Many changes happen to an individual when they consume alcohol. There are changes in a person’s body and mood, as well as their actions and likelihood to be involved in certain situations. Alcohol consumption changes the way a person’s brain works. When someone is or has been drinking, they can have a slower reaction time, poor judgment, and a loss of balance and motor skills, among other things. With the physical dependence of alcoholism, the substance has created more substantial changes in the brain. The individual can no longer quit drinking on their own without becoming ill, and they should not try to detox without medical supervision.Drinking alcohol slows down a person’s heart rate and breathing. This is the reason why consuming alcohol along with using a drug that is also a depressant is potentially fatal. Drinking also causes blood vessels to dilate. While this creates a feeling of warmth, the individual is actually quickly losing body heat.
People who drink alcohol, especially large amounts as with alcohol abuse or alcoholism, are susceptible to a variety of health conditions. They’re more likely to develop liver disease and have certain types of cancer, among other things. Women who drink alcohol while pregnant are putting their unborn baby at risk for a host of problems that are associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Drinking alcohol, especially excessively, makes an individual more likely to be involved in a car accident or act of violence. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can create a number of social problems including divorce and job loss.
People who have an alcohol abuse or alcoholism problem are at the greatest risk of suffering negative consequences for their drinking. In fact, they generally always do. Individuals who have one of these conditions should seek help from an addiction treatment program. There are a wide variety of outpatient and residential rehab centers available to offer the counseling, support, and resources necessary for addiction recovery.
