Is Alcoholism a Fatal Disease?

When it comes to the disease of alcoholism, it’s often said this substance use disorder (SUD) is chronic, progressive, and fatal. Is it actually true that alcoholism is a fatal disease? Let’s get into the facts of alcohol abuse and addiction, along with the consequences, and weigh what the experts say about this particular situation.

If you or a loved one are struggling with drinking too much and need help, contact our qualified team of New Jersey interventionists so that we can come up with a unique plan of action.

Dangers of Chronic Alcoholism

Alcoholism is fatal in and of itself just because of the simple fact that many studies have been conducted recently to determine how many years alcohol typically takes off a person’s life expectancy.

In one study, which examined people with and without alcohol use disorder from 1987 to 2006, it was discovered that life expectancy was 24 to 28 years shorter in alcoholics when compared to non-chronic drinkers.

Fatalities from Excessive Alcohol Use

Very high levels of alcohol in the body can shut down critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, resulting in death. Alcohol poisoning deaths affect people of all ages but are most common among middle-aged adults and men.

There are so many negative side effects of being an alcoholic, and time eventually catches up to most heavy drinkers. Naturally, alcohol acts like a poison or toxin inside the body of a chronic drinker, slowly killing you until your organs such as the liver can no longer function in keeping you alive.

New Jersey Alcoholism Interventionists

Throughout the United States, fatalities that result from excessive alcohol consumption are becoming more common. Protect yourself or a loved one if you see a downward spiral with drinking alcohol and contact our confidential helpline staffed by recovering alcoholics/addicts with decades of experience offering addiction help in New Jersey.