The Effects of Alcoholism in Men

Who are the ideal clients of a men’s detox program? It’s men struggling with addiction and is committed to getting better. In most cases, drug or alcohol addiction treatment programs require incoming participants to first go through the detox process.

For example, when it comes to alcoholism, a detox program is often a necessity. When the body has alcohol in it, a physical dependency may develop. This makes it hard for someone to cut down or stop drinking altogether on their own. If someone tries to detox from alcohol by themselves, they will likely feel pain and discomfort — which can make it hard for them to succeed — that will be taken care of by medication-assisted treatment (MAT) at a detox center.

Contact us today if you are concerned about your drinking habits — or that of someone you care about — and are looking for a men’s detox program in Baltimore. Call Baltimore Detox Center at [Direct] or reach out to our team online.

What Are the Signs of Alcoholism in Men?

There are no typical signs of alcoholism in men that you can watch out for. Some alcoholics hide their addiction better than others, while some may display obvious signs. Here are some common physical symptoms you can observe easily:

A significant weight change: Alcoholism can have a huge impact on someone’s appetite. Someone with an alcohol addiction may not feel hunger often or no longer desire food. However, in some cases, the opposite happens. Alcoholics may start to crave high-fat foods because consuming alcohol can increase the production of the hunger-increasing hormone galanin.
An upset or sore stomach: Alcoholics can develop erosive gastritis, which means their stomach lining starts to disappear. This can lead to stomach bleeding or ulcer development.
Bruises and injuries: Unexplained scrapes and bruises may be observed more frequently in alcoholics because they can have reduced platelet counts and problems with blood clotting. These problems can also lead to an increased risk of stroke.
Disheveled appearance: Grooming and hygiene are typically not prioritized by men who struggle with alcoholism or any other type of addiction. Look for poor, sick skin and tired eyes — these can result from dehydration or lack of sleep. Someone who’s an alcoholic may also smell alcohol, even first thing in the morning when they wake up.
Lack of balance or coordination: People with alcohol addiction are often unsteady on their feet because the part of the brain that controls coordination can deteriorate with consistent alcohol abuse. This increases the risk of falls and accidents and can lead to numbness and tingling in the feet or hands.
Liver problems, such as cirrhosis: Long-term alcoholism can lead to liver problems, including fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Fatty liver can develop into alcohol hepatitis, too. Alcohol hepatitis can lead to liver failure or cirrhosis. The latter happens when normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.
Redness in the nose and cheeks: There are many signs of alcoholism that you can see on a person’s face, including enlarged blood vessels that cause redness in the face. Over time, these vessels can over-dilate and lead to spider veins on the skin.
Repeated infections and skin sores: Alcohol consumption can impair the immune system, which leaves a person at a greater risk of developing infections. Because alcohol dries the skin, it can get repeatedly infected.
Yellow skin tone: Jaundice can be a sign of liver problems.

What Are the Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder in Men?

Apart from the physical signs enumerated above, alcohol use disorder in men can have other negative effects. For example, Alcohol use is one of the major preventable risk factors for developing cancer. Consuming alcohol increases the risk of many cancers — including the colon, esophagus, liver, mouth, and prostate — that are common among men.

Excessive alcohol use may also interfere with testicular function and male hormone production. This can result in erectile dysfunction and infertility. However, alcoholism may also increase the chances of engaging in risky behavior, including risky sensual activity, such as sex with multiple partners, unprotected sex, or sex with someone at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

What Should Clients Expect From Gender-Specific Treatment Programs?

More men than women drink and get addicted to alcohol, which leads to more men being hospitalized for alcohol-related causes and more men dying due to excessive drinking. In fact, among drivers in fatal motor vehicle crashes, men are 50% more likely to be intoxicated than women. Men are also more than three times as likely to die by suicide than women and more likely to drink before suicide. These facts should demonstrate why it’s essential for some men to get admitted into gender-specific addiction treatment programs.

Typical treatment approaches for those with substance use disorders are more general — whether it’s due to budget or time constraints. Most programs don’t address specific gender issues that often lead people to develop substance use disorders, even though focusing on these may help participants heal faster and better. Gender-specific treatment programs don’t ignore these issues and may even focus on them.

When participants of a treatment program are all the same gender, sharing and opening up may become easier. They may also find community and make more friends easily.