Alcohol Addiction: Understanding the risks and finding support

• What is addiction?
• How alcohol can affect your health
• Signs you might need help
• Ways to get support

Understanding addiction

Addiction can affect anyone, and many people are working hard to get healthy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol addiction can have a huge negative impact on your brain, heart, liver and other organs.

What is addiction?

Addiction means you keep using a substance even when it is hard to quit and causes problems in your life.

While it can be hard to stop, there is help and hope.

Alcohol use and your health

Drinking too much alcohol can hurt your brain, liver, heart and stomach. In addition, long-term drinking can raise the risk of cancer and other serious health issues. It can also make you feel sad, confused or out of control.

Some people drink to relax or have fun, but it can become a problem when they drink too much or too often.

Even small steps to cut back can help you feel better and stay healthy.

Signs you might need help

You might need help if you:

• Cannot stop using alcohol
• Feel sick when you try to stop
• Miss school, work or time with family
• Keep using even when it causes problems

Ways to get support

You are not alone. Many people get help and feel better.

Here are some ways to start:

• Talk to your doctor
• Call the Nurse Advice Line: Medicaid | Medicare | Individual and Family Plan
• Join a support group
• Learn more from trusted sources like the CDC, NIH or Molina Healthcare