Ask an addiction therapist: What you need to know about alcohol and substance abuse
In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, we asked Alexis Shepherd, mental health and addiction therapist at Northeastern Center, to answer some questions about alcohol and substance abuse.
Alcohol is a legal substance that a lot of people use, so how do you know if your drinking might be problematic?
With any type of substance use, there are several factors to consider if you think it may be problematic.
One major trait of a substance use disorder is lack of control. A lot of people will have the urge or desire to cut down or reduce their use, but won’t be able to. Eventually, they’ll develop a tolerance to the substance. So maybe one shot of alcohol used to have the desired effect. But nowadays, you might have to do five shots to feel the same effect.
Withdrawal symptoms are another side effect of substance abuse. Withdrawal can have physical symptoms like shakiness, or emotional symptoms like extreme irritability when you’re unable to get the substance that you’re craving.
Perhaps the biggest factor of problematic use is negative impacts on different aspects of your life. Is your drinking or substance use impairing your social life? Work responsibilities? Societal obligations? Is it affecting your personal relationships, but you’re continuing to drink? That’s a strong indicator of problematic use.
How does alcohol or other substances impact the brain and become addictive?
It all goes back to how our brain functions. When we use alcohol or other substances, our brains release dopamine, which is our happy chemical.
Think about eating a delicious piece of cheesecake. Before you even take a bite, you’re going to get excited about it because you know it’s going to make you feel good.
That’s kind of what substance abuse does. You get dependent on that surge of dopamine in your brain, so you always want that cheesecake, or drink, or drug. And it’s difficult to stop that cycle without help.
What are some of the long-term effects of alcohol addiction?
Alcohol use long term has several physical effects, including a weakened immune system, which increases our risk of getting certain illnesses and infections. Certain cancers, such as throat, colon, liver and breast cancer, are more likely when long-term alcohol use is present. And alcohol also increases your risk for accidents and emergency room visits.
We also know that alcohol use has several psychological effects, such as increased rates of anxiety and depression, anger, mood swings, social isolations and impulsive behavior. Long-term drinking can also cause permanent changes in brain structure and function, leading to difficulties with memory, concentration and decision-making, as well as increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
How does Northeastern Center support individuals who are struggling with alcohol use?
Northeastern Center offers several services for alcohol or substance use recovery. We offer group and individual therapy, as well as medication management, which can treat not only your substance use, but also any other mental health conditions that may be contributing to your addiction.
Additionally, our Emergency Solutions and NEC Cares teams offer 24/7 support for anyone experiencing a substance use crisis. These teams are staffed with peer support specialists who have firsthand experience navigating the road to recovery.
If someone is struggling with alcohol addiction or substance abuse, what do you want them to know?
It’s normal to feel embarrassment or shame regarding your drinking or substance use habits, but there are treatments that can help. There are people out here who aren’t going to judge you and who want you to improve yourself and be the best person you can be. Please reach out so we can help.
Reach out for support
If you or a loved one needs support for alcohol addiction or substance use, contact your closest Northeastern Center office. For 24/7 crisis care, call our Emergency Solutions team at 1-800-790-0118.
