Alcoholism affects more than 17 million people in the United States and teenagers aged between 12 to 17 years suffer from the issue of alcoholism. Alcoholism develops over time, and its reality is much more complex. It takes months and years to build the habit of drinking. Occasional drinking is different from alcoholism, and it follows a certain pattern.
Research has found four stages of alcoholism: pre-alcoholism, prodromal stage, chronic alcoholism, and last-stage alcoholism. Morton Jellinek identified these four stages and proposed that alcoholism is a disorder rather than an ethical act that needs proper treatment to sustain a better lifestyle. If you or your loved one follows the first two stages of alcoholism, you need to be mindful that casual drinking may develop into alcoholism over time, and it needs to be controlled at the right time.
Jellinek’s contribution to the development of the four stages of alcoholism has helped the medical community to better understand the problem of alcoholism and propose solutions to help people who are suffering from this problem. Continue reading to learn more about how a person falls into the problem of alcoholism.
Stage 1: Pre-Alcoholism
The pre-alcoholic stage does not seem to be a problem as such as it does not affect drinkers’ everyday activities. Casual drinking is widely considered a social drug and seems fun at this stage. You may drink occasionally with your friends just for the sake of having fun. As this stage progresses, alcohol may be consumed as a means to deal with stress rather than just as a social activity. To put a person in a euphoric state, he has to consume larger amounts of alcohol which eventually passes the first stage of alcoholism.
If a person is drinking to reduce stress, there is a high chance he will follow this pattern whenever he is facing a stressful situation. It eventually leads to developing drinking problems in later stages. Developing tolerance for alcohol is one of the physical symptoms of the first stage of alcoholism.
Stage 2: Prodromal Stage
The prodromal stage primarily deals with the situation where the consumer becomes dependent on alcohol and at this stage, the drinker may realize that he is consuming more than a regular drink. Or at this age, a person may also struggle to decide if he should have a drink. He may experience blackouts at this stage after drinking.
At this stage, a person may possibly hide his drinking behavior from his loved ones and end up lying to his friends and family about it. He may sneak up into the social gathering where alcohol is present and at this stage, tolerance for alcohol consumption increases comparatively at this stage.
Early alcoholism includes drinking every weekend rather than just drinking at parties and social gatherings. Moderate drinking is different from regular drinking, and it also indicates a person’s emotional attachment to drinking. At this stage, a person enjoys much more in a euphoric state, and it may put him at risk of developing alcoholism with continuous consumption.
Stage 3: Chronic Alcoholism
Reaching the chronic stage means you have developed a serious problem and drinking has now become a powerful force affecting your life. By this stage, people may start noticing your drinking behavior and drinking occurs at inappropriate times with increased frequency.
One’s lifestyle may really start to suffer at this stage and the person may experience hangovers at social gatherings and work. A person’s performance and responsibilities may get affected at this point and to stop this problem, he needs to seek treatment. A person may detox himself and attend counseling meetings to save himself from more complications.
Stage 3 also comes under alcohol abuse and at this stage, a person’s relationships may experience issues. Chronic alcoholism includes the impacts of this habit on one’s health and lifestyle. A person may become more depressed, start to feel sick, and experience insomnia. Many drinkers face legal troubles at a chronic stage.
Some of the physical symptoms of stage three alcoholism include weight gain or weight loss, sluggishness, higher tolerance, and redness in the eyes.
Stage 4: Last-Stage Alcoholism
Late alcoholism or end-stage alcoholism is characterized by drinking every day and developing severe health issues. During this stage, people lose their jobs, valued relationships, and social circle and begin to feel fearful for no reason.
At this stage, treatment becomes necessary and if gone untreated, a number of serious health problems such as cancer, heart failure, and cirrhosis may occur. The physical symptoms also become life-threatening at this stage and a person may fall into a dark place. Some of the minor signs a person may experience regularly include anxiety, vomiting, and headache.
At this stage, detoxification is highly recommended as it may cause seizures and hallucinations. Late alcoholism also means a person has now become an addict and deals with compulsive behavior, craving for alcohol.
Getting treatment for Alcoholism
Treatment for alcoholism is possible at every stage. The sooner a person seeks help with this problem, the sooner his lifestyle improves. Recovery may take months, but it is proven to be a long-term recovery saving a person from further complications. The treatment beings with getting alcohol out of the drinker’s system and an alcoholic person may experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include vomiting, insomnia, and hallucinations.
Seeking professional help or rehabilitation treatment are two effective ways to deal with the issue of alcoholism. Thousands of people choose to contact behavioral therapists and rehab centers to find a solution to their problems. Jellinek defined the four stages of alcoholism but has also provided a pathway from addiction to recovery. He has outlined the ways through which people can recover from this illness.
If you or any of your close ones are experiencing the stages of alcoholism, it is highly recommended to seek professional help. It is better to treat this issue as soon as possible rather than regret it at a later stage in life.
Looking for support?
Start your healing journey with us.
At Akasha Recovery, we treat the mind, body, and spirit. Our treatment and recovery center in Encinitas offers a safe and supportive space for your healing. Overcome addiction and get your life back on track surrounded by people who understand exactly what you’re going through.
Akasha Recovery is Encinitas’ trusted treatment and recovery center. We provide compassionate and individualized care for adults struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental and behavioral health issues.
Our addiction treatment center in San Diego offers all the support you need during the early stages of recovery. We combine traditional, holistic, and modern therapies to develop a custom care plan for your unique needs.
Aside from drug and alcohol addiction, our seasoned clinical team can also help you deal with grief, loss, family issues, and other personal difficulties that can hinder your long-term recovery.