Alcohol addiction is a serious form of high-risk drinking coupled with an intense and often uncontrollable desire to drink. It is crucial to understand that alcohol addiction is a serious disease as it can cause changes to the brain and its neurochemistry. As such, a person under the influence may lack the ability to control their actions and behaviour.
Symptoms
Alcoholism is tricky to diagnose as alcohol is accepted in many cultures and is often enjoyed on many occasions. But for some, drinking is a lifestyle choice. In a social setting, it can be difficult to differentiate between an addict from someone who occasionally enjoys a few drinks.
Luckily, these symptoms can serve as a guideline to identify people who have a real drinking problem:
Frequently drinks at an excessive rate
Drinks at inappropriate hours
High tolerance for alcohol
High dependence on alcohol to get through the day
Prefers the company of heavy drinkers
Experiences depression or other emotional woes
Decline in professional and/or personal life, such as an arrest or being fired
Alcoholism is a disease that festers gradually. So, it is important to know the early warning signs and to seek alcohol addiction treatment in Malaysia promptly.
Causes of Alcoholism​
While experts have tried to identify factors that may predispose a person to alcoholism, they found that there is not a single factor that contributes to alcohol addiction:
Genetics and family history
Underage drinking
Frequent drinking
Mental health conditions
Trauma history
Male gender
Social factors
Additional Risk Factors for Alcoholism
Other than alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction may also lead to:
Ulcers
Diabetes complications
Sexual problems
Birth defects
Bone loss
Vision problems
Increased risk of cancer
Suppressed immune function
Treatment
There are many options for alcohol addiction treatment in Malaysia as different severity will require different treatments, such as: