How Addictive Is Alcohol? Signs of Dependence + When to Get Help

Alcohol consumption is an extremely common activity among American adults. Nearly 56% of adults consume alcohol at least once per month. Because drinking is legal, easy to access and very common in social events, it can lead to misuse and a dependency that is difficult to break free from. If this happens to you, you need to reach out to a recovery professional for addiction treatment to safely get your life back in your hands again.

How Addictive is Alcohol?

Alcohol addiction looks different from person to person. Many factors, such as age, weight, mental health and rate of consumption contribute to how quickly an addiction can develop. 

What is known for certain is that alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States. Studies show that 33% of Americans develop an alcohol abuse disorder in their lifetime. 

When drinking, alcohol triggers a release of dopamine, which fosters a relaxing and pleasurable state. Once the alcohol has worn off, you’re left with a depletion of GABA, which can make you feel depressed and anxious. This leads to an increase in consumption to negate these effects, which can lead to a psychological, and eventually, physical dependence on alcohol.

Recovering from Alcohol Addiction

Quitting alcohol on your own can be challenging and even dangerous for your health if the addiction is severe enough. The withdrawal period needs to be monitored by clinical and therapeutic professionals who can intervene if your body needs support during this time. 

At Tulip Hill Recovery, we take treatment a step further by providing mental health treatment for any co-occurring disorders that may be fueling your desire to consume alcohol. By developing healthier coping mechanisms for a mental health disorder, it may be easier to avoid relapse in the future.

Start your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery

At Tulip Hill Recovery, we focus on discovering what factors in your life may be contributing to addiction in order to treat it at its main source. Our treatment model emphasizes the dual diagnosis approach, which means we treat addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders that might be fueling the addiction. This helps a person in recovery become better equipped for dealing with the challenges of mental health disorders without feeling like they need substances or alcohol to cope.

Are you ready to talk to someone about treatment for addiction for you or someone you love? Please contact us online or call us at 877-845-8192 to get in touch with our team and help start the recovery journey.