From First Drink to Dependence: How Long Does Alcohol Addiction Take?

If you are a regular drinker, you may be wondering: how long does it take for alcohol addiction to form? 

There isn’t an exact timeline for how long it takes to develop alcohol use disorder, which is part of what makes AUD so dangerous. Genetics, mental health, stress, and personal habits all play a role in a person’s likelihood to develop AUD. One thing we know for sure is that problematic drinking can happen to anyone, and there is no shame in asking for help. 

Read on to learn more about how long it takes to develop AUD, the complexities that come with developing this disease, and what kind of warning signs you should be on the lookout for. 

• Understanding How Alcohol Addiction Develops
• How Long Does It Take To Become Addicted to Alcohol?
• What Is the First Stage of Alcoholism?
• Why Early Intervention Makes a Difference

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is widely misunderstood. In the past, people who struggled with AUD were not given support, as society created stigma around addiction as a character flaw or moral failing. 

Modern science has shown us that this is not the case. AUD is a neurological disorder that changes the way your brain communicates with the body. It is not a personal failing, and people who suffer from AUD should not feel ashamed of asking for help. 

The development of AUD goes like this: 

• First, alcohol inhibits bad feelings in the brain by blocking the receptors for stress and depression. 
• When the alcohol wears off, these feelings of misery manifest worse than they did before. 
• This leads the user to drink more to combat these feelings, perpetuating the cycle. 

Not everyone who drinks alcohol develops AUD, but for those who do, it creates a devastating negative feedback cycle. Over time, AUD can negatively impact every system of the body, causing peripheral nerve damage, heart damage, stroke, and death. Approximately 178,000 Americans die a year from alcohol-related causes.

What Alcohol Addiction Actually Means

When people talk about Alcohol Addiction, they could be referring to a few things that define Alcohol Use Disorder. These behaviors fall into roughly two categories:

• Physical dependence: When a person uses alcohol for long periods of time, the body can develop a physical dependence on alcohol. A person with a physical alcohol dependence can not go without drinking for extended periods, or they will experience withdrawal symptoms. These include shakes, sweating, irritability, and, in extreme cases, seizures. 
• Psychological dependence: Psychological dependence on alcohol is not as overt as physical dependence, but it can be just as damaging. Psychological dependence is the intense cravings to drink and planning your life around drinking. Psychological dependence is a part of AUD that drives people to keep using, despite the negative impact on their lives. 

Why There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Timeline

Development of AUD is complex and can involve genetics, stress, mental health, and more. 

Some studies show that having a parent who struggles with AUD may make you more likely to develop it yourself, but there are plenty of people who develop AUD with no genetic predisposition. AUD exists across all races and socioeconomic statuses; it is a disease that does not discriminate. 

Some people begin the path to AUD with their first drink, while others develop an addiction over time. If you suspect you or a loved one has AUD, it is important that you ask for help. 

Treatment can not only help you gain control over your drinking, but also give you the tools you need to build a better tomorrow free from alcohol. 

How long it takes to form an addiction is different for everyone. For some people, developing AUD can happen in as little as a few weeks or months of heavy binge drinking. For others, alcohol addiction develops slowly over the course of a year or two with social or daily drinking.

There is no fixed cutoff for how long addiction takes to develop because there are so many factors involved. If you suspect alcohol is taking up too much space in your life, consider seeking treatment at a quality alcohol treatment center like Robin Recovery in Columbus, OH. 

The Role of Frequency and Amount

A contributing factor to how long it takes to become addicted to alcohol is the frequency of use. Both occasional binge drinking and consistent daily drinking alter the way your brain handles alcohol and can contribute to alcohol use disorder. 

For daily drinkers, the body builds a tolerance to consistent alcohol levels, even if they are low. Cessation can cause withdrawal symptoms consistent with AUD. 

As for occasional binge drinkers, avoiding daily alcohol use does not mean avoidance of AUD. Some studies show that binge drinking is just as hard on the body. In addition, these users may associate alcohol binges with escape, relief, and excitement. This reinforces the cycle of craving and anticipation, which contributes to psychological dependence. 

Both of these patterns of drinking push the physical and psychological patterns associated with AUD. If this sounds worryingly familiar, it may be time to ask for help. Consider reaching out to an alcohol treatment center like Robin Recovery, which has a variety of AUD treatment programs designed to help you regain control of your life. 

Risk Factors That Speed Up Addiction

Alcohol Use Disorder is complex. A person's likelihood of addiction is dependent on a variety of factors. These include: 

• Family history: Science suggests that a family history of AUD can contribute to developing the disorder. 
• Stressful environment: Poverty, trouble at home, and other stressors can cause a psychological dependence on alcohol, which contributes to AUD. 
• Age: Those who start drinking younger, especially during formative adolescent years, are more likely to develop AUD as an adult. 

This list is far from comprehensive, and individuals who do not exhibit any of these factors can still develop AUD.

When “Normal Drinking” Quietly Crosses a Line

When does normal alcohol consumption slip into Alcohol Use Disorder? A daily glass of wine turns into two, or three, or a beer after work becomes a six-pack every night. Even weekend drinkers aren’t safe, especially if they spend all week craving alcohol. 

So, how do you know when your harmless habit has crossed the line into addiction? 

The first stage of alcoholism is tolerance, and it can be difficult to identify. Alcohol tolerance can develop over many years, causing a person to need more alcohol to get the same effect.

If you suspect your tolerance to alcohol is becoming problematic, it is time to seek help. Getting assistance with AUD is a key step to avoiding the problem impacting your health. 

3 Early Warning Signs You May Be Becoming Dependent

#1: Physical and Emotional Clues

If you are concerned about developing AUD, here are some early emotional and physical cues to look out for:

• Discomfort or disappointment when denied drinking 
• Trouble sleeping without alcohol 
• Thinking about drinking throughout the day 
• Inability to control the amount (such as telling yourself you’ll only have one or two drinks, but consistently going over) 

#2: Behavioral Red Flags

Development of AUD usually comes with behavioral changes, such as:

• Being unable to relax without drinking 
• Drinking earlier in the day (starting at 4:30 instead of 5 or drinking during your lunch break) 
• Becoming irritable or angry when waiting to drink 

#3: Impact on Daily Life and Relationships

One of the biggest red flags for AUD is being unable to stop or cut back on your drinking, no matter the negative impacts on your life. These impacts can include:

• Missing work due to drinking or being hungover
• Difficulty communicating with loved ones due to drinking
• Alcohol-induced conflict 
• Isolation 
• Devoting disproportionate time to drinking and recovering from drinking 
• Trouble with the law, such as a DUI 

Alcohol Use Disorder is a degenerative neurological condition. The longer it remains untreated, the worse the long-term outcome. That's why early intervention is so important. 

Treatment doesn’t look the same for everyone. Robin Recovery offers many different treatment programs for AUD. From outpatient programs scheduled around a participant's work hours to partial hospitalization, Robin Recovery is ready to meet you where you are and get you on the track to recovery. 

How Robin Recovery in Columbus, OH, Helps You Break the Cycle

If you are wondering how long it takes to develop AUD or how many drinks a day is considered alcoholism, it may be time to seek help. 

Robin Recovery is the premier alcohol rehab in Columbus, OH. We offer a variety of treatment programs for AUD, as well as sober-living community resources to help you rebuild your social circle. If you are struggling with alcohol, reach out to Robin Recovery for a healthier, happier tomorrow. 

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