Addiction can affect almost anybody, with alcohol addiction being one of the most prominent. That being said, quite a few people believe they’re not an addict, as they can still get through life relatively normally, even when they’ve been drinking. First responders can be one of the more notable, despite the safety concerns involved.
It’s easy to see why many first responders risk addiction, as they’ll see countless casualties, accidents, and other negative incidents relatively regularly. That all takes a toll, which increases the risk of alcohol addiction, among other addictions. They shouldn’t have to struggle with this, however.
By taking the time to recognize there’s a problem and actually going through the recovery process, they don’t have to. If you believe you might be experiencing alcohol addiction, it’s worth knowing how you can recognize it and get the help you deserve. There are more than a few things you’ll need to know about.
Recognizing Addiction
Many people can be confused about what addiction actually is, especially when it comes to alcohol. In many cases—such as with some first responders—it could mean they believe they’re not addicted, when they could be in reality. It’s worth looking at what the signs of addiction are.
Some of the more notable of these include:
- A lack of impulse control when it comes to consuming alcohol or other drugs
- Abandoning commitments because of using alcohol or drugs
- Ignoring the risks involved in consuming drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol
- Going through withdrawal symptoms when alcohol or drugs aren’t in your system
If you recognize the signs of addiction and think they apply to you, it’s worth looking into how you can get on the road to recovery. That doesn’t mean all addictions are the same, even with alcoholism. It’s worth diving into what the different types of alcohol addiction and abuse are to see if any of them apply to you.
Different Types Of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction can be a relatively broad term, but what many people don’t realize is there can be various types of alcohol addiction. Because of that, it’s easy for many people to be confused about whether or not they’re actually experiencing addiction. It’s worth diving into what each of these are.
It’ll not only help you recognize your addiction but provide another step in your recovery process.
Alcohol Dependency And Alcohol Abuse
While alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse are often used interchangeably, they’re actually two separate things. They can both be major signs of alcohol addiction in first responders, making them worth defining and actually looking at.
Alcohol dependency is considered a medical condition where you’re reliant on alcohol to the point you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms if it’s not consumed regularly. Someone who’s alcohol dependent usually experiences several things, including:
- Consuming alcohol to remove or prevent withdrawal symptoms
- Having a high alcohol tolerance
- Being aware of a compulsion to drink
- Experiencing tremors, difficulty sleeping, and other symptoms when they haven’t consumed alcohol
Alcohol abuse, on the other hand, is something completely different. It’s a condition where someone keeps drinking alcohol, despite their consumption resulting in problems in their lives. These can be health, legal, and personal problems, usually being seen in almost every part of their life.
While people who abuse alcohol can be dependent on it, that’s not always the case. Instead, they can be an alcohol abuser without being reliant on it. You can abuse alcohol without needing to consume it regularly.
Binge Drinking
Binge drinking may be the most common way of abusing alcohol and plays a serious role in alcohol addiction. It’s relatively common in first responders, thanks to the nature of their jobs. But, what exactly is binge drinking? Defined as consuming an inappropriate amount of alcohol in one sitting, it’s a serious health concern.
For men, this can be five or more drinks in a session, while it’s four or more for women. While this doesn’t make someone an alcoholic in its own right, it can still be a significant health and safety concern. You could binge drink occasionally without actually being an alcoholic.
With alcohol addiction, however, it’s not uncommon to have multiple binge drinking sessions regularly, with the problem often getting increasingly worse.
Heavy Drinking
Binge drinking is one thing, but heavy drinking can be something entirely different. In many cases, it involves taking binge drinking to a completely new level. It could entail drinking an excessive amount of alcohol regularly, in contrast to the breaks you could have between episodes of binge drinking.
For men, heavy drinking is defined as drinking 15 or more alcoholic drinks a week, while this amount is eight or more a week. That breaks down to about two drinks a day for a man, and roughly one a day for a woman. If you’re drinking this—or more—every week, then you may be a heavy drinker, and it’s worth looking into getting the help you need.
Speaking of getting help with alcohol addiction for first responders, it’s worth looking at how you can actually get this.
How Do I Start Receiving Help?
If you think you’re experiencing alcohol addiction, you’ll want to get help and go through the recovery process. This plays out the same way for first responders as it does for anybody else. The first step is to recognize you have a problem and actually want to get help with it. Then comes the actual recovery process.
Working with a rehab center can be the best way of doing this. At the Alvarado Parkway Institute, we have an effective process of helping you recover from alcohol addiction. While this can change slightly depending on your exact circumstances, it usually includes:
- Detoxification
- Family therapy
- Individual psychotherapy
- Intensive group therapy
- Aftercare planning
If you’re a first responder experiencing alcohol addiction, reach out and get the help you deserve. Get more information on our website, then give us a call at (619) 333-7050 to learn more about how our program can help you. Your new, better life awaits.
