Stages of Alcoholism

Abstract

In most cases, alcohol addiction is a condition that progresses gradually over time. Little by little, a person’s drinking can progress from what was once experimental or casual drinking to an addiction that has negative effects on many important aspects of their life. Anyone who suffers from an addiction to alcohol, clinically known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), most likely developed the affliction over the course of months or years. Everybody has a unique life story, biology, and upbringing. As humans, we are the sum of these parts and so much more. Because everyone is unique, no two people will develop AUD in the same way. Particular triggers, causes, and timelines for the development of alcohol addiction will vary from person to person. Despite this, as AUD progresses, there are certain patterns, symptoms, and behaviors to look out for that suggest a person may be heading down the negative road toward severe AUD. Early research into the progression of alcohol addiction helped us understand the issue more clearly by outlining four stages of alcohol misuse: pre-alcoholic, early alcoholic, middle-stage alcoholic, and end-stage alcoholism.