Often when speaking to parents or family members, we hear the question ‘how long does it take to get addicted to alcohol?’. The truth is that the answer to this question is quite complex, and is different for every individual. If you are looking for answers and more information, keep reading below to hear from the experts how quickly addiction can develop.
Many people have stereotypes about what an ‘alcoholic’ looks like, but the truth is that addiction does not discriminate based on age, gender, income, or race. In the same way, a person does not need to have been drinking for 50 years to be classed as an alcoholic.
In fact, one may be able to be diagnosed as having ‘substance use disorder’ in as short a timeframe as a few months. When being assessed by a professional for addiction, they may ask you questions such as:
Addictions can develop in as short a timeframe as a few weeks, or a few months. When asking the above questions, most professionals will include “in the past 12 months”, as this is the time frame that most psychological diagnostic criteria require. However, if you have identified with at least 2 or 3 of the above questions, you may be at risk.
It is important not to wait to seek help if you or a family member have any concerns about risk of addiction. Early intervention is key to ensuring quick recovery and preventing severe physical and psychological consequences from long term addiction.
This brings us to one of the key things about addiction: that alcoholism is actually made up of two dependencies: a physical addiction, and a mental addiction.
A physical addiction to alcohol describes a state where your body has come to expect and depend on the intake of alcohol in order to function. The first sign of this is developing a tolerance, meaning you need more alcohol to get drunk than you did before. The second sign is developing withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking which are alleviated when you start to drink again.
Things you can look out for to notice if a physical dependency is developing include:
How quickly someone can develop a physical addiction depends on a variety of factors, but it can be developed in as little as a few weeks to a few months. The key factor is how often, and how much someone is drinking. The best course of action is to seek out a medical professional who can complete an assessment if you, or someone you care about, may be developing a physical addiction.
A mental addiction to alcohol describes a kind of psychological and emotional dependency that can develop long before a physical dependency takes place. This occurs in most people who describe ‘needing’ alcohol for one function or another.
Some thoughts or statements that may indicate a level of mental dependency include:
How quickly someone can develop a psychological addiction depends on many factors, but a good way to consider if you have a level of emotional dependency is to ask yourself “what would happen if I couldn’t have alcohol in this instance?”. If you start to worry, feel uncomfortable, or anticipate a negative experience, this may be a sign that something serious is starting to develop.
A physical addiction may be ‘broken’ with a medically supervised detox, however a mental addiction is far more difficult to overcome. If any of the above statements felt applicable to you, or you’ve heard them from a loved one, please consider seeking professional therapeutic support.
Understanding the journey from occasional drinking to addiction reveals a swift timeline, often within a few months. While exactly how quickly this can happen is not an easy answer, we can see how seemingly innocent thoughts can transcend into a psychological addiction fairly easily.
Early intervention for addiction, or potential addiction is vital; however, it is never too late to seek out professional intervention. The question should not necessarily be ‘how long does it take to get addicted to alcohol’ but more so, ‘how quickly can I get help’.
