With cooler weather here, you may notice that you consume more alcohol — cozy indoor living and a full slate of holiday parties can do that. And maybe you’ve decided to try dialing back on alcoholic beverages this season, perhaps even abstain completely.
Curbing your drinking will benefit your health in many ways. But if you’re a regular drinker, sudden withdrawal — quitting alcohol cold turkey — is not the safest way to reach your goal. There’s a better way, and we’ll explain.
From Alcohol Tolerance to Addiction
Alcohol isn’t just for social functions anymore. In fact, it’s all around us, all the time. Your salon may offer you a drink during your haircut. Grocery stores may provide samples of wine as you shop.
But we’re learning that alcohol’s not a benign drug and that even moderate drinking has potential ill effects. For example, alcohol increases your risk of cancer. The FDA has now declared it a known carcinogen, just like cigarettes.
Alcohol can interfere with your relationships, working life, and sleep cycles and weaken your immune system. Eventually, you may reach the point where you say, “I’m done. I’ll never drink alcohol again.”
But while less exposure to alcohol is almost always a positive step, quitting alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous to your health. To understand why, let’s first look at the differences between alcohol tolerance, dependency, and addiction.
Alcohol Tolerance
A casual user may drink once or twice a week with no withdrawal symptoms. When you have an alcoholic beverage or two, you get that euphoric temporary buzz and maybe wake up a bit hungover tomorrow. But over time, this cycle has consequences. The more you drink, the more you develop a tolerance for it and gradually need more alcohol to achieve the same buzz.
Alcohol Dependency
A heavy drinker, one who imbibes more days than not, develops a dependency on alcohol and needs it to function. You typically feel an urge to drink and may even experience tremors if you don’t.
Alcohol Addiction
In full addiction, you’ve built up significant tolerance and dependence, and your life completely revolves around your cravings and alcohol intake.
The Dangers of Quitting Suddenly
Traditionally, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or certified rehabilitation facilities are needed to assist people with severe alcohol dependency. But to be clear, AA advocates strict abstinence. Participants can’t drink any alcohol at all. (And it’s not “anonymous” when other participants know your identity.)
Because heavy imbibers are alcohol-dependent, they risk serious consequences if they try to stop suddenly. Quitting alcohol cold turkey can cause hallucinations, exacerbate underlying illnesses, and, in some cases, even lead to death.
In fact, withdrawal from alcohol is deemed more difficult than quitting heroin. While a heroin user may experience significant discomfort, they don’t typically die from it.
For a regular drinker, the real key to withdrawal is a thoughtful process of weaning — careful, gradual detachment from alcohol.
An interesting new program from NorthStar takes a unique approach to keeping people with dependencies on track and accountable. Their philosophy is not strict abstinence from alcohol; rather, they look at the inherent personal characteristics that may cause your dependent behavior.
With this knowledge, they help you conquer alcohol dependency, gain control of your life, and perhaps enjoy an occasional beer or wine without triggering harmful consequences. You can participate virtually in NorthStar counseling and anonymously (as an avatar!) in their group meetings.
Conversation Is Helpful
Consider if alcohol benefits you: Why do you drink? Are you unsure if your drinking is a problem? If it’s become routine, can you cut back?
Conversation helps. Ask a true friend who will be honest with you (not your drinking buddy with the same problem). Have they noticed how alcohol affects your life? Do they feel you’re out of control?
Then, talk to your Priority Physicians doctor about your use of alcohol and how to find a safe way to reduce dependency. Your doctor can advise you on how to begin and point you to resources that will help. Patients often consult us about this serious — but quite common — problem.
If you’re considering quitting alcohol cold turkey, we’ll help you find the sensible approach your health requires. Let’s chat!
