Perhaps not as seriously considered as other substances, alcohol is a drug and is one of the most common substances that individuals can develop an addiction to.
In a physiological sense, alcohol is a drug as it directly affects the central nervous system (CNS) of the body.
Alcohol is known as a depressant due to the way that it slows the functioning of vital organs and neural activity such as processes within the brain.
If an individual develops an addiction to alcohol, then the effects on the body can be substantial, long-term, and life-threatening in some cases.
This blog will aim to explore alcohol as a substance and describe some of the best ways to overcome this.
In addition, this blog will focus on the differences in the effects of alcohol use between men and women, and some of the reasons for this difference.
One of the first things to understand about the dangers of alcohol as a drug is its quality as a physically addictive substance.
When a drug is physically addictive, it means that the body begins to develop a tolerance to it, as well as the drug itself becoming ‘ingrained’ within the body, often becoming a part of everyday functioning due to its impact on the body.
When an individual is physically dependent on a substance such as alcohol, it can become a far longer and more complex process of withdrawal for the individual.
This is because the body will be slowly weaned away from the physically addictive substance and have to begin to produce its own chemicals and hormones again without the substance as a part of this process.
In the past, studies have shown that addiction is also linked to the rewards centre of the brain, meaning that addictive behaviour is often positively reinforced (1), adding to the dangers of addiction – no matter what the substance.
Other than alcohol, there are many other substances that are physically addictive, meaning that they have a similar effect on the body as alcohol does.
Below follows the two most common classes of substances that are known to be physically addictive:
Both of these classes of substances can be abused due to their physically addictive nature, and they are also both extremely dangerous when mixed with other substances – especially alcohol.
As mentioned previously, there are specific challenges that individuals will have to overcome when beginning alcohol addiction rehabilitation.
Because of the way that alcohol infiltrates the body’s processes and becomes a part of ‘normal’ functioning, it means that the detoxification process can be far more complex.
This is because no individual struggling with an alcohol addiction is recommended to go ‘cold turkey’ i.e., the sudden cessation of consuming alcohol, and further steps must be taken in order to overcome challenges in a detox.
Any individual considering an alcohol withdrawal should speak with a medical professional or addiction specialist before beginning their withdrawal, as there are many symptoms that can arise which can exponentially worsen without medical attention and support.
One of the most dangerous conditions that can arise during an alcohol withdrawal is described in further detail in the following paragraph.
One of the most commonly associated (and also most life-threatening) conditions that can arise during an alcohol withdrawal is known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
This is a condition that individuals with a long history of alcohol use/misuse or those who consume large quantities of alcohol regularly may experience when attempting to withdraw from the substance.
AWS can vary in severity between individuals, depending heavily on their history with alcohol, as well as their history with addiction in general.
Symptoms can include symptoms such as insomnia, developing tremors, but can often become more serious if left untreated, sometimes leading to withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens (2).
Delirium tremens is classified as a medical emergency (3); it is the most serious form of alcohol withdrawal and can often lead to life-threatening consequences if not properly recognised and treated.
Once an individual has completed a detoxification programme, they have physically prepared their body for the further stages of rehabilitation.
In general, it is suggested that individuals seek a rehabilitation programme that follows the three key stages of recovery.
These are as follows:
During the majority of time spend in rehabilitation, individuals will be matched to suitable treatments and therapies that will benefit their specific case of addiction.
This can be done through a variety of different treatment types – some more traditional, and some taking on a more modern and holistic approach.
For alcohol addiction, it is generally recommended that these individuals partake in some form of individual therapy, often based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as this can easily be tailored to the individual’s unique needs and requirements.
In the modern world, more and more providers of rehabilitative care are embracing holistic approaches, meaning that individuals will be able to combine therapeutic techniques with activities that they may have previously enjoyed such as art, music, yoga, and equine sports, for example.
Most rehabilitation centres provide complimentary aftercare services if an individual has attended rehabilitation treatment programmes within their centre.
These aftercare programmes can be offered for up to a year or more, but all individuals considering rehabilitation should ensure that their chosen source of support offers aftercare as part of their programme, rather than starting a programme and finding out its contents at a later date.
During an aftercare programme, individuals may experience a range of different care styles that are suitable for their recovery.
For example, some individuals may prefer to have more supervision, perhaps meeting with an aftercare support worker for regular meetings and progress checks, whereas others may prefer a more independent approach.
This can include a range of different self-learning techniques, as well as continuing those that the individual picked up on during the bulk of their rehabilitation.
Many studies have researched the different effects of alcohol between men and women, often finding a variety of different results and conclusions.
However, it is generally suggested that men are more likely to consume larger quantities of alcohol and, therefore, are more likely to experience alcohol-related issues and effects as a result of this.
One study suggested that men are less likely to perceive heavy alcohol consumption as a social issue, as well as the higher likelihood for displaying aggressiveness and antisociality when under the influence of alcohol (4).
This highlights the need for a greater understanding of this phenomenon in further research, as well as the dangers and differences that men and women may experience when consuming alcohol.
As mentioned above, when compared to women, men are more likely to consume alcohol on a regular and heavy basis due to a large number of different factors.
In general, these reasons can be split into two broad categories – physical and societal.
These two categories are explored further in the following subheadings, with further description into how these factors may affect males, their consumption of alcohol, and potential development of an alcohol addiction.
In general, there are many physical differences between men and women. This refers to all areas of physicality including height, weight, hormones, and other bodily processes.
Because of these differences, alcohol affects men and women differently in all cases.
The same study that suggested heavier alcohol consumption and a higher likelihood of aggression within men under the influence of alcohol also found that men experienced alcohol-related physical illness at a higher level than women (4).
This means that, in general, it is expected that men can drink higher quantities of alcohol than women before they are likely to develop an alcohol-related health issue.
However, with all studies, this is not a general rule, and it is always important to remember that studies such as this work with small sample sizes and a generalised population.
In an even broader sense, it may be suggested that men are more likely to consume larger quantities of alcohol compared to women due to the social and societal norms that surround ‘drinking culture’.
In the UK, for example, it is a common stereotype for men to meet with other men and drink in local pubs on a regular basis, often consuming large quantities of alcohol.
In addition, popular sports and televised games are often marketed toward men, meaning that they are more likely to engage in these activities, often consuming large quantities of alcohol as a part of the ‘experience’.
In terms of the programmes and therapies that an individual may experience during their time in alcohol rehab, there is no difference between men and women.
Treatment programmes are suggested to individuals based on the substance that they are addicted to, their history with this substance, and any other physical or mental health conditions that they may be struggling with – not their gender.
However, in some cases – when it comes to residential rehabilitation – individuals may be able to opt for single-gender rooms and accommodation. In some cases, entire rehabilitation centres may be single gender, though this is far less common.
If this is something that you are interested in when seeking rehabilitation, ensure that this is mentioned as soon as possible during the referral process.
When seeking rehabilitation, there are several questions that an individual can expect to be asked and should be open and honest about answering.
Though addiction can be a sensitive and complex topic, it is vital that individuals struggling with addiction are as detailed as possible and speak about these issues for which they may need the most help.
Below follows a list of some common questions that an individual may be asked as part of the rehab referral process:
This is not a complete list, and an individual should expect to answer many more specific questions that are geared toward them and their struggles.
To learn more about addiction, alcohol, and how it can differently impact men and women, please feel free to take a look at some of Rehab 4 Addiction’s other webpages, as well as directing any questions to our addiction support hotline.
With a team of friendly and professional individuals, we strive to give the best and most suitable advice for those seeking rehabilitative care, free of charge.
Our referral programme is then designed to help you or someone you know to find the most suitable rehabilitation programme for them.
To find out how we can help you or a loved one find the most suitable form of addiction recovery and rehabilitation, give us a call on our addiction support hotline on 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] Lyvers, M., 1998. Drug addiction as a physical disease: the role of physical dependence and other chronic drug-induced neurophysiological changes in compulsive drug self-administration. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 6(1), p.107.
[2] Bayard, M., Mcintyre, J., Hill, K.R. and Jack Woodside, J.R., 2004. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. American family physician, 69(6), pp.1443-1450.
[3] Erwin, W.E., Williams, D.B. and Speir, W.A., 1998. Delirium tremens. Southern medical journal, 91(5), pp.425-432.
[4] Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 2004. Gender differences in risk factors and consequences for alcohol use and problems. Clinical psychology review, 24(8), pp.981-1010.
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.
