A proper diagnosis of wet brain can’t be made for a person with alcohol use disorder until they are in recovery. This is because many symptoms of wet brain are similar to withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. Early diagnosis of wet brain is essential for effective treatment of the condition. Because alcohol places a significant strain on the liver, people who suffer from alcohol use disorder often suffer from serious and even deadly liver diseases such as liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. This is because long-term alcohol abuse damages the liver, and an estimated one out of every two Americans who have liver disease Controlled Drinking vs Abstinence Addiction Recovery or end-stage liver failure are either active or recovering alcoholics.
- John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.
- Alcohol use disorder is a progressive disease that includes a beginning, middle, and end stage, which can result in life-threatening health conditions.
- If you or someone you love is struggling with this critical stage of addiction, reaching out for professional assistance could be the key to overcoming this challenge.
- Some chronic alcoholics develop a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which results from a thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency.
Chronic pancreatitis
Strong cravings for alcohol are typical at this stage, and drinking isn’t just for enjoyment anymore. Because the body has adapted to deal with an alcohol-rich environment, the alcoholic physically needs it to avoid the painful symptoms of withdrawal. The early or adaptive stage of alcoholism marks the beginning of an alcoholic’s struggle with addiction. At this point, drinking is no longer just a casual social activity — it’s become a daily habit that may be used to cope with stress, anxiety or other emotional problems.
Alcohol, in fact, is the cause of more than 50 percent of liver-disease related deaths in this country, and alcohol-related liver disease costs more than $3 billion annually. Those in the end stage of alcoholism, or late or deteriorative stage, are consumed by their drinking. Years of chronic alcohol consumption have ravaged their body and mind, and their lives revolve around little else other than the bottle. These physiological changes contribute to the increasing tolerance seen in early-stage alcoholics.
After prolonged, chronic alcohol abuse the body begins to fail with absorption, metabolism, and storage of essential nutrients. This can often lead to malnutrition as well as anemia, a blood condition where the red blood cell count is lower than normal or there is a problem with the proteins in the cell. Watching a loved one endure the end stages of alcoholism can be frustrating and lonely.
Signs and Symptoms of End Stage Alcoholism
There are a variety of different approaches that have proven helpful, including medications, mutual support groups, and behavioral therapies tailored to individual needs. Fortunately, by recognizing the early signs of AUD, individuals can obtain the help they need to adopt a sober lifestyle and repair some of the damage AUD causes. AUD is unfortunately common, with 28.6 million U.S. adults being affected by AUD as of 2021.
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In the right treatment center, you can work toward multiple goals at the same time. End-stage alcoholism usually includes at least 1 serious health problem, like liver disease or neurological issues. Your care team can give you more specific information about what to expect.
Before you leave rehab, talk to your care team and make a plan for your ongoing treatment. The longer and more heavily you use alcohol, the more it will affect your body. Prolonged alcohol use strengthens addiction, making it harder and harder to stop drinking. This leads to long-term abuse that causes physical damage to multiple organ systems, including the liver, pancreas and brain. As this damage progresses, it becomes more permanent and compounds, eventually leading to end-stage alcoholism. The average life expectancy of an alcoholic can be significantly shorter than that of the general population.
If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems. This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. Alcohol use disorder includes a level of drinking that’s sometimes called alcoholism.
Because of the severity of the disease, medically monitored alcohol detox is a necessity. Between 3 and 5 percent of people withdrawing from alcohol develop grand mal seizures and severe confusion, known as delirium tremens. Delirium tremens symptoms typically begins about three days after other withdrawal symptoms start. It usually lasts for between two and three days, and it can be fatal. As the disease progresses to the middle stage, drinking continues to increase and dependency develops.
End-stage alcoholism is an urgent, life-threatening condition, but there’s always hope for recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with this critical stage of addiction, reaching out for professional assistance could be the key to overcoming this challenge. Another serious complication of late-stage alcoholism is liver problems. The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol and other toxins in the body, but excessive alcohol use can damage the liver cells and cause inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis. Attempts to quit drinking may lead to delirium tremens or hallucinations.