Find Local Treatment Options
Call 888-646-0635 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.Who Answers?

Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Central Nervous System

Alcohol abuse can cause harm to your central nervous system.

Alcohol abuse can cause harm to your central nervous system.

Chronic alcohol consumption can have many negative effects on the body and dramatically impairs brain development. Long term alcohol abuse causes dementia, physical dependence and the shrinkage of the brain. While there is some evidence that suggests that alcohol consumption in a low to moderate manner can have some positive health benefits the literature to support such findings is slim and therefore still inconclusive.

Alcohol abuse has been associated with a condition in the brain in which lesions result in brain damage. Long term alcohol abuse can result in lifelong damage to the brain due to toxic levels of alcohol being introduced to the brain. Additionally, alcohol abuse causes a chemical dependency within the brain in which the alcoholic must drink more in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms including headache, shakes and other uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions. Liver damage that results from long term alcohol abuse can also contribute to brain damage as well.

When alcohol is abused the long term effects on the development of the brain are also seen. Alcohol abuse can impair the normal development of the brain resulting in various verbal and non verbal communication impairments when young adolescents take part in heavy binge drinking. Additionally, binge drinking also interferes with the development of new brain cells which can result in myopathy, peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy, three distinct dysfunctions of the central nervous system.

Cognitively, long term alcohol abuse can impair memory and ultimately result in dementia. People who abuse alcohol on a long term basis may forget to do certain things such as forgetting to lock the door or forgetting to pay a bill. Over time these forgetful events may happen more often and closer together. The more alcohol is consumed and the longer the period of time it is consumed the more likely this type of cognitive impairment is and the worse off it will be.

Ultimately, alcohol abuse can cause the most severe and common form of dementia that is Alzheimer’s disease. This deadly disease results from a decline in cognitive function and leads to severe memory loss and ultimately leads to death of the individual. Despite some studies that suggest alcohol may help to reduce chances of Alzheimer’s disease most findings support the fact that moderate alcohol consumption does not do anything to help prevent Alzheimer’s and actually causes impaired brain function as well as dementia.

More Rehab Centers Resources

5 Addiction Myths Holding You Back

Addiction is hard enough to beat, but when you believe the myths surrounding it, itā€™s even harder. Here are five addiction myths that hold you back and the truth that can set you free. Myth 1: You Can Control It No matter how much you try, you canā€™t control your addiction. The old adage, ā€œOne….

Continue reading

Around the Clock Support at Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers

Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers offer around the clock care that you will need!

Are you ready to get help for addiction? At inpatient drug rehab centers you can expect to receive around-the-clock support and monitoring that assures you get the help you need when you need it the most. Overcoming addiction can be a very difficult task and it may be scary when you first enter drug rehab….

Continue reading

Telltale Signs of Addiction and the Need for Help

Understanding the signs of addiction can save your life!

It may be simple to determine if an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol once they have been using for many years and the addiction has progressed to such an advanced stage that they use daily, suffer withdrawal symptoms when they arenā€™t using and are clearly in trouble. Unfortunately, by this point addiction has….

Continue reading

How Christian Drug Rehab Centers Restore Faith

Christian drug rehab centers can help you overcome your addiction on a spiritual level.

Christian drug rehab helps individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol to both recovery physically from their addiction and also to restore their faith and recover spiritually. Anyone who has been addicted to drugs or alcohol realizes how difficult it can be to overcome the addiction and heal from the pain that is caused….

Continue reading

An Inspiring Glimpse into Recovery from Meth Addiction

Get help with your meth addiction!

The mugshot of people who have used meth over the years and rapidly progressed from average looking people to near death are plastered all over the internetā€”the infographic is called the ā€œFaces of Methā€ and for good cause.Ā Unfortunately, very few people have had the opportunity to actually hear the real life stories behind the photos….

Continue reading

Gambling Addiction and Drug Addiction Go Hand in Hand

Don't let your gambling addiction and drug addiction ruin you!

Did you know that a third of all people who are in drug rehab centers also suffer from a co-occurring addiction to gambling? Gambling addiction and drug addiction tend to go hand in hand causing a world of problems for the addict and those who care for them. Like drug addiction, gambling addiction is a….

Continue reading

Addiction Treatment Center Hires New CEO

In Lafayette, New Jersey, a treatment center has hired a new chief executive officer to oversee their facility. Stanley Frank, RN, MBA will be the new CEO of Sunrise House Treatment Center. In addition to the facility, Frank will run American Addiction Centers, which is the overseeing group that includes Sunrise House and many other….

Continue reading

Still can't find the help you are looking for?Get Started Now
Accepted Insurances / View the full list
For inquiries call 888-646-0635 Who Answers?

Accepted Insurances Does My Insurance
Cover This?

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE NOWI NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE NOW888-646-0635
Who Answers?

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares