In This Article
The Stages of Alcoholism
Moderate drinking isn’t a concern for most adults. However, when alcohol consumption increases, it can lead to addiction.
Alcoholism doesn’t develop overnight. It emerges from long-term alcohol misuse. Understanding the stages of alcoholism can help you seek help.
Early intervention helps reduce your risk of alcohol dependence and addiction.
It’s estimated that 17 million American adults have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Another 855,000 Americans between 12 and 17 years of age have an AUD.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH), 2018
What Is Early Stage Alcoholism?
If you binge drink or blackouts, you are in the early alcoholism stage. This first stage is characterized by increased drinking and difficulties resisting it.
Early-stage alcoholics often lie about drinking. You may also start hiding drinks. For example, you may spike soda, coffee, or other beverages when nobody else is around.
During this early stage, alcohol tolerance increases. Drinkers may also become overwhelmed with thoughts of alcohol.Â
What Is Middle Stage Alcoholism?
During the middle stage, symptoms become apparent to friends and family members. You may start missing work or important social events because of drinking issues or hangovers.
Middle stage alcoholics may drink at inappropriate times. This includes when looking after your children, driving, or at work. You may become more irritable, argue with your partner, friends, or family members.
During the middle stage of alcoholism, your body starts to change due to substance use.
The following physical symptoms will begin to develop during middle stage alcoholism:
- Facial redness
- Stomach bloating
- Sluggishness
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Memory lapses
At this stage, some people attempt to stop drinking. Support groups can help middle stage alcoholics with cravings and mental health issues.
What Is End-Stage Alcoholism?
End-stage alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is the most severe and dangerous. At this point, you experience intense mental and health problems. Your condition may be life-threatening.
These symptoms may include:
- Liver damage
- Heart problems
- High blood pressure
- Brain damage
- Hepatitis
- Cancer
- Dementia
During late-stage alcoholism, the effects of alcohol abuse are clear and visible.Â
Drinking often becomes an all-day occurrence. Everything in life, including friends and family, becomes less important than drinking. Many people lose their jobs at this stage.
Diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver or dementia can develop. End-stage alcoholics may also become paranoid. Attempts to quit drinking may lead to delirium tremens or hallucinations.Â
Physical Symptoms of End-Stage Alcoholism
End-stage alcoholics experience a variety of physical side effects and symptoms, including:
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Jaundice from liver failureÂ
- Itchy skinÂ
- Fluid retentionÂ
- FatigueÂ
- MalnutritionÂ
- Chronic pancreatitisÂ
- Heart failureÂ
- AnemiaÂ
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, otherwise known as alcohol dementia
End-stage alcoholics are often chronically (always) drunk. If you are not drunk, you experience withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Enlarged, dilated pupils
- Severe headachesÂ
- Clammy, pale skinÂ
- Loss of appetite and weightÂ
- Nausea and vomitingÂ
- Rapid heartbeatÂ
- Shaking and TremorsÂ
- Extreme irritability
- HallucinationsÂ
- Excessive sweatingÂ
- Seizures
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), also called alcohol dementia, can occur in late-stage alcoholism. This comes from a shortage of vitamin B-1, causing to dementia-like traits. Wernicke syndrome affects the brain, while Korsakoff syndrome affects the nerves and spinal cord.
This syndrome produces physical symptoms, including leg tremors, staggering, vision issues, and balance problems. Drooping eyelids, hallucinations, and double vision are also side effects and symptoms linked with this condition. People may also have trouble recalling past memory and forming new ones.
People experiencing WKS may also feel confused. They may have issues staying focused or learning new things.
How Long Does End-Stage Alcoholism Last?
End-alcoholism has a high mortality rate. There are many ways the condition can kill, and most involve a significant amount of pain and suffering.
Treating the condition is difficult, but can save your life.
Quitting drinking can prolong the life of the drinker. Success depends on several factors:Â
- How much damage has already been done to the body when they stop drinking
- The quality of medical care the patient is receiving
- How committed the patient is in beating the disease
End-stage alcoholism often ends in death. However, it is possible to overcome your addiction, even at this stage.
Why Is End-Stage Alcoholism Deadly?
End-stage alcoholism is deadly because it causes health complications. Liver damage is common. The liver gains fats and becomes inflamed, leading to liver scarring. Liver damage leads to liver disease or cirrhosis.Â
Liver damage can lead to other severe complications because it is a vital organ. The liver is responsible for hundreds of tasks to ensure the body is working as healthily as possible. It is involved in removing toxins from the body, that, when accumulated, can affect the heart, brain, and kidneys as well.
Additional health complications also occur from end-stage alcoholism, including heart problems and stroke. Risks of dementia and cancer also increase. End-stage alcoholics may also develop brain damage and hepatitis.
More than one million people die each year of cirrhosis, including over 40,000 people in the United States.
CDC
Is it Possible to Recover from End-Stage Alcoholism?
End-stage alcoholism has a high mortality rate. However, even in the last stages of alcoholism, various treatment options are available.
The first stage of alcohol addiction treatment is likely to be medically supervised detox. This helps rid the body of toxins and manages withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms in an end-stage drinker can be fatal, so medical supervision is crucial. Seizures occur in over five percent of patients.
Most seizures happen within four days after quitting. If the patient does not experience a seizure within the first four days of detox, the chances of it occurring reduces by 90 percent.
Alongside medical detox, an ongoing rehabilitation program can help patients fully recover from alcoholism. There is always hope that it can get better instead of worse.
Alcoholism Statistics
14.5
Million
People in the United States have Alcoholism
7.2
Percent
Of Americans with AUD have received treatment.
95
Thousand
People die from alcohol-related cases each year.
Common Questions and Answers
How many alcoholics die from alcoholism?
In the U.S., about 95,000 people (68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes every year.
What causes death from alcoholism?
Alcohol-induced cancers, drunk driving car accidents, alcohol poisoning, heart failure, violence, and liver damage are the leading causes of alcohol-related death.
Can alcoholism cause sudden death?
Yes, alcoholism can cause sudden death, especially if you overdose or experience alcohol poisoning.
What is the average age of death for an alcoholic?
Persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have an average life expectancy of 47–53 years for men and 50–58 years for women.
Treatment Options for Alcohol Abuse & Addiction
Here are some of the best treatments for AUD:
Inpatient treatment is the most intensive and effective option for alcohol addiction treatment. These programs usually last 30, 60, or 90 days. They may be longer in some cases.
Throughout an inpatient program, you'll live on-site in a safe, substance-free environment. You'll go through medically supervised detox first, then behavioral therapy. Other services may be added to your regimen.
Many of these treatment programs assist you with an aftercare program afterward.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)
PHPs are the second most intensive alcohol addiction programs. They're sometimes called intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). PHPs provide comparable services to inpatient programs.
These services may include:
- Detox
- Medical services
- Behavioral therapy
- Support groups
- Other holistic or custom treatments
The main difference between PHPs and inpatient programs is that you return home and sleep at your house during a partial hospitalization program.
Some PHPs provide food and transportation. This varies by program.
PHPs are ideal for new patients and those who have completed an inpatient program and still require intensive treatment.
Outpatient programs are less intensive than inpatient programs and PHPs. They're best for people who are highly motivated to achieve sobriety. Patients usually have responsibilities at work, home, or school.
These programs customize your treatment sessions around your schedule.
Outpatient programs may be part of aftercare once a patient completes an inpatient program or PHP.
Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT)
Certain people qualify for medication-assisted therapy. Some medications can assist you throughout detox and withdrawal. Others can reduce cravings and normalize your bodily functions.
The most common medications used to treat AUD are:
- Disulfiram (Antabuse)
- Acamprosate (Campral)
- Naltrexone (Revia and Vivitrol)
MAT can help prevent relapse and increase your chance of recovery if combined with other therapies.
Support groups are peer-led organizations made of people dedicated to helping each other stay sober. They can be the first step towards sobriety or part of an aftercare plan.
Many of these programs follow the 12-step approach.
