Welcome to Your National
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Digital Resource Library
presented by
VRx Solutions
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on AUD. Learn about AUD from Risk to Diagnosis to Recovery
What Happens?
The Cycle of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with compulsive alcohol drinking, the loss of control over intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when alcohol is no longer available. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a spectrum disorder and can be mild, moderate, or severe and encompasses the conditions that some people refer to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or the colloquial term, alcoholism. Alcohol addiction refers to the moderate to severe end of the AUD spectrum.
Alcohol Withdrawal
We know that Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be quite a challenge for someone going through alcohol detoxification. So what if I just stop drinking? If an individual suddenly stops drinking, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. This happens because the body must now adjust to life without alcohol. The adjustment process is often uncomfortable and comes with some or all the following symptoms:
Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Blood pressure changes
- Tremors
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Nightmares
- Stomach pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Delirium
- Headache
- Hallucinations
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Shakes
The Withdrawal Timeline
-
- 6 – 12 hours: Anxiety, agitation, nausea, vomiting, and/or headache.
- 12 – 24 hours: Previous side effects plus hand alcohol withdrawal tremors, diarrhea, disorientation, itching, chest pain, and/or sweating.
- 24 – 48 hours: Previous side effects plus insomnia, DTs, hallucinations, seizures, fever, excessive sweating, and/or hypertension.
- 48 hours – one week: Most side effects have subsided. However, the person may continue experiencing post-acute symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, and panic attacks.
Did You Know?
- Alcohol is responsible for nearly 3.3 million deaths per year and is the 7th leading cause of premature death worldwide.
- Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a brain disorder linked to over "200" health conditions - do you have any of the 200?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered the best practice in the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Virtual Reality Cue-Exposure Therapy (VR-CET)
Virtual Reality (VR) “efficiency” as exposure therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) – Science Direct
Highlights
- VR-CET can be as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing alcohol cravings and anxiety.
- VR-CET increases feelings of self-efficacy and reduces the tendency to engage in reflexive alcohol-related behaviors.
- The realism of the environment can influence craving levels in Alcohol Use Disorder patients and Heavy Social Drinkers.
- Virtual Reality offers remarkable potential to transform our understanding and treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Bottom Line: The dynamic world of Virtual Reality (VR) holds remarkable potential to transform our understanding and treatment of AUD. From its ability to trigger cravings in patients struggling with AUD to its demonstrated ability to reduce those cravings and associated anxieties in a single exposure, virtual reality has established itself as an exciting and innovative tool in our therapeutic techniques.
AUD Rehabilitation Prolonged consumption of alcohol causes neuroadaptation that compromises cognitive functioning and has severe personal and interpersonal consequences. The treatment of choice includes pharmacological, social and psychotherapeutic interventions, but even when receiving complete treatment, more than 60% of patients experience relapse within the first year after being discharged.
Alcohol and Your Brain: A Virtual Reality Experience
Immersive Experience Created by the NIH
Updated: 2023
Welcome to Alcohol and Your Brain, an interactive activity for youth ages 13 and older to learn about alcohol’s effects on five areas of the brain.
This educational experience shares age-appropriate messages through engaging visuals, informative billboards, and narration. Two versions of this activity are available. One is formatted for our Virtual Reality Medical Environment (VRME) and the other in a video version. Below is the video version for your use on your computer or cell phone if you do not have a VR headset.
The VR version creates an immersive experience. By using your VR headset, you will take a rollercoaster ride through the human brain, pausing at stations to learn about key brain regions that are affected by alcohol—and how alcohol, in turn, affects behavior.
Find help NOW? – American Addiction Centers
The following section links to existing Virtual Reality (VR) trials, examinations, training, performance based assessments and other “Good to Know” information for you to research and learn how immersive VR can help you or someone you know.
Donate to the North Carolina’s Governor’s Institute
The Governor’s Institute improves the lives of people with substance use disorder problems by ensuring that doctors and other healthcare providers are equipped to prevent, identify, and treat these disorders. These conditions often go undiagnosed or ignored, resulting in enormous problems and costs for individuals and their communities.
