Alcohol is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in the world, mainly due to its widespread availability and various misconceptions of its addictive qualities.
Because alcohol is so widespread and commonly consumed, not many people may realise that it is a dangerous drug and that it could have lifelong effects on individuals who become addicted.
Research has found that alcohol’s effects go beyond the typical afflictions [1] that we normally think of, such as damage to the liver, and can even go as far as to affect the brain and cerebral tissue if consumed in high quantities over a long period of time.
This is why it is vital that more individuals are educated about the dangers of alcohol, recognise it as an addictive substance and are aware of how alcohol can impact their lives and relationships, including behavioural changes such as increased violence and aggression.
There are many ways that alcohol can impact individuals, both physically and mentally.
This makes it a very dangerous substance – every individual will react differently, and different quantities and variations will also impact how alcohol is felt within the body.
In addition, the individual’s environment can also impact how alcohol affects their body, behaviour, and mental state.
Small quantities of alcohol can have positive effects on mood and outlook, but too much or excessive alcohol abuse can put an individual into a coma or even cause death by overdose.
It is also an incredibly addictive substance, meaning that the body’s chemistry and everyday functioning can be impacted, creating a vicious cycle of alcohol consumption and negative health impacts.
The main effects of alcohol are split into physical health effects and mental health effects and are described in further detail across the following two subheadings.
When an individual consumes a large quantity of alcohol, they are known as being intoxicated.
This is where alcohol directly affects the individual’s behaviour, cognitive processing and physical capabilities.
Common effects of this include slurring speech, troubles with coordination and motor control, poor balance and blurry or disrupted vision.
All of these effects can cause issues as standalone effects, but when more than one is felt at the same time, an individual may become more at risk.
For example, an individual who has consumed so much alcohol that they are struggling to walk, speak, or see will seriously struggle to keep themselves safe in their environment, perhaps struggling to get home or walking into dangerous locations or situations.
Research has also specifically shown that alcohol directly impacts vital bodily systems such as the cardiovascular system, [2] suggesting that individuals struggling with these effects should seek suitable treatment and follow-up programmes to effectively overcome alcohol addiction.
In general, alcohol is thought to seriously impair an individual’s judgement and awareness, also leading to dangerous situations in which the individual may be unaware or unable to react to dangers around them.
However, small amounts of alcohol may reduce an individual’s feelings of anxiety and inhibitions, making them more social and confident.
This may seem like a positive, but with reduced inhibitions comes reduced behavioural control.
This may be why individuals are more likely to engage in violent and/or aggressive behaviours, but can also be attributed to increased testosterone, as well.
Increased testosterone has been reported in both males and females and affects sex drive, but can also impact an individual’s aggressive and/or violent tendencies.
This is where the link can be drawn between alcohol, aggression, and violence.
Unlike other substances such as cocaine and cannabis, alcohol is a physically addictive drug, meaning that it physically impacts the body and its everyday functioning, becoming integral to these processes.
This makes it hard to withdraw, as the body will experience strong cravings for alcohol in order to maintain everyday functioning, causing adverse and often serious effects if alcohol is not consumed within a short period of time.
Physical dependence causes more issues during the withdrawal stage of rehabilitation – the body has become accustomed to having alcohol in the system and will often cause adverse physical health effects during the alcohol withdrawal process.
This can be combatted with the administration of other substances to reduce the impact of these effects, but should always be treated with professional and medical supervision.
Always speak to a medical professional before attempting an alcohol withdrawal – the consequences can be life-threatening [3] if not properly managed.
Research has shown that alcohol can significantly increase the risk of violent acts and cases of assault when present in either the perpetrator or victim. [4]
Although other factors may be at play here, alcohol is a factor that should not be discounted.
As mentioned previously in this blog post, alcohol can seriously reduce an individual’s inhibitions, leading to a change in behaviour or partaking in acts that the individual would not normally partake in.
This can increase an individual’s likelihood of being a part of a violent or aggressive act.
As a perpetrator, individuals may not be wary of the full situation around them, leading to misunderstandings or disagreements that would not normally cause issues but, in the presence of alcohol, can quickly be blown out of proportion.
As a victim, individuals may also be less aware of their surroundings and may be more willing to trust others and do things that they would not normally do, putting them into dangerous situations.
Alcohol can make an individual more of a target, but it can also impact what we think are ‘good ideas’ and ‘bad ideas’, leading to a series of issues.
When comparing the presence of alcohol between violent and nonviolent crimes, alcohol is more greatly associated with violent crime. [4]
Again, this may be due to the behavioural and mental health changes that an individual may experience when consuming alcohol, but the link between these two factors is still unclear.
This is ultimately because the extent of research into alcohol and violence has some limiting factors.
A lot of the research into alcohol’s effect on violence and aggression is conducted in the USA, meaning that the samples are often limited and the effect of alcohol is studied only in the context of the laws and restrictions of alcohol in the US.
Although the USA does not have as many restrictions on alcohol as some other countries and regions across the world, the effects of this are still massively unrepresented and further study is required.
Any individual who finds themselves struggling with an alcohol addiction should seek some form of rehabilitation as soon as they are able to.
This is because alcohol addictions can have serious and long-term consequences if the individual does not seek rehab within a suitable time period.
First, an individual must undergo an alcohol detoxification session.
This is where they withdraw from alcohol (slowly and over time to avoid serious health complications) and allow their body to recover physically from the harmful effects of alcohol and the dangerous build-up of toxins and chemicals that this can cause.
After detox is complete, individuals are encouraged to attend different therapies and treatment programmes to overcome the mental health effects of long-term heavy alcohol consumption, providing them with a solid foundation for staying sober after alcohol rehab has concluded.
Any alcohol rehabilitation programme that individuals attend should be followed up with a strong aftercare programme – designed to help support their ongoing learning, development and sobriety.
Most rehabilitation programmes follow the three steps that are outlined above and when it comes to alcohol rehab, this must be adhered to as well.
The main differences that may occur during one alcohol rehab programme and another are encountered in the specific therapies they engage with and the nature of their detoxification.
This is because additional caution may need to be taken, and individuals must be closely and carefully monitored throughout this process.
Because alcohol is physically addictive, individuals who have been consuming it for a long period of time are never recommended to go ‘cold turkey’ – i.e., when an individual stops consuming alcohol completely and suddenly.
Instead, individuals are encouraged to slowly withdraw, consuming lower quantities over time and with sufficient professional support.
In some cases, it may be necessary for these individuals to also receive some form of medical intervention to help reduce some of the physical symptoms that they may experience.
Substances such as Librium may be administered here, though only by a medical professional and only in the cases in which they deem it to be suitable.
Even without the increased risk of experiencing violence, alcohol addiction is a condition that has the potential to do serious harm.
Rehab 4 Addiction is a dedicated drug and alcohol recovery service, working to help individuals who need rehabilitative support and help them find the most suitable and appropriate rehabilitation provider and programme for them.
Every drug and alcohol rehab we work with is vetted by the Care Quality Commission (England and Wales) or the Care Inspectorate (Scotland).
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, or any other type of addiction, then please get in touch with our addiction support hotline on 0800 140 4690
[1] https://colab.ws/articles/10.1080%2F09595238480000411
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11805530/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1530-0277.1998.tb04382.x
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2090635/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
