many of these changes – especially in the brain.” They also urge any readers relating to the blog’s content to seek treatment for their condition.

Hope for Tomorrow is a rehab facility for all substance use disorders, with alcohol use disorder included. They offer dual-diagnosis treatment as well, and are able to address substance use disorders and mental health conditions simultaneously. They accept anyone in need of care, including but not limited to veterans, pregnant women, couples, and people with additional medical conditions. To learn more about them and what they do, visit their website or call 877-679-8162.