| Almost everyone knows about the twelve steps | | | | severe impact on his or her life. The body |
| to recovery from alcoholism. But what are the | | | | has absorbed so much alcohol over such a long |
| stages someone goes through on the way to | | | | period of time that the person has a very |
| alcoholism? | | | | high tolerance for alcohol. A woman in |
| | | | Washington State was arrested for DUI in |
| Alcohol addiction stages are generally | | | | April of 2007 with a stunning blood-alcohol |
| defined as early, middle, and late. These | | | | level of .47. Almost half her blood was |
| three stages, however, are very broadly | | | | alcohol! |
| defined and are going to look a little | | | | |
| different in each alcoholic. One person may | | | | This level of alcohol actually indicates |
| never move past the early stages, while | | | | alcohol poisoning, and many other people |
| another may zoom through the early and middle | | | | would have been dead long before they reached |
| stages like a rocket and land squarely in the | | | | .47. This woman's tolerance was so high that |
| late stage. | | | | not only was she still breathing, she thought |
| | | | she could drive a car. The police officer |
| In the early stage of alcoholism, the drinker | | | | disagreed with her. |
| may not consciously admit he or she has a | | | | |
| problem, but realizes there's some sort of | | | | Someone in late stage alcoholism will almost |
| social opposition to the alcohol consumption. | | | | certainly have blackout periods and/or memory |
| At this stage the alcoholic begins to drink | | | | loss. The alcohol has permeated the brain and |
| alone, sneak drinks, feel guilty about | | | | is changing it. Liver diseases like fatty |
| drinking, and avoid or refuse to talk about | | | | liver or cirrhosis are probably present and |
| drinking. | | | | the person's health has definitely declined |
| | | | by this point. It is absolutely critical at |
| Beyond that, the second or middle stage of | | | | this point that the alcoholic either seek |
| alcoholism includes such symptoms as trying | | | | help on his or her own, or have an |
| and failing to reduce drinking or quit | | | | intervention. |
| altogether. At this point the drinking has | | | | |
| gotten to the point where there is almost | | | | One other interesting fact that has recently |
| always an impact on the family. The alcoholic | | | | come to light: women, almost without |
| may fight with spouse, parents, or children. | | | | exception, pass through these stages faster |
| There may be issues at work like increased | | | | than their male counterparts. Women's bodies |
| use of sick leave, tardiness, or absenteeism. | | | | generally have less water than a |
| Legal troubles may surface here. A DUI arrest | | | | similar-sized male's. Alcohol in the |
| is not uncommon for someone in the second | | | | bloodstream mixes with water, but since there |
| stage of alcoholism. | | | | is less water in a women's body, that makes |
| | | | the alcohol more potent. |
| Especially for the binge alcoholic, who can | | | | |
| go a long time between drinking periods, | | | | Anyone, male or female, who has entered any |
| there is remorse after a binge. The middle | | | | stage of alcohol dependency should seek help |
| stage of alcoholism is usually where | | | | immediately. Alcoholism affects not only the |
| blackouts and memory loss first occur. The | | | | drinker, but his or her family, friends, |
| alcoholic also becomes much better at | | | | co-workers, and anyone who may encounter the |
| rationalizing the drinking activity. | | | | impaired driver out on the road. Perhaps the |
| | | | fourth stage of alcoholism should be |
| If the alcoholic reaches the third, final or | | | | recovery. |
| "late" stage, the alcoholism is having a | | | | |