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However, late-stage alcoholism is characterized by an individual being completely unable to control their alcohol consumption. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health. Recovery will not be easy at this point, but it will be worth the work.
As alcoholism progresses, the cells in the body become more and more resistant to the short-term effects of alcohol. As a person continues drinking excessively, the cells will continue to adapt. Eventually, the presence of alcohol becomes the norm for the body, and the long-term sober house damage continues. A person with early-stage alcoholism may also exhibit a high tolerance to alcohol. Their tolerance may go unnoticed by everyone except the people they spend the most time with. Early-stage alcoholism is the beginning of the person’s chronic alcohol use.
The Dark, Final, End Stage of Alcoholism
At this point, their alcoholism can cause a great risk to their overall health, both mental and physical. During end-stage alcoholism, the liver will become damaged sometimes even permanently. Since the liver is so vital to the overall performance of the body, this can result in other significant health problems such as liver disease, cancer, dementia, or even a stroke. As with many other diseases, alcoholism is a progressive disease with a beginning, middle, and end stage. Early treatment is critical, as the most severe symptoms of the later stages can result in life-threatening health conditions.
Before the drink takes one of your loved ones away from you, know the warning signs of alcohol addiction, and do what you can to help them quit drinking while there’s still time to recover. People in the end-stage of alcoholism are at extreme risk to themselves and others. They are likely to suffer significant damage to their health, and, left untreated, they have a high risk of death from overdose, suicide, or from a physical health condition related to their alcoholism. The damage that end-stage alcoholism does can be significant and long-lasting. At this point in their alcoholism, they have also likely done a lot of damage to their personal life as well. They might have lost their job, run out of money, and been cut off by family and friends due to their destructive behavior.
Stage Two: Social Drinking
This can cause a myriad of problems and can eventually be fatal as the heart is unable to pump enough blood to maintain life. Opiates are highly addictive drugs that can upend a person’s life when addiction is formed. Alcoholism is a serious and complex condition that affects every part of a person’s life.
What are the end results of alcoholism?
After a long period of continuous heavy drinking, alcohol has contributed to the damage and deterioration of vital organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas, and brain. Mental problems such as dementia or delirium tremens (DTs) occur, and they face an increased risk of developing cancer.
Once you quit drinking, your body can begin to recover from some of the damage or, at the very least, prevent it from getting worse. Chronic, long-term drinking can contribute to malnutrition by replacing foods needed for essential nutrients and by interfering with absorption, storage, or metabolism of the essential nutrients. This can also lead to anemia, when your red blood cell (RBC) count is lower than normal or there’s a problem with the hemoglobin protein inside those cells. Connect with a licensed therapist for porn addiction and mental health counseling. Getting treatment before reaching this severe stage is the only sure way to avoid these consequences. If you or someone you love requires outpatient alcoholism treatment, reach out to the caring specialists at Woburn Addiction Treatment.
Treating End-Stage Alcoholism
It can only be cured with a liver transplant, which most heavy alcohol users will not be eligible for9. End-stage alcoholism is notorious for causing cirrhosis of the liver. This occurs when the liver becomes unable to metabolize alcohol, sending it back to the bloodstream. As a result, the liver begins to harden and become scarred, which is known as cirrhosis.
Alcohol addiction is widespread, but those ready to break the addiction cycle can find hope in treatment. When people stop drinking alcohol, consuming cold-turkey can be challenging as most people will experience severe withdrawal symptoms. All of these conditions don’t even scratch the surface of the damage alcohol causes to someone’s body. Chronic alcohol abuse also increases people’s risk of developing cancer, including mouth, liver, colon, and breast cancer. Roughly 70% to 80% of cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to chronic alcohol use. Unfortunately, many heavy drinkers go years and even decades without noticing chronic pancreatitis disease.
Having more than 5 drinks in 2 hours is commonplace (and problematic). When heavy drinkers suddenly decrease their alcohol consumption or abstain completely, they may experience a range of physical and psychological symptoms known as alcohol withdrawal (AW) 5. Enabling an addiction does not benefit the welfare of the loved one. Rather, it lessens the chance that a change in lifestyle can occur. In cases of alcohol addiction, no change in lifestyle can easily lead to death.
How come alcoholics don’t eat?
Alcoholics eat so little due to gastritis, liver disease and alcoholic ketoacidosis [1] [2]. Alcoholics will eat little whilst having an alcohol use disorder to either: Offset the calories in alcohol. Make sure that alcohol fills the stomach leaving no space for food [3] [4].
The strong physiological needs of the body may make it difficult for an individual to resist drinking. When they do attempt to stop drinking, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. The body can become distressed even when a person stops drinking for a short time. The nuances of treatment evolve, and any program should be catered to an individual’s unique needs. Understanding what the stages of alcohol addiction look like can help you or a loved one decide whether rehab treatment is necessary. If you or a loved one suffers from end-stage alcoholism, there is hope for recovery.
For example, alcoholics will continue to drink despite it causing them negative consequences. It is also known as late-stage alcoholism, as it follows behind the early and middle stages of alcoholism 3 and is considered the last of the disorder’s phases. Recovering from alcoholism in this stage is much more complex than recovering from other stages of alcoholism. It requires a strong commitment, significant support, and professional treatment. People who are in the end stage of alcoholism cannot control their drinking and are usually unable to stop drinking without professional treatment and medical support. Losing a family member to a terminal, progressive disease can rip right through the soul.
