Individuals that have drank for a while find themselves questioning if they indeed have a drinking problem. Millions of people in the US find they have drinking problem every day. Often, they find a health issue creeps up, a broken relationship, or a scary experience that leads them to these thoughts. The line of normal drinking behavior and addiction can be somewhat hard to define for most. At Gold Bridge Treatment Center, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Kansas, we strive to help people understand addiction more clearly.
What is Alcohol Abuse?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), alcohol abuse is a drinking pattern that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Although it may seem to the user that they have complete control over alcohol, the fact that those around them see a negative impact is a sure sign that alcohol abuse is taking place. As a leading drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Kansas, Gold Bridge has a list of potential symptoms of alcohol abuse to look for:
- Not taking care of things they once did in all areas of life, from work, school, or home
- Lowered inhibitions, such as driving drunk or mixing pills
- Getting arrested or facing court charges related to being intoxicated
- Red flag from family and friends about the behavior
Alcohol Abuse Diagnosis
Times are changing as far as alcoholism and diagnosis. At Gold Bridge Treatment Center, we provide the best care for alcohol treatment in Kansas. Alcohol dependence used to be diagnosed as a multitude of disorders with a list of symptoms per disorder. With the new DSM, it is seen as a spectrum disorder, ranging from 2 symptoms to 6 or more, which is severe. The scale is based on three categories, mild, moderate, and severe.
It’s important to remember that alcohol abuse can come at any age or stage of life. It can range from mild dependence to severe alcohol dependence. Teens can abuse alcohol for a time, then not drink at all. The elderly can start drinking after retirement and become severe even though they have not had a problem their whole life.
There are many treatments available based on severity and circumstances. At Gold Bridge Treatment Center, we provide alcohol treatment in Kansas and aim to find our patients the best treatment and recovery possible.
At Gold Bridge Treatment Center, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Kansas, we offer experienced care that you can use to start on your unique path to sobriety. Call us today at 913-837-4653 or contact us online us to find out what the next step can be for you or someone you care about.