People drink for several reasons – social gatherings, a celebration or a night of relaxation. However, there is a blurry line between social drinking and addiction. Alcohol is an extremely addictive substance, and once consumption becomes habitual, it can become a serious problem. As you drink more often and consistently, your tolerance will increase – and so do will all of the risks that come with it. Dangerous amounts of drinking can lead to the harm of yourself or others.
Alcohol abuse leads to alcoholism, and there are many dangerous side effects. Impaired motor skills, increased cancer and disease risk are only a few. Because it is a depressant, it can cause slurred speech and a slower reaction time.
Once you develop a dependance on alcohol, side effects escalate from damaged brain function to severe, life-threatening symptoms including delirium tremens which involves disorientation, tremors and hallucinations.
Experimentation is another activity commonly accompanying drinking. People often mix drinking and drugs, which can result in seriously negative outcomes. If paired with benzodiazepines or another depressant, it can slow the heart rate and breathing down a dangerous amount. On the other hand, if paired with a stimulant it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. There is no safe bet when pairing alcohol with any kind of drug.
Addiction is a complicated thing, and it can impact you in many ways.
Waiting another day before reaching out for help is never an option.
Give us a call now at (801) 499-9316.
