The Stigma & Truth About Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction has always been a problem that our country never seemed to find a solution for. And it has only increased during the pandemic. The long line of men of all ages waiting to get alcohol when the bars finally opened after months of lockdown last year is proof of that.

What is Alcohol addiction?

Someone with alcohol addiction has problems controlling their drinking, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when they rapidly decrease or stop drinking.

In short, if your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you are likely addicted to alcohol. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate quickly and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Signs of Alcohol addiction:

• Having a strong urge or craving to drink.
• Having no control of how much they drink.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like nausea, shivering, and sweating when they try to cut out alcohol.
• Having reduced effects from the alcohol, so they end up drinking more to feel the effects.
• Losing interest in work and things they enjoyed doing.

The stigma and the truth about addiction:

Even though things are slowly changing, it is no secret that the stigma around addiction still exists. People with alcohol or any form of addiction are considered weak or morally failed, which prevents them from coming out and getting the help they need.

The truth is, addiction can happen to anyone, and people struggling with addiction are no different than any of us. Drugs affect the part of the brain that controls pleasure, motivation, emotion and memory. When a person takes drugs, their brain releases a large amount of dopamine, making them feel pleasure and excitement.

The thing about dopamine is, normally, it is only produced in limited amounts. So, when your brain releases too much too often, you are left with a shortage. This leads to people losing interest in things they used to enjoy, and they end up taking more drugs to feel that happiness and excitement.

There is help:

Humans are social creatures. No matter what we say, we all depend on each other for survival. So, there is nothing wrong with seeking help to get out of addiction. Especially when there are a lot more resources available. Addiction treatment centres are available in almost all cities, and they all have different approaches to help people get out of addiction. So, it is important to do your research to find the one that works for you. Read about addiction treatment centres, compare different treatment centres before making the final decision. Websites like Justdial, ThreeBestRated, and Suleka can also come in handy when you are doing the research.

Bottom line:

People may voluntarily start using drugs or alcohol, but once they are addicted, that choice is taken away from them, and they are no longer in control. But addiction treatment centres give them that chance. And it is our duty to help people take that much needed first step.