Alcohol Rehab Centers in Swansea, IL

What is Alcohol Addiction?

In the U.S., the most commonly used addictive substance is alcohol. Every day, six people die of alcohol poisoning. While many people can drink alcohol in moderation without suffering harmful consequences, others find that a single drink can lead to a dangerous path.

Rather than how frequently a person drinks or the amount they consume, alcohol addiction is defined by the effects alcohol has on the person’s life. Someone who has issues with their family relationships, work life, emotions or finances due to their alcohol use may have a drinking problem.

A pattern of dangerous or unhealthy drinking habits is known as an alcohol use disorder and can range in severity. Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. In the long term, an alcohol use disorder may lead to the following effects on the body:

• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Memory problems
• Inflammation of the liver
• Acute kidney failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Susceptibility to disease
• Inflammation of the pancreas

Alcohol misuse has also been linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, colon, esophagus, breast, rectum and larynx.