Understanding Alcohol Addiction: Signs, Risks & Treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that alcohol addiction is a specific, diagnosable disease. An alcohol addict craves alcohol, even though alcohol may have caused harm or injury to the addict in the past.

Consequences

• Alcohol addiction can damage a developing fetus in a pregnant drinker and can increase the addict's risk of developing cancer, stroke and liver disease. Addiction can also take a toll on the addict's personal relationships and her ability to function on the job.

Treatment

• The best treatment for alcohol addiction is for the addict to stop drinking entirely. Addicts frequently try to solve their drinking problems by cutting back on their drinking, but a true addict cannot control how much he drinks.

Support

• Experts consider recovery from alcohol addiction to be a life-long endeavor. A successful alcohol addiction recovery plan includes support from family, friends, health care providers and other recovering addicts. Peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous may pair the addict with a sponsor---someone who has experienced addiction and recovery himself and can guide the addict through the process of recovery.