How Long Does It Take to Become Addicted to Alcohol?
Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) is one of the most common types of addiction in the U.S. and throughout the rest of the world. Why do so many people develop this condition, and how long does it take to become addicted to alcohol?
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What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
Statistically speaking, there’s a good chance that you know at least one person who has developed an addiction to alcohol:
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), experts estimate that about 400 million people – or around 7% of the global population ages 15 and above – have an addiction to alcohol.
- In the United States, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 28 million people ages 12 and above – or about 10% of that demographic – are addicted to alcohol.
What is it about this drug that causes so many people to become dependent on it?
Part of the problem is the way that alcohol interacts with the brain. But not everyone who drinks will become addicted, so neurobiology can’t be the sole reason.
To explain why some people become addicted while others don’t, researchers have identified several factors that can increase a person’s risk.
Alcohol and the brain
When you drink alcohol, the drug interacts with nerve cells that are associated with several brain chemicals, including:
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Glutamate
Among their many functions, these chemicals influence arousal, learning, reward, motivation, pleasure, stress response, and the sleep/wake cycle.
Initially, these altered brain chemical levels and other changes will be temporary, wearing off as your body processes and eliminates the alcohol from your system. But if you drink on a regular basis, the changes may begin to last longer and become more disruptive.
As described in a 2008 article in the journal Alcohol Research and Health, chronic alcohol use can cause “persistent neural deficits.” In other words, the continued presence of alcohol can cause structural and functional changes in your brain. Some of these changes may remain even if you stop drinking for good.
Risk factors
Other personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that can contribute to alcohol addiction include:
- Binge drinking
- Genetic variations
- Family history of substance abuse and addiction
- Personal or family history of mental illness
- Abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Early exposure to alcohol
- Peer or cultural encouragement to drink
How Long Does It Take to Become Addicted to Alcohol?
There’s no universally correct answer to the question of how long does it take to become addicted to alcohol. For some people, addiction can occur within a few months. For others, it can take years.
Many of the same factors that can put a person at increased risk of this disorder can also affect how long it takes for the disorder to develop. This includes how often and how much they drink.
Regularly engaging in the following types of drinking can put a person on a faster track toward alcoholism:
- Binge drinking, which the NIAAA defines has having four drinks (for women) or five drinks (for men) within about a two-hour period, bringing their blood alcohol content (BAC) to .08% or higher.
- High-intensity drinking, or drinking twice as much as what would qualify for a binge-drinking session. This means 8 or more drinks for women or 10 or more drinks for men in a short period of time.
- Heavy drinking, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines as having eight or more drinks per week for women or 15 or more drinks per week for men.
How Can You Tell if Someone Is Addicted to Alcohol?
Since the amount of time it takes to become addicted to alcohol can range from a few months to several years, how can you tell when it finally happens?
When diagnosing a person with alcohol use disorder, clinicians typically refer to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). If you’re concerned that someone in your life is addicted to alcohol, there are several warning signs to watch for.
Diagnostic criteria
The DSM-5 includes 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder. To be diagnosed with this condition, a person must meet at least two of the following:
- Having powerful cravings for alcohol
- Frequently drinking more or for a longer period of time than intended
- Having a repeated desire and/or multiple failed attempts to quit drinking
- Spending a substantial amount of time in activities related to acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol
- Continuing to drink after developing some type of physical or psychological problem that was either caused or worsened by their alcohol use
- Continuing to drink after experiencing personal or social harm – such as the end of a relationship or being arrested – that was either caused or worsened by their prior alcohol use
- Repeatedly drinking in circumstances that are clearly hazardous, such as by combining alcohol with other drugs or driving while drunk
- Neglecting personal, academic, or work-related responsibilities because of their alcohol use
- Reducing or ending their participation in important activities due their drinking habits
- Developing tolerance, which means they need to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to experience the drug’s effects
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when they abruptly stop drinking
Warning signs
Potential signs that a friend or family member has become addicted to alcohol include:
- Dramatic shifts in their mood, attitude, and energy
- Unintentional changes in their weight and/or appearance
- Unexplained downturn in their performance at work or in school
- Needing alcohol to cope with stress or experience happiness
- Claiming they perform better at a task after having “a few drinks to loosen up”
- Keeping alcohol in their car, office, or other odd locations
- Drinking in the morning or during the workday
- Lying or being otherwise deceptive about how much or how often they drink
None of red flags are definitive proof that someone is addicted to alcohol. They could be symptoms of another addiction, a mental health concern, or something else altogether. But anyone who exhibits these types of warning signs should consult with their doctor or schedule an assessment with a reputable addiction treatment provider near them.
A professional evaluation can identify the scope of the problem, which can be an essential step toward appropriate treatment and a healthier future.
Find Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Jacksonville
Design Recovery offers customized outpatient services for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also serve clients who have anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our rehab in Jacksonville, FL, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual (online) program.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
