Alcohol addiction is also referred to as “behavioural addiction” as people who abuse alcohol seek fulfilment or stress relief in alcohol.
Developing an addiction to alcohol is often subtle, and difficult to recognise when crossing the line between moderate consumption in social circumstances to problem drinking. In cases of problem drinking, people misuse alcohol to a point of dependency and one of the greatest obstacles to this is admitting that the addiction exists. This obstacle could look like the rationalisation of the negative consequences that accompany problem drinking.
When diagnosed, alcoholism is called an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). When AUD is discovered in the early stages, there is a greater chance for a successful recovery. It is therefore essential to recognise the common signs of alcohol addiction to help reduce the consumption of alcohol or quit drinking completely. There are long-term consequences of problem drinking, these include high blood pressure, liver disease, malnutrition, nerve damage, ulcers and permanent damage to the brain.
An addiction centre will not only help South Africans, who are addicted to alcohol, to overcome their dependency on alcohol, but it will also help patients find fulfilment in other activities.
