A Comprehensive Overview of the Last Stages of Alcoholism: Signs, What It Looks Like, and Treatment Options
Like most addictions, alcoholism progresses through different stages. In the beginning, a person may drink socially or regularly without major problems. As it advances, drinking becomes more frequent and starts to impact daily life.
The last stage of alcoholism is called end-stage alcoholism, characterized by a loss of control over drinking, physical dependence, severe withdrawal symptoms, and serious health problems typically affecting the brain, liver, and heart.
This article covers everything you need to know about the last stage of alcoholism, including the signs, what it looks like, and potential treatment options.
Table of Contents
What Is the Last Stage of Alcoholism?
The last stage of alcoholism, known as end-stage alcoholism, is the most destructive stage of alcohol use disorder.
End-stage alcoholism isn’t a medical term but is often used to describe people who have developed serious physical and mental health conditions following years of alcohol abuse.
End-stage alcoholism isn’t always fatal, but many succumb to the damaging effects of long-term alcohol abuse.
According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. About 178,000 people die from alcohol abuse annually, with most deaths caused by chronic conditions like cancer, liver disease, and heart disease.
Signs of End-Stage Alcoholism
End-stage alcoholism can cause a number of physical and mental health conditions, including:
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is one of the most common side effects of heavy drinking. Of all liver disease deaths in the United States, around 50% are associated with alcohol-related cirrhosis. It’s also the 9th leading cause of death in the country, with 15.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
Cirrhosis is a condition marked by permanent scarring of the liver, which impairs its ability to function normally.
Cirrhosis liver damage is irreversible and life-threatening. In advanced cases, a liver transplant is often the only treatment option.
People who suffer from cirrhosis experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), spider-like blood vessels, and easily bruised skin.
As cirrhosis advances, complications such as internal bleeding from enlarged veins (varices), kidney dysfunction, and an increased risk of liver cancer may occur.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Research found that 60% to 70% of people suffering from chronic pancreatitis suffer from alcohol use disorder.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammatory condition that leads to permanent structural damage and impaired function of the pancreas.
Chronic pancreatitis isn’t curable but can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.
Cardiovascular Health
Excessive alcohol use takes a serious toll on the heart.
Prolonged consumption can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged.
Excessive alcohol use also increases the risk of irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia), hypertension (elevated blood pressure), and angina (blockage in the coronary artery), all of which can result in a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and multi-organ failure due to poor blood circulation.
Brain Disorders
Alcohol use disorder greatly impacts brain function, causing a person to experience problems with thinking, coordination, planning, and memory.
Brain damage caused by alcohol is called alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). Three of the most common types of ARBD are Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Korsakoff’s syndrome, and alcoholic dementia.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a serious neurological condition caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1). Symptoms can range from memory loss to mild confusion to more severe issues like poor coordination, vision problems, and coma.
Left untreated, Wernicke’s encephalopathy can progress to Korsakoff syndrome, a severe form of memory impairment that prevents a person from remembering recent events or learning new information.
Alcohol-related dementia, meanwhile, is a brain disorder characterized by the loss of cognitive function (remembering, thinking, and reasoning).
Cancer
Alcohol is a carcinogen, meaning that it causes cancer. Excessive alcohol use is linked to several cancers, including those of the liver, mouth, throat, breast, esophagus, and colon. Nearly 4% of all cancer cases and deaths worldwide are directly linked to alcohol consumption.
What Does Late-Stage Alcoholism Look Like?
Late-stage alcoholism is the final stage of alcoholism and is characterized by severe alcohol dependency.
People at this stage of alcoholism can’t function without alcohol and may continue drinking despite experiencing alcohol-related health problems.
For a person to be diagnosed with late-stage alcoholism, he or she must meet 6 of these 11 symptoms over 12 months:
- Alcohol cravings
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Unable to stop drinking alcohol despite wanting to
- Lack of control over drinking
- Tolerance (needing more alcohol to feel intoxicated)
- Giving up previously enjoyed activities/hobbies to drink alcohol
- Getting into risky situations while intoxicated (drinking while driving, unsafe sex)
- Continuing to use alcohol despite the damage it has done to relationships
- Continuing to use despite the damage it has done to their health
- Disruptions in family life or work/school performance
- Spending most of the time drinking or recovering from a hangover
Signs and Symptoms of Late-Stage Alcoholism
Here are the warning signs and symptoms of late-stage alcoholism:
- Life-threatening health problems: People suffering from late-stage alcoholism often suffer from debilitating and serious illnesses, often related to the liver, heart, or brain.
- Physical changes: Extreme weight loss, bloodshot eyes, and weaker bones and muscles are common in people suffering from late-stage alcoholism. Many have ‘alcohol face,’ characterized by dry, wrinkled skin, thinning hair, pus-filled spots on the face, and a bloated face.
- Decline in personal hygiene: Many neglect their physical appearance and hygiene, spending weeks without showering, shaving, brushing their hair, and/or brushing their teeth. People suffering from late-stage alcoholism also inherently smell bad because they drink so much that alcohol begins to leave their bodies through their sweat, breath, and urine.
- Severe withdrawal symptoms: When not drinking, people suffering from late-stage alcoholism experience severe withdrawal symptoms that exceed the usual 24 to 48-hour window. Symptoms may include headache, vomiting, sweating, and intense cravings.
- Difficulty quitting: The person struggles to quit drinking, even if they want to and see the damaging effects it has on their body.
- Isolation: At this stage, the person may have pushed away their loved ones due to their continued use of alcohol. They may have done so purposely because of their guilt and shame, or unintentionally as a result of withdrawal or mood swings.
Is End-Stage Alcoholism Treatable?
Although end-stage alcoholism is the most advanced and life-threatening phase of alcohol use disorder, some aspects of the condition may still be treatable. However, the outcome depends on the extent of the physical and neurological damage, as well as the person’s overall health.
Here’s how end-stage alcoholism is usually treated:
Medical Stabilization and Detox
The first step to treating end-stage alcoholism is to stabilize the condition with the help of medication and medically-assisted detox. Alcohol withdrawal is at its most intense at this stage, and may include seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and severe autonomic instability. An inpatient treatment program is recommended to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively.
Managing Health Conditions
People suffering from end-stage alcohol addiction often develop serious medical complications such as liver failure, brain damage, heart disease, and malnutrition, among others.
Managing the complications associated with these conditions is key to treating end-stage alcoholism. Treatment includes:
- Medications to manage alcohol-related conditions, prescribed by a licensed physician
- Nutritional support, including thiamine and other vitamin supplements
- Addressing infections or gastrointestinal issues
Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy
Alcohol use disorder is a mental health condition that affects the brain’s structure, chemistry, and function.
People who suffer from chronic alcoholism often find it difficult to stop on their own, despite knowing of its negative consequences. Psychotherapy and rehabilitation provide the structure, medical support, and guidance needed to address both the physical dependence and the underlying psychological factors that fuel addiction.
Due to the serious nature of end-stage alcoholism, inpatient alcohol rehab is the most effective method of addiction treatment as it offers 24/7 medical care, structured daily schedules, support groups, and environments that eliminate access to alcohol. It also helps patients build healthier coping mechanisms that they can use in their day-to-day life.
Mid Hudson Addiction Recovery is one of the most reputable addiction recovery centers in the Mid Hudson area, with comprehensive programs tailored for individuals suffering from alcoholism, no matter the stage.
Contact us for a confidential assessment to see how we can help your recovery journey.
FAQs
How does end-stage alcoholism affect mental health?
People suffering from end-stage alcoholism often develop severe mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, cognitive decline, and alcohol-related dementia. This is because alcohol has a toxic effect on the brain, especially when consumed in large quantities over an extended period.
What is the life expectancy of a person with end-stage alcoholism?
The exact life expectancy of end-stage alcoholism varies from person to person. However, studies show that people with alcohol use disorder tend to live 24 to 30 years less than those without the disorder, largely due to alcohol-related diseases.
Luckily, yes. If caught early, it’s possible to at least partially reverse the effects of alcohol-related dementia, according to research.