Thanks to national awareness groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), many are aware of the harm those who drink in excess can cause to themselves and others. One would think that more individuals would be trying to get off the drink—yet many are still admitted to drug rehab with an alcohol abuse problem. But alcohol doesn’t just cause road dangers—it can do irreparable damage to one’s liver.
Alcohol damages and can even destroy liver cells. This is especially true when one drinks alcohol in excess. One of the liver’s primary jobs is to remove harmful substances (such as alcohol) from the blood, and this ability is impeded by excessive alcohol use.
The American Liver Foundation reports that excess alcohol use can directly contribute to “three main types of alcohol-related liver disease: alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.”
These diseases can cause severe scarring of the liver, liver failure, and other serious complications. The more one abuses alcohol, the more likely they are to develop one of these alcohol-related liver diseases.
The best way to combat these problems is to stop using alcohol. For some, this requires the help of drug rehab. Many individuals also require the use of certain medications to help repair their liver. For those with more serious issues, a liver transplant may be necessary.
