How Long Does it Take to Become an Alcoholic According to Reddit?

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Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States. Alcohol is legal for sale and use throughout most of the country, making it widely accessible to many people.

Alcohol abuse, including binge and heavy drinking, can lead to serious complications, including addiction. But how fast can alcohol addiction develop?

This article will explore alcohol addiction. You will learn:

• How alcohol abuse and addiction occur
• How long it takes to get addicted to alcohol
• How to recognize the stages of alcohol addiction
• Where to find alcohol addiction treatment

We’ll also look at real-world examples of alcoholism by looking at what Reddit users say about how long it takes alcoholism to develop.

If you or someone you love struggle with alcohol abuse or addiction, you are not alone. Find comprehensive treatment and recovery support programs at Moving Mountains Recovery. Contact our intake team to learn more about our programs or to schedule an intake assessment.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

People drink alcohol for many reasons. They may drink to fit in with peers, to get the pleasurable effects of alcohol, or to dull physical or emotional pain. While moderate drinking may fit into a generally healthy lifestyle, some people regularly drink more alcohol than experts recommend.

Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious health complications, including addiction. People who engage in heavy drinking may develop signs of addiction, including:

• Tolerance (needing to drink alcohol in greater amounts to feel the effects of alcohol)
• Experiencing cravings for alcohol
• Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking
• Continuing to drink even when facing severe consequences of their drinking

Over time, people may develop a physical alcohol dependence, meaning their bodies cannot function without it.

Some risk factors, including family history and environment, increase the likelihood someone will develop alcohol addiction. However, anyone who drinks heavily can become dependent on alcohol.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Alcoholic? What Reddit Users Say

Many people feel shame or embarrassment about their drinking habits, so instead of asking a friend, family member, or doctor, it’s common for people to turn to strangers on the internet. Subreddits ranging from r/stopdrinking and r/addiction to r/advice have threads of users who explain their drinking patterns and ask others anonymously whether or not they have a problem.

In one post, user Haunting-Schedule772 asks “I have been drinking 1-2 bottles of vodka (~375-750 mL) a day since May following some tragedies in my life. Is this alcoholism? Or do you need to be drinking for years to be considered an alcoholic “officially”?”

Commenters agree across the board that the original poster has a drinking problem.

Responses include:

• “If you want to quit or cut back and are having a hard time doing so… you are probably already there.” – Okeydokeyist
• “Please get help.” – rickmuscles
• “There is no “official” alcoholic in my eyes, but I’d have to say when the alcohol starts to affect your day to day life, that’s a good indication.” – Official_Gh0st
• “Just gonna be real with you, heavy drinking is considered about 10 drinks a week…It sounds like you were/are well beyond the qualifications for alcohol use disorder. “ – rowdydionisian
• “The easy question is ” can you stop?” Could you happily not drink the vodka today or would you be obsessing about it ? If you can’t go a day without, or can’t have one standard measure and stop before getting wasted I would say you are addicted” – zonked282

The most upvoted comment says, “People who don’t have drinking problems don’t wonder if they have drinking problems, friend.”

That said, if you think you have a problem with alcohol, it’s likely that you do. Reach out to our admissions team at Moving Mountains Recovery today for a confidential, risk-free assessment.

How the Body Gets Addicted to Alcohol

Alcohol abuse is hard on your mind and body. Heavy drinking can lead to physical dependence and a range of other complications.

But how quickly can you get addicted to alcohol?

Alcohol addiction is a complex condition. It’s impossible to determine how long it takes for someone to become addicted to alcohol because there are many factors involved in addiction. These factors include:

• Genetics
• Age
• Gender
• Family history of addiction
• Environmental factors
• General Health
• Mental health

The length of time it takes to get addicted to alcohol varies from person to person. Some people may develop alcohol use disorder (AUD) or addiction after just a few weeks of heavy drinking. For others, it may take months or years of alcohol abuse to develop dependence.

Health experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advocate for moderate drinking or abstinence. Moderate drinking means:

• One or fewer alcoholic drinks per day for women
• Two or fewer alcoholic drinks per day for men

They advise against heavy drinking, which they define as:

• For men, consuming 15 or more alcoholic drinks per week
• For women, consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week

Research shows that drinking heavily increases the risk of developing alcohol addiction.

Recognizing the Stages of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction typically develops in stages. Recognizing the early stages of alcohol addiction can help you find treatment programs to overcome AUD.

The stages of alcohol addiction are:

• Pre-alcoholic stage: People may consume alcohol in response to peer pressure or may self-medicate physical and emotional pain by drinking.
• Early-stage alcohol addiction: People develop a tolerance to alcohol. They may need to drink more to get the desired effects of alcohol or be able to drink a lot without appearing or feeling intoxicated.
• Middle-stage alcohol addiction: People’s tolerance increases, leading to more heavy drinking. People may experience physical symptoms related to their drinking, including fatigue, bloating, tremors, rapid weight gain or loss, and sweating. Friends and family members may become concerned about a person’s drinking.
• End-stage alcohol addiction: People cannot control their alcohol consumption. Their body depends on alcohol to function. If they stop drinking, they experience severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, elevated blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. People with end-stage alcohol addiction require medical interventions and alcohol addiction treatment to survive.

Alcohol addiction treatment typically consists of medical detox programs, mental health treatment, education, counseling, and other forms of evidence-based support. It is essential to address the complex roots of addiction so that people can work toward lifelong recovery.

It is critical to seek treatment as soon as you recognize the signs of alcohol abuse or addiction. People who regularly engage in binge drinking or heavy drinking may quickly develop an inability to control their alcohol use. Get treatment as soon as you recognize problematic drinking behaviors.

Find Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a complex condition that requires compassionate, holistic treatment. Moving Mountains Recovery offers comprehensive treatment and recovery support programs for those struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Contact our intake team to learn more about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.

References:

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Alcohol Use and Your Health
3. NIAAA: Alcohol’s Effects on Health
4. Science Direct: Impact of early, weekly drinking on latent classes of alcohol involvement progression and recovery: Evidence from the NESARC Waves 1 and 2

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