Alcoholism Stages: The Three Stages Of Alcohol Addiction

Most people who suffer from alcoholism follow a predictable pattern of abuse and go through three different alcoholism stages. There is an early stage to alcoholism where a person begins to develop a dependence on alcohol, a middle stage where the addiction intensifies, and the last stage where the desire to drink becomes an obsession which is hard to overcome.

The First Stage of Alcoholism

People who are beginning to develop an alcohol problem usually start out using alcohol regularly, but not necessarily heavily at first. They will usually use alcohol as a way to relax, escape their problems, or to modify their mood.

People in the early stages of alcoholism often “drink to get drunk” and have a hard time stopping once they have started. They begin to depend on alcohol to improve their mood and use it as a way to cope with life.

Alcoholics in the early stages may or may not realize they are developing a problem, and if they do many try to hide it from friends and family or go into denial about their situation. People in the early stage of alcoholism stand a better chance of recovery if they act quickly, although it is possible to recover from any stage.

The Second Stage of Alcoholism

After a person begins to develop a drinking problem, their desire for alcohol becomes stronger. At this point their desire borders on obsession and they begin to have a hard time going without a drink. They may begin to consume more alcohol at a time as their tolerance for it has increased.

At this stage, the body will begin to have a hard time processing all the alcohol they consume and if they try to stop drinking they will probably experience moderate withdrawal symptoms. They will begin to lose control of their drinking as alcohol takes a priority over their life. At this point they may still try to hide or deny their problem, but it will become increasingly hard to cover up.

The Final Stage of Alcoholism

People who have become full blown Alcoholics and are in the last stage of addiction become completely obsessed with drinking. They cannot function without alcohol in their system and are always looking for their next drink. Their addiction begins to affect every aspect of their life and interferes with their physical and emotional wellbeing as well as their relationships with others.

It is obvious by this point to other people that the alcoholic has a problem, but at this stage it is hard to recover from. People in this stage of alcoholism are likely to suffer from serious health problems and if they do not seek treatment they are likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver, brain damage, and other serious medical issues.

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