Alcoholism – risk factors, phases, treatment methods [EXPLAINED]

Proven content

Alcoholism – that is, alcohol addiction – has one face but many masks. For some, the alcoholic is a drunk, he beats his wife, and unless he lies in a pool of urine under the bench of a bus stop, he will return home in the evening, sticking to the fence. Another face of the alcoholic is an educated and well-to-do man who drinks good alcohol in designer glass.

Addiction – what is it?

As defined by the WHO Committee of Experts in 1969: addiction is a mental state, and sometimes also a physical one, resulting from the interaction between the body and the addictive substancecharacterized by a change in behavior and other reactions, which include the need to take this drug, continuously or periodically, in order to experience its effects on the psyche, and sometimes also to avoid unpleasant symptoms resulting from its absence.

Tolerance can occur simultaneously. With addiction, it is quite common to be addicted to more than one drug. There are mental, physical and social addiction:

1. physical dependence – the process by which the body adapts to a given agent and becomes addicted to it,
2. psychological addiction – it is an overwhelming need to take a given drug. The desire to take it becomes a central problem in the thinking of a man who “desires it” at all costs,
3. social addiction – is associated with the use of, for example, drugs in a group of people (e.g. in the youth subculture).

The term “addiction” is used with many different meanings and does not have a single agreed scientific definition. The most common behavior that becomes habitual, frequent, regular and standard are considered to be the criteria for determining addiction. These behaviors are often extreme in nature and take the addict most of the time.

Also read: Methyl alcohol poisoning

When can you talk about addiction?

Addiction can be considered when 3 of the following symptoms occur within one year (ICD 10):

1. strong desire or a feeling of having to take a substance
2. difficulty controlling substance use behavior (start, stop and size of use)
3. physiological withdrawal symptoms, which occur when drinking is interrupted or reduced, manifested by a substance-specific withdrawal syndrome and the use of the same or a similar substance to alleviate or avoid withdrawal symptoms,
4. finding tolerance (the need to take an increased dose of a substance in order to achieve the effects previously achieved with lower doses),
5. increasing neglect of other sources of pleasure or interests due to the use of a given substance, increasing the amount of time necessary to obtain or take a substance or to remove its effects,
6. taking despite clear evidence of harmful consequences, such as liver damage, depressive states following periods of intensive use of these substances, and substance-related cognitive impairment – in these cases, it is necessary to recognize whether the user could be aware of the nature and extent of these damages.

Are you struggling with alcohol addiction? Take advantage of the treatment supporting psychotherapy, which is sewing Esperal in.

The editorial board recommends: Addiction is a brain disease

Alcoholism – What Is It?

Alcoholism is one of the most common problems in the modern world. According to the definition of the World Health Organization: alcoholism is any form of drinking that goes beyond traditional and customary consumption or beyond customcommunity-wide social drinking regardless of the factors that lead to it.

It is a disease that develops slowly and very insidiously. It is commonly said that alcoholism is the loss of control over the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which can lead to death. Alcoholism is also a primary disease, which means that it underlies many other somatic and mental illnesses.

Stop Addiction – a Panaseus dietary supplement, which supports cleansing the body, improves well-being and protects against antioxidant damage, will help in breaking the addiction – including alcohol ones.

See: Relax, it’s just a mental illness

Alcoholism – statistics

Excessive alcohol consumption causes 3 million deaths a year worldwide, as well as the disability and ill health of millions of people. Overall, harmful alcohol consumption is responsible for 5,1% of the global burden of disease.

Harmful alcohol consumption is responsible for 7,1% and 2,2% of the global burden of disease in men and women, respectively. Alcohol is a major risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group.

Harmful alcohol consumption caused approximately 1,7 million deaths from non-communicable diseases in 2016, including approximately 1,2 million deaths from gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disease (0,6 million for each state) and 0,4 million cancer deaths.

See: Heart diseases – civilization diseases

Alcoholism – risk factors

The onset of alcoholism is difficult to diagnose. The line between social drinking and sick drinking is very fluid. This is due to many factors, as well as the fact that each of us reacts to alcohol differently.

The differences in the effects of alcohol depend on the amount of alcohol consumed, gender, weight, age, medication intake, general health, genetic factors, and the drinking situation. Factors that predispose to developing alcoholism include:

1. genetic factors,
2. early alcohol initiation,
3. home alcoholism – when one or both parents have used alcohol excessively
4. geographical zone and religious factor,
5. the younger a person is, the faster alcoholism develops, the development of the disease depends on age.

Read: Genetic test “for a hundred”

Is alcoholism hereditary?

According to DSM-5, alcoholism is considered to have a strong hereditary component, with 40–60% of the risk variance attributed to genetic factors. However, there is no simple formula to explain alcoholism. It is a multi-faceted and complex disease, so while someone may inherit a predisposition to the disease, genes do not fully determine the outcome.

The way environmental factors influence genes plays an important role in alcoholism. Being around alcohol-abusive parents, contact with alcohol-abusing peers, and drinking alcohol for the first time at an early age can have a significant impact on the development of alcoholism.

See: Difficult childhood causes alcoholism

Phases of the development of alcoholism

There are four stages in the development of alcoholism.

Initial Alcoholism – Pre-Alcoholic:

1. drinking to maintain balance
2. there is a mental addiction,
3. increase in alcohol tolerance,
4. as a rule, he does not get drunk and has control over his drinking.

Warning Phase of Alcoholism – Announcement:

1. there are gaps in the biography,
2. increased concentration on alcohol,
3. drinking alcohol alone,
4. avoiding talking about drinking alcohol,
5. organizing drinking opportunities,
6. feeling guilty about overusing alcohol
7. experiencing the symptoms of a “heavy hangover”,
8. memory impairment.

Critical Phase of Alcoholism – Acute:

1. symptoms of alcohol craving,
2. loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed,
3. making excuses,
4. blaming the environment and reacting to it with aggression,
5. neglecting family, work and daily duties,
6. the accumulation of alcohol,
7. constant replenishment of the alcohol level in the body,
8. concentration of life around drinking alcohol,
9. decreased sex drive.

Chronic phase of alcoholism – chronic:

1. periods of multi-day drinking “Drinking sequences”,
2. lack of moral principles,
3. decrease in alcohol tolerance,
4. the presence of all the symptoms of addiction,
5. seizures
6. psychosis, memory impairment,
7. the alcoholic is marginalized in society.

The editorial board recommends: Pole is an alcoholic. We are at the forefront of Europe

Alcoholism – Health Effects

Excessive consumption of alcohol has many health, social, family and professional consequences. Health effects include disorders of:

1. circulatory system – arterial hypertension, stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, numerous damage to the heart muscle, enlargement of the heart and adipose tissue build-up,
2. digestive system – irritation of the oral mucosa, erosion, gastrointestinal varices, gastric ulceration, nausea, nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, stimulates the production of digestive enzymes, destroys the mucosa lining the stomach, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, fatty steatosis, inflammation, liver fibrosis, liver failure, cirrhosis, liver cancer,
3. respiratory system – chronic inflammation of the tracheobronchial mucosa, which in turn leads to the destruction of cilia and mucous glands. The consequence of this is an increased susceptibility to infections of the upper respiratory tract,
4. urinary system – increase in the level of uric acid in the blood, acute kidney failure,
5. endocrine system – abnormal secretion of hormones: testosterone and luteotropin, decreased sperm motility, potency disorders, menstrual disorders, infertility, abnormal secretion of thyroid hormones,
6. tumors – cancer of the liver, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast and nipple cancer in women,
7. skin – skin changes, faster aging, yellowish skin color.

Health Effects Due to Blood Alcohol Concentration:

1. 0,3 — 0,5 per thousand: impaired eye-hand coordination, balance disorders, euphoria, decreased criticism,
2. 0,5 — 0,7 per thousand: motor skills disorders, decreased self-control, false assessment of the situation, agitation, talkativeness,
3. 0,7 — 2,0 per thousand: balance disorders, delayed reaction time, lower pain threshold, decreased intellectual performance, irritability, decreased tolerance to others, sexual agitation,
4. 2,0 — 3,0 per thousand: deep intoxication – speech disorders, slower balance, drowsiness, lack of control over one’s behavior, falling over,
5. 3,0-4,0 per thousand: severe alcohol poisoning – drop in blood pressure, decrease in body temperature, disappearance of physiological reflexes,
6. over 4,0 per mille: disorders of the vasomotor system, coma disorders of the respiratory system. It is a life-threatening condition.

Monitor the alcohol content in the exhaled air by taking AlcoTEST, which you can buy conveniently and safely at Medonet Market.

Alcoholism – Social Effects

The social consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are understood as an indirect consequence of the impact of alcohol on human health, but on the world around him and on other people in society. The discussed effects include:

1. giving up control over your daily life (neglect in the upbringing and education of children, relationship instability, job loss, poverty),
2. increased aggression towards the immediate environment,
3. breaking family and friendship ties,
4. violations of the law,
5. marginalization in society,
6. the decline of the culture of everyday life,
7. vulgarization of the language.

Occupational Effects of Alcoholism:

1. absence from work,
2. frequent delays,
3. accidents at work,
4. impaired ability to work.

Methods of treating alcoholism

The main method of treating addiction in drug addiction treatment facilities is addiction psychotherapy, while medical management supports the psychotherapy of addiction and is mainly directed at treating alcohol abstinence syndromes and pharmacological support of psychotherapy.

Alcoholism treatment programs are mostly based on:

1. cognitive-behavioral therapy approach,
2. the ideas and experiences of the Alcoholics Anonymous Community,

Most programs integrate different psychotherapeutic approaches, with a predominance of behavioral-cognition.

Basic goals of alcoholism psychotherapy:

1. maintaining permanent abstinence,
2. improving mental and physical health,
3. acquiring the skills needed to solve emotional and social problems.

The time required for effective therapy is 18-24 months. The first, basic stage of alcohol dependence psychotherapy in inpatient units and day wards lasts from six to eight weeks, and in outpatient facilities – from four to six months.

The entire cycle of addiction psychotherapy lasts up to two years and includes up to 240 hours of group therapy and up to 50 hours of individual therapy per year. After the end of stationary therapy, addicts are referred to further psychotherapy in outpatient clinics and to Alcoholics Anonymous self-help groups and abstainers clubs in order to continue treatment.

The duration of treatment in Alcohol Abstinence Syndromes Treatment Units does not exceed 10 days, however, depending on the severity of symptoms, it may be extended.

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.