Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

End-stage alcoholism, or late-stage alcoholism, is the final stage of an alcohol use disorder, resulting in serious physical and mental conditions as well as other life consequences from years of alcohol misuse.

Alcohol use disorderis a progressive disease that includes a beginning, middle, and end stage, which can result in life-threatening health conditions. It’s not often talked about, but left untreated, alcohol use disorder can be a fatal disease.In fact, it contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually in the U.S., making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

By the time a person reaches end-stage alcoholism, drinking has taken over their lives and has likely had a negative impact on relationships, work or school, finances, and overall health. If a person tries to quit drinking on their own during end-stage alcoholism, they may experience severesymptoms of withdrawal, including tremors and hallucinations. One of the most severe consequences of alcohol withdrawal is calleddelirium tremens(“the DTs”), which if left untreated, can be fatal.

Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms of End-Stage Alcoholism

End- or late-stage alcoholism can cause a variety of physical and mental health conditions, including:

Alcoholic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis

When the liver is exposed to excessive alcohol. over time there is a progression of liver disease from hepatitis (inflammation) to fibrosis (hardening) and eventually to scarring of the tissue (cirrhosis). Cirrhosis is the final stage of alcohol-related liver disease.

Complications of cirrhosis can lead to death, often due to increased pressure within the veins of the liver, which cause problems such as fluid collection in the abdomen (ascites) or massive bleeding of the veins lining the esophagus (varices). A poor diet may exacerbate the problem.

According to the CDC, more than one million people die yearly of cirrhosis, including over 40,000 people in the United States.

In the early stages of alcoholic liver disease, you may not have any symptoms at all, however, after years of heavy use, may you recognize the following:

Malnutrition

Chronic Pancreatitis

Damage to the pancreas from drinking alcohol may cause no symptoms for many years, before culminating in a sudden attack of pancreatitis. Roughly 70% to 80% of cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to chronic alcohol use. People with chronic pancreatitis tend to experience three primary health problems: pain, malabsorption of food leading to weight loss, or diabetes.

Cardiovascular Health

By the time you or someone you love reaches end-stage alcoholism, you may be contending with a host of heart troubles, including:

Brain Disorders

Eye Problems

During end-stage alcoholism, a person may struggle with involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) or weakness and paralysis of the eye muscles due to thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency. This deficiency can also cause dementia if not treated immediately.

Cancer

After drinking chronically for many years, a person increases their risk of several cancers, including:

While there’s no official diagnosis for end-stage alcoholism, your doctor will be able to diagnose you with an alcohol use disorder and be able to identify your stage based on the severity and amount of time you’ve been misusing alcohol as well as your current health.

The Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Use Disorders

Treatment for End-Stage Alcoholism

Rehabilitation for alcohol dependence will also be necessary, including:

Once you quit drinking, your body can begin to recover from some of the damage or, at the very least, prevent it from getting worse.

The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

Coping With End-Stage Alcoholism

By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health. Recovery will not be easy at this point, but it will be worth the work. Now is the time to line up support from addiction specialists, mental health professionals, friends and family, and others living with an alcohol use disorder. You don’t have to alone during this difficult and scary time.

For Friends and Family

Watching a loved one endure the end stages of alcoholism can be frustrating and lonely. The feeling of powerlessness is stifling as you watch someone you care about slowly deteriorate physically and mentally while they may even continue to refuse to admit their drinking is problematic. For those who need help and don’t want it,interventionmay be the only alternative.

Even if your loved one seeks help, you may still need help and support to overcome the effects. Many people refer to alcoholism as a “family disease” because it can have a major impact on all members of the family whether they realize it or not.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Facts and Statistics.Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: Alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Licata A, Zerbo M, Como S, Cammilleri M, Soresi M, Montalto G, Giannitrapani L.The role of vitamin deficiency in liver disease: To supplement or not supplement?Nutrients. 2021 Nov 10;13(11):4014. doi:10.3390/nu13114014Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis.Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A.Alcohol’s effects on the brain: Neuroimaging results in humans and animal models.Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):183–206.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Facts and Statistics.Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: Alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Licata A, Zerbo M, Como S, Cammilleri M, Soresi M, Montalto G, Giannitrapani L.The role of vitamin deficiency in liver disease: To supplement or not supplement?Nutrients. 2021 Nov 10;13(11):4014. doi:10.3390/nu13114014Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis.Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A.Alcohol’s effects on the brain: Neuroimaging results in humans and animal models.Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):183–206.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Facts and Statistics.Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: Alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469Licata A, Zerbo M, Como S, Cammilleri M, Soresi M, Montalto G, Giannitrapani L.The role of vitamin deficiency in liver disease: To supplement or not supplement?Nutrients. 2021 Nov 10;13(11):4014. doi:10.3390/nu13114014Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis.Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A.Alcohol’s effects on the brain: Neuroimaging results in humans and animal models.Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):183–206.

Rehm J.The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism.Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(2):135–143.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol Facts and Statistics.

Singal AK, Bataller R, Ahn J, Kamath PS, Shah VH.ACG clinical guideline: Alcoholic liver disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(2):175-194. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.469

Licata A, Zerbo M, Como S, Cammilleri M, Soresi M, Montalto G, Giannitrapani L.The role of vitamin deficiency in liver disease: To supplement or not supplement?Nutrients. 2021 Nov 10;13(11):4014. doi:10.3390/nu13114014

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis.

Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A.Alcohol’s effects on the brain: Neuroimaging results in humans and animal models.Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):183–206.

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