All about alcoholism. About the similarities and differences between alcoholism and drunkenness. What is alcoholism

– a disease in which there is physical and mental dependence on alcohol. It is accompanied by an increased craving for alcohol, an inability to regulate the amount of alcohol consumed, a tendency to binge drinking, the occurrence of a pronounced withdrawal syndrome, decreased control over one’s own behavior and motivations, progressive mental degradation and toxic damage to internal organs. Alcoholism is an irreversible condition; the patient can only completely stop drinking alcohol. Drinking the slightest dose of alcohol, even after a long period of abstinence, causes a breakdown and further progression of the disease.

General information

Alcoholism is the most common type of substance abuse, mental and physical dependence on ethanol-containing drinks, accompanied by progressive personality degradation and characteristic damage to internal organs. Experts believe that the prevalence of alcoholism is directly related to the increase in the standard of living of the population. In recent decades, the number of patients with alcoholism has been growing; according to WHO, there are currently about 140 million alcoholics in the world.

The disease develops gradually. The likelihood of alcoholism depends on many factors, including mental characteristics, social environment, national and family traditions, as well as genetic predisposition. Children of people suffering from alcoholism become alcoholics more often than children of non-drinking parents, which may be due to certain character traits, hereditary metabolic characteristics and the formation of a negative life scenario. Non-drinking children of alcoholics often show a tendency towards codependent behavior and form families with alcoholics. Treatment of alcoholism is carried out by specialists in the field of addiction medicine.

Ethanol metabolism and addiction development

The main component of alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Small amounts of this chemical compound are part of the human body's natural metabolic processes. Normally, the ethanol content is no more than 0.18 ppm. Exogenous (external) ethanol is quickly absorbed in the digestive tract, enters the blood and affects nerve cells. Maximum intoxication occurs 1.5-3 hours after drinking alcohol. When taking too much alcohol, a gag reflex occurs. As alcoholism develops, this reflex weakens.

About 90% of alcohol consumed is oxidized in cells, broken down in the liver and excreted from the body in the form of metabolic end products. The remaining 10% is excreted unprocessed through the kidneys and lungs. Ethanol is eliminated from the body within approximately 24 hours. In chronic alcoholism, intermediate products of the breakdown of ethanol remain in the body and have a negative effect on the activity of all organs.

The development of mental dependence in alcoholism is due to the influence of ethanol on the nervous system. After drinking alcohol, a person feels euphoria. Anxiety decreases, self-confidence increases, and communication becomes easier. Essentially, people are trying to use alcohol as a simple, affordable, fast-acting antidepressant and stress reliever. As a “one-time help”, this method sometimes really works - a person temporarily relieves tension, feels satisfied and relaxed.

However, drinking alcohol is not natural and physiological. Over time, the need for alcohol increases. A person, not yet an alcoholic, begins to drink alcohol regularly, without noticing gradual changes: an increase in the required dose, the appearance of memory lapses, etc. When these changes become significant, it turns out that psychological dependence is already combined with physical one, and you can’t stop yourself. Drinking alcohol is very difficult or almost impossible.

Alcoholism is a disease closely related to social interactions. At the initial stage, people often drink alcohol due to family, national or corporate traditions. In a drinking environment, it is more difficult for a person to remain sober, as the concept of “normal behavior” shifts. In socially prosperous patients, alcoholism may be due to a high level of stress at work, the tradition of “washing” successful deals, etc. However, regardless of the root cause, the consequences of regular alcohol consumption will be the same - alcoholism will arise with progressive mental degradation and deterioration of health.

Consequences of drinking alcohol

Alcohol has a depressant effect on the nervous system. Initially, euphoria occurs, accompanied by some excitement, a decrease in criticism of one’s own behavior and current events, as well as a deterioration in coordination of movements and a slower reaction. Subsequently, excitement gives way to drowsiness. When taking large doses of alcohol, contact with the outside world is increasingly lost. There is progressive absent-mindedness in combination with a decrease in temperature and pain sensitivity.

The severity of motor impairment depends on the degree of intoxication. In severe intoxication, severe static and dynamic ataxia is observed - a person cannot maintain a vertical body position, his movements are very uncoordinated. Control over the activity of the pelvic organs is impaired. When taking excessive doses of alcohol, weakened breathing, cardiac dysfunction, stupor and coma may occur. Possible death.

In chronic alcoholism, typical damage to the nervous system is observed due to prolonged intoxication. During recovery from binge drinking, delirium tremens (delirium tremens) may develop. Somewhat less frequently, patients suffering from alcoholism are diagnosed with alcoholic encephalopathy (hallucinosis, delusional states), depression and alcoholic epilepsy. Unlike delirium tremens, these conditions are not necessarily associated with abrupt cessation of drinking. In patients with alcoholism, gradual mental degradation, a narrowing of the range of interests, disorders of cognitive abilities, decreased intelligence, etc. are revealed. In the later stages of alcoholism, alcoholic polyneuropathy is often observed.

Typical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract include pain in the stomach, gastritis, erosion of the gastric mucosa, as well as atrophy of the intestinal mucosa. Acute complications are possible in the form of bleeding caused by gastric ulceration or violent vomiting with ruptures of the mucous membrane in the transitional section between the stomach and esophagus. Due to atrophic changes in the intestinal mucosa in patients with alcoholism, the absorption of vitamins and microelements worsens, metabolism is disrupted, and vitamin deficiencies occur.

In alcoholism, liver cells are replaced by connective tissue, and liver cirrhosis develops. Acute pancreatitis that occurs due to alcohol intake is accompanied by severe endogenous intoxication and may be complicated by acute renal failure, cerebral edema and hypovolemic shock. Mortality in acute pancreatitis ranges from 7 to 70%. Characteristic disorders of other organs and systems in alcoholism include cardiomyopathy, alcoholic nephropathy, anemia and immune disorders. Patients with alcoholism have an increased risk of developing subarachnoid hemorrhages and some forms of cancer.

Symptoms and stages of alcoholism

There are three stages of alcoholism and prodrome - a state when the patient is not yet an alcoholic, but regularly drinks alcohol and is at risk of developing this disease. At the prodrome stage, a person willingly drinks alcohol in company and, as a rule, rarely drinks alone. Alcohol consumption occurs in accordance with the circumstances (celebration, friendly meeting, fairly significant pleasant or unpleasant event, etc.). The patient can stop drinking alcohol at any time without suffering any unpleasant consequences. He has no desire to continue drinking after the event is over and easily returns to normal sober life.

First stage of alcoholism accompanied by increased craving for alcohol. The need to drink alcohol resembles hunger or thirst and is exacerbated in unfavorable circumstances: during quarrels with loved ones, problems at work, an increase in the overall level of stress, fatigue, etc. If a patient suffering from alcoholism fails to drink, he becomes distracted and cravings for alcohol. temporarily reduced until the next unfavorable situation. If alcohol is available, a patient with alcoholism drinks more than a person at the prodrome stage. He tries to achieve a state of pronounced intoxication by drinking in company or drinking alcohol alone. It is more difficult for him to stop, he strives to continue the “holiday” and continues to drink even after the end of the event.

Characteristic features of this stage of alcoholism are the extinction of the gag reflex, aggressiveness, irritability and memory loss. The patient takes alcohol irregularly; periods of absolute sobriety may alternate with isolated cases of drinking alcohol or be replaced by binges lasting several days. Criticism of one’s own behavior is reduced even during the period of sobriety; a patient with alcoholism tries in every possible way to justify his need for alcohol, finds all sorts of “worthy reasons,” shifts responsibility for his drunkenness to others, etc.

Second stage of alcoholism manifested by an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. A person drinks more alcohol than before, and the ability to control the intake of ethanol-containing drinks disappears after the first dose. Against the background of a sharp refusal of alcohol, withdrawal syndrome occurs: tachycardia, increased blood pressure, sleep disturbances, trembling of the fingers, vomiting when taking liquids and food. The development of delirium tremens, accompanied by fever, chills and hallucinations, is possible.

Third stage of alcoholism manifested by decreased tolerance to alcohol. To achieve intoxication, a patient suffering from alcoholism only needs to take a very small dose of alcohol (about one glass). When taking subsequent doses, the condition of the patient with alcoholism practically does not change, despite the increase in the concentration of alcohol in the blood. There is an uncontrollable craving for alcohol. Alcohol consumption becomes constant, the duration of drinking bouts increases. If you refuse to take ethanol-containing drinks, delirium delirium often develops. Mental degradation is noted in combination with pronounced changes in internal organs.

Treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism

Prognosis for alcoholism

The prognosis depends on the duration and intensity of alcohol intake. At the first stage of alcoholism, the chances of recovery are quite high, but at this stage patients often do not consider themselves alcoholics, so they do not seek medical help. In the presence of physical dependence, remission for a year or more is observed in only 50-60% of patients. Narcologists note that the likelihood of long-term remission increases significantly if the patient actively desires to stop drinking alcohol.

The life expectancy of patients suffering from alcoholism is 15 years less than the population average. The cause of death is typical chronic diseases and acute conditions: delirium delirium, stroke, cardiovascular failure and cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholics are more likely to have accidents and commit suicide more often. Among this population group, there is a high level of early disability due to the consequences of injuries, organ pathology and severe metabolic disorders.

Alcoholism is rightfully considered one of the most serious problems of modern society, as the rate of spread of this disease increases every year. Constant advertising of alcoholic beverages and the availability of alcohol play a negative role because it contributes to the spread of alcohol addiction among the population. “Advertising” has a particularly negative impact on teenagers, since everything forbidden always attracts. Alcoholism among young people is a common phenomenon. In order for a person to get rid of the irresistible desire to drink alcohol, one must make a huge effort.

Alcoholism – what is it?

It is generally accepted that alcoholism is a disease caused by frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages and characterized by the development of a strong addiction to alcohol. It is classified as one of the types of drug addiction due to the fact that alcohol acts like a drug on the central nervous system. Due to prolonged and intense abuse of alcohol, characteristic changes begin in the internal organs, so this fact is also classified as symptoms of alcoholism.

Any disease should be treated by a specialist. In this case, you should contact a psychiatrist-narcologist, since alcoholism is a serious problem that causes psychiatric and physical changes in the body. Most often, it is impossible to cope with this disease on your own, especially when it comes to the second and third stages of alcoholism. As a result, timely consultation with a doctor will help restore health and eliminate addiction.

Causes of alcoholism

Recently, all the causes of alcohol addiction have been divided into three large groups:

1. Physiological factors.
2. Psychological factors.
3. Social factors.

One of the most important points is the presence of a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, which arises due to the occurrence of mutations in genes. As a result, a person with such changes in chromosomes becomes an alcoholic much faster than those around him. Since over the past decades a huge number of people have begun to suffer from alcoholism, the likelihood of having children with the existing predisposition is very high. But the presence of such a cause of alcoholism is not necessary for its occurrence, since upbringing and social status are of great importance.

In addition to genetic predisposition, physiological factors include the state of human health. With some diseases affecting the nervous system, metabolism or liver problems, alcoholism occurs more quickly. Psychological changes in an alcoholic are most often present from the onset of the disease. A person who abuses alcohol often experiences depression and anxiety, and has manic personality changes. Alcoholism and its consequences are psychologically terrible, since a person’s personality is greatly degraded. Many people begin to drink alcohol out of desperation, while others believe that alcohol gives them the opportunity to relax after a working day. Together, this causes regular drinking, which will lead to addiction in the future.

The socio-economic factor is the conditions in which a person exists. Depending on the environment, a person is either inclined to drink alcohol or not. Upbringing, traditions and family values ​​influence the way a person relaxes and solves problems. If there was a negative example before his eyes, that is alcoholism in the family, the likelihood of addiction increases significantly. This is due to the fact that the fear of drinking alcohol disappears. If my parents could do it, then so can I – this is what most young people think when it comes to alcohol and cigarettes.

Stages of alcoholism

There are two forms of addiction – psychological and physical. The first occurs due to the effect of alcohol on the central nervous system, the second due to the inclusion of ethanol in metabolism. Alcoholism develops gradually, which depends on the frequency of use and the amount of alcohol consumed. In order to diagnose a pathological addiction to alcohol, the doctor evaluates four signs:

1. Degree of craving for alcohol.
2. Changes in alcohol tolerance.
3. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (the appearance of psycho-neurological and somatovegetative symptoms that occur after stopping drinking alcohol). Symptoms of alcoholism always include withdrawal syndrome, which is characteristic of all drug addicts.

In order to understand the severity of the condition, a psychiatrist-narcologist always evaluates the signs of alcoholism. The most important thing remains the addiction to alcohol, that is, the irresistible desire to drink it regardless of the situation. Doctors also distinguish three stages of alcoholism:

1. The first stage is characterized by the emergence of dependence. The person experiences a strong desire to drink alcohol. Even if the desire worsens once a week, it is still a formidable symptom. The alcoholic does not realize the danger of what is happening and prefers to satisfy the need rather than fight it. Control over the amount of alcohol is lost, that is, he drinks until he becomes intoxicated. The person is often aggressive and irritable, which is very noticeable. The next day there is a hangover, but there is no need to recover yet. There is no vomiting. Alcoholism and its stages occur in different ways. The first stage necessarily passes into the second, but always over different periods of time.
2. The second stage is characterized by increased tolerance to alcohol, that is, more alcohol is needed in order for a state of intoxication to appear. The addiction becomes very strong. Control is lost when drinking alcohol, and its amount is constantly growing. Alcoholism and its causes lead to the appearance of retrograde amnesia. The main difference between the first stage and the second is the occurrence of withdrawal syndrome. If the desire to drink alcohol is not satisfied, a number of mechanisms are triggered that worsen a person’s physical and mental state. Thus, the body requires the next portion of alcohol.
   Irritability, increased blood pressure, trembling of hands, eyelids, increased heart rate, insomnia, vomiting after food or water, and not after alcohol, appear. In addition to physical symptoms, psychosis with hallucinations may begin. The condition is extremely dangerous both for the alcoholic himself and for those around him. To prevent such severe symptoms, the alcoholic continues to drink alcohol, which leads to binge drinking. The consequences of alcoholism are still reversible, but only if all treatment conditions are met. Alcoholics can remain at this stage for a very long time, sometimes until the end of their lives.
3. The third stage is final. It is characterized by the fact that endurance for alcohol decreases greatly, that is, a small amount of alcohol is required in order to get drunk. Withdrawal syndrome is very pronounced, leading to daily alcohol consumption. A person’s personality changes for the worse, as intelligence and the ability to think completely disappear. Chronic alcoholism leads to irreversible changes in internal organs.

Treatment and consequences of alcoholism

The main point in the treatment of alcoholism is a complete cessation of alcohol for life, since even a single use of alcohol returns the alcoholic to his previous path. At the beginning of treatment, a special role is given to eliminating withdrawal symptoms and mitigating alcohol dependence. To relieve alcohol intoxication, drugs are used that enhance metabolism and remove ethanol from the body. Alcoholism and its consequences lead to the fact that it is extremely difficult to limit oneself to drug treatment alone.. Alcoholics need intensive psychotherapy, since stable remission is possible only with full treatment.

In order to appreciate the seriousness of such a problem as chronic alcoholism, one must understand the social damage. Due to addiction to alcohol, families break up, sick children are born, who in the future may also become alcoholics. The number of crimes committed due to intoxication or in order to obtain alcohol is steadily growing. Due to the prevalence of alcoholism, there is a decrease in the general intellectual level of society, which leads to degradation and disappearance of cultural values. Due to health problems, the working population is decreasing. The consequences of alcoholism are terrible not only for the person himself. They affect society and worsen the genotype of the entire nation. Therefore, we must focus on the prevention of this terrible disease, and not on its treatment.

Content

Answer yourself this question: would you like to save your loved one? Can such pain be tolerated? How much money have you already spent on ineffective treatment? That's right - it's time to end this! Do you agree? That is why we decided to publish an exclusive interview with Yuri Nikolaev

The modern world is full of temptations and temptations. Today it is quite difficult to find a person who has never tried alcoholic beverages. Some drink alcohol only on holidays. For others, it has become the norm of life and drinking alcoholic beverages is a common thing for them. The problem of alcoholism is a “plague” of the entire current society, which itself is to blame for the fact that this problem has grown into a public one. Alcohol addiction occurs through constant advertising and availability of alcoholic beverages. The younger generation is especially susceptible to negative influence. And it’s not just about teenagers who want to try everything. For some people, the experience of drinking alcohol amounts to several decades. Therefore, alcoholism and alcoholics are an acute problem that does not affect a specific family, but is a problem for the whole country.

Let's find out what the symptoms and causes of alcoholism are.

All about alcoholism

The basis of any alcoholic drink is ethyl alcohol. Ethanol is a highly toxic poison. Therefore, regardless of the strength of the drink, it has a detrimental effect on the entire body. In addition, systematic alcohol consumption leads to addiction. As a result, a disease such as alcoholism develops. The concept of alcoholism and elitism is a widely used term today. It was invented in the mid-eighteenth century by M. Huss. However, in medicine at the end of the nineteenth century, this term received a name - alcohol dependence.

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 140 million people worldwide suffering from alcohol-related illness.

Let's figure out what alcoholism is and how it is dangerous for human life.

Factors causing alcoholism

There are a huge number of opinions on the pathogenesis of alcoholism. Various studies have proven the difficulty of the onset and development of alcoholism. Many authors believe that alcoholic illness occurs due to the influence of not only social, but also other factors.

All causes of alcohol addiction can be divided into three large groups: physiological, psychological and social factors.

Physiological reasons. The most important aspect is genetic predisposition. It occurs through a mutation that occurs in genes. People with altered chromosomes become alcoholics more often and faster. Over the past decade, drunkenness and alcoholism, elitism has significantly expanded its scope. Therefore, children born from such parents are more predisposed to alcoholism. But this factor in no way indicates a 100% guarantee of the occurrence of this disease. It all depends on the child’s upbringing and position in society. Physiological factors also include human health. The pathogenesis of alcoholism manifests itself as a result of diseases associated with disorders of the nervous system or metabolism.

Mental and mental changes are observed at the initial stage of the disease. People who abuse alcohol are characterized by changes in behavior, the development of depression and manic personality changes. Symptoms of depression become more pronounced. Most people begin their journey as an alcoholic with small doses of alcohol and the signs of the disease are not yet visible. In their opinion, alcohol will help you relax, relax and forget about all your problems.

An alcoholic is a person whose personality is gradually but surely degrading. Systematic consumption of such drinks will soon cause addiction. Which is very difficult to deal with.

Hundreds of articles have been written about the treatment of Alcoholism, and a lot of advice has been given. MARIA K. shared her personal experience of getting rid of an addiction with us. Her personal experience of treating her husband for alcoholism.

The social factor is the conditions of human existence. Such conditions include way of life, upbringing and family traditions. Alcoholism is more common among poor and unsettled people. However, recently the country has seen an increase in this disease along with economic growth. Alcoholism is a disease of the soul. And emotional experiences do not look at status and position in society.

Main signs of the disease

As noted earlier, almost every person sometimes drinks alcohol. However, what distinguishes these people from alcoholics is the absence of alcohol dependence. First comes psychological alcohol dependence, and then physical dependence.

The external signs of people suffering from this disease are as follows:

• Constant binges.
• Getting used to alcohol. When taking large doses, vomiting is not observed.
• Hangover.
• External pathologies characterized by withering and aging of the skin.

Neglected cases are characterized by regular drinking bouts and a lack of personal opinion and philosophy. Heavy alcoholics slur their words due to damage to the nervous tissue. In most cases, such people develop oncology (cancer or cirrhosis of the liver) and die.

Stages of alcoholism

It is customary to distinguish two forms of dependence – psychological and physical.

The mental form appears due to the influence of ethanol on the central nervous system. Physical dependence on alcohol occurs as a result of the effect of ethanol on metabolism. This disease develops at a slow pace and depends on the dosage and frequency of drinking alcohol.

Pathological addiction to alcohol is determined by the following criteria:

• Degree of attraction.
• Changing tolerance to alcoholic beverages.
• Hangover syndrome.
• Level of damage to internal organs

To determine the severity of the patient's condition, doctors study the signs of the disease. The most important symptoms are the need and desire to drink alcohol alone. It is customary to distinguish three stages of alcoholism. However, it is possible to identify a fourth stage.

Stages of dependence on alcoholic beverages: the story of an experienced drunkard

Signs of first degree alcoholism

The first is a slight psychological dependence. This is most likely a habit. If a person does not see alcoholic drinks in front of him, addiction gradually decreases. Externally, no changes are observed. There is only a slight attachment. Alcohol disease and addiction in the first stage are characterized by fairly mild manifestations of the disease. The craving for ethanol disappears quickly.

Signs of the second stage of the disease

The second stage is characterized by obsession and a strong desire to drink. The psychological picture becomes pronounced and the person constantly thinks about drinking. At this stage, the dose of alcohol increases. Alcohol is mandatory for a person at this stage. After it, the patient moves on to the most dangerous stages.

Signs of the most dangerous stages

At the third stage, a person experiences withdrawal symptoms. Mental dependence is replaced by physical dependence. Alcohol blocks the production of natural hormones. The patient will no longer be able to stop drinking alcohol alone, without help. The dosage of the standard exceeds the permissible norm several times. The hangover is eliminated by a new dose of alcohol and all the signs of binge drinking appear on the face. Pathological disorders of nerve tissue occur in the human body. At this stage, the onset of liver cirrhosis occurs. Forced withdrawal causes symptoms that are observed in drug addicts - withdrawal and “withdrawal syndrome”. The patient behaves aggressively and violently.

At the last stage, unhealthy changes occur in the structure of the circulatory system. A person develops various tumors. For the patient, there is no longer any family or friends. He constantly wants to drink alcohol. All his thoughts are occupied with how to get the next dose of alcohol. An alcoholic doesn't care what he drinks. That's why he drinks everything indiscriminately. For such a person, words no longer mean anything. Radical measures are needed. The physical dependence is so great that giving up alcohol can cause his death.
Alcoholics of the fourth stage in 95 percent of cases face a terrible death, which occurs as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage or a heart attack.
The last two stages are signs of the last point in the development of the disease. Having reached these stages, a person cannot cope on his own and needs help.

Signs of a harmful craving for alcoholic beverages

Disease syndromes

Alcoholism syndromes are divided into four groups.

• The first group is mental dependence. She is characterized by an irresistible desire to drink and bring herself to a state of intoxication. A person experiences some discomfort without drinking alcohol.
• The second group includes physical dependence. A person feels good after drinking a dose of alcohol.
• The third group is the syndrome of altered reactivity. The following symptoms are characteristic of severe intoxication: memory loss, slurred words.
• The last one is chronic intoxication. It negatively affects the functioning of all organs. A person has social problems.

The causes of this disease are varied. Alcoholism can arise due to stress or due to poor heredity. Despite all the factors, today alcoholism is curable. But first of all, everything depends on the person himself. If a person wants to drink, he will do it, and no one can force him to give up a glass or bottle. This is no longer a habit, but a real problem of alcoholism that needs and can be fought. Words will not help in this situation. Need a doctor's help.

Outcome of the disease

Alcohol disease slowly but surely leads to poisoning of the entire body. Alcohol leads to metabolic disorders. In addition, it affects the most important organs: the heart, kidneys and liver. Alcoholic drinks are a poison that kills living cells, reduces the dynamism and motility of sperm.

Chronic alcohol poisoning has a complication in the form of cirrhosis of the liver, which later develops into cancer. Alcoholics are prone to stomach ulcers. Long-term consumption of alcoholic beverages leads to mental disorders and personality degradation. The person begins to pronounce words incomprehensibly and unintelligibly.

After a person comes out of a long-term binge, he develops acute psychosis. The main symptoms of delirium tremens appear. In this state, a person does not control his actions and is dangerous to society. Such a person needs to be hospitalized as quickly as possible.

An important aspect in the treatment of alcoholism is the complete elimination of alcohol from life. In addition, the refusal should not be for a day or a year, but for life. Even drinking 100 grams returns a person to where he could hardly get out. Alcoholism and its complications require not only drug therapy, but also intensive psychotherapy. Elitism also needs to be treated. The right words will help speed up the healing process.

The sooner a person realizes that this is not a bad habit, but a disease, the easier it will be for him to give up the bottle and return to normal life. If you cannot cope with liquid plague on your own, you need to seek help from specialists.

Quitting drinking means regaining your identity and becoming a full member of society again. The duration of recovery depends on the severity of the disease.

Only numbers

According to statistics, the following picture emerges. The problem of alcoholism is becoming younger every year. In young people, the process of addiction to alcohol occurs faster than in adults. Teenagers who started drinking ethyl alcohol at the age of 15 after three years become hostages of this green beast. And this is no longer just a bad habit that you can quickly get rid of. And children who started drinking alcohol even earlier (12 - 14 years old) get used to alcohol in less than one year.

Conclusion

The problem of alcoholism is not a problem of an individual person. This disease is global in scope. Humanity has never been able to find an effective way to combat alcoholism. People and entire families can only hope that in the near future medicine will take a big step forward towards healing from this terrible and insidious disease, which destroys almost everything in its path. The main thing is that it destroys health, which can be quite difficult or impossible to restore.

A lot depends on the patient himself. For him, the words spoken by friends and relatives are empty space. He perceives the concept of normal life in his own way. The alcoholic must recognize and admit that he has a problem. Realizing that this is a problem and not a habit is the first and sure step towards a normal life. Very often, this step is very difficult to take. But for some patients, the importance of family comes to the fore. And it is not just words.

And a little about the author’s secrets

Do your family or friends experience these symptoms? And you understand firsthand what it is:

• The attraction to alcohol becomes a priority desire, and it is almost impossible to fight it.
• A severe, pronounced hangover syndrome occurs.
• The maximum dose of alcohol that a patient can drink is determined: contrary to data on doses of alcohol that are lethal for the human body (a little more than a liter), an experienced alcoholic can drink up to one and a half liters of vodka and still survive.
• Personality deformation progresses, the patient suffers from a whole range of various disorders, including:

1. increased irritability to the point of aggressiveness;
2. imbalance, rapid mood swings; general weakness that occurs even with minor exertion;
3. deformation of strong-willed character traits;
4. decreased ability of the patient to concentrate during periods of sobriety;
5. a significant change in priorities in life: monotonous desires are formed, associated exclusively with drinking alcohol.

• The memory and mental abilities of a drinking person deteriorate significantly.
• The patient begins to suffer from severe episodic mental disorders, such as:

1. delirium tremens;
2. hallucinations;
3. alcoholic
4. epilepsy;
5. paranoia.

Now answer the question: would you like to save your neighbor? Can such pain be tolerated? How much money have you already wasted on ineffective treatment? That's right - it's time to end this! Do you agree? That is why we decided to publish an exclusive interview with Yuri Nikolaev, in which he revealed the secrets of getting rid of alcohol addiction.

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Alcohol addiction is a progressive, systematic use and irresistible craving for alcoholic substances. People suffering from alcoholism are unable to control their desire to drink. They will continue to drink even when the habit begins to cause problems.

Like all diseases, alcohol addiction can affect people of any gender, race, social status and demographic location. It is difficult to determine the correct cause of the disease. According to experts, alcohol addiction is the result of a combination of genetic, environmental and behavioral factors. Those who suffer from this disease become physically dependent on alcohol. This happens because alcohol affects neurochemicals in the brain. Individual attempts to stop cause alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol and drug addictions are very common. They are a serious problem in the modern world. 50% of deaths from accidents, homicides and suicides are somehow related to alcohol or drug use. Often teenagers experiment with certain types of substances out of curiosity or for company. Many of them do not attach importance to the fact that the dosage and frequency of use are gradually increasing. Ultimately, addiction develops.

What happens when alcohol enters the body?

When a person drinks, the alcohol enters the bloodstream and flows through the body, reaching the brain, heart, muscles and other tissues. As the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases, alcohol intoxication occurs. Due to the influence on the central nervous system, the response to stimuli gradually decreases and changes in behavior occur.

There are 6 stages of alcohol intoxication:

1. Euphoria. This state is characterized by the appearance of a feeling of happiness and fun. Usually occurs immediately after taking the first dose of alcohol. At this stage, concentration decreases, reactions slow down, and a feeling of confidence and liberation appears. A person may begin to do and say things and words that are unusual for him.
2. Losing control. This is the stage at which a person begins to perceive information more difficult, the reaction is slow, and vision may become blurred. At this stage, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain balance, and a feeling of drowsiness appears.
3. Confusion. At this moment, the ability to correctly perceive color, shape, size and movement disappears. Muscle coordination is impaired, which can lead to loss of balance and falling. Speech becomes incoherent and emotionality increases.
4. Stupor. This is where complete loss of motor functions occurs. Vomiting and loss of bowel and bladder control are common.
5. Coma. Loss of consciousness occurs. Body temperature may rise or fall sharply. Sometimes there are problems with breathing and circulation.
6. Death. Respiration stops and death occurs.

It seems obvious that a person should stop drinking as soon as the euphoria stage occurs. But in reality this happens very rarely. The problem is that as the mind weakens, the ability to make rational decisions diminishes. The more a person drinks, the more he wants.

Symptoms of alcoholism

Alcohol addiction can manifest itself in different ways. Signs and symptoms of the disease vary greatly between people. For example, some drink alcohol on a daily basis. While others drink periodically, thereby effectively hiding their condition from loved ones, friends and colleagues.

People who struggle with alcohol addiction feel that they cannot exist without alcohol. Drinking is a high priority in their lives.

Below are some common symptoms that indicate you have a drinking problem:

• A constant desire to drink that distracts you from daily activities.
• Lack of control and willpower. A person starts drinking every day and cannot stop.
• Increased tolerance to ethanol.
• Drinking alcohol at any time of the day. The first thing a person does when he wakes up is reach for the bottle.
• Drinking alcohol in situations where it is inappropriate, irresponsible or dangerous.
• Lack of interest in work, any other activity, family.
• Negation. A person who suffers from alcohol addiction does not see this as a problem.
• Lie. Hiding the fact of drinking.
• Detoxification. When you stop drinking alcohol, withdrawal symptoms occur. Irritability, unsteadiness, trembling, nausea, restlessness, fatigue and insomnia appear.
• Changing social circle. The appearance of drinking buddies among friends.

How does alcoholism develop?

Alcohol and drug addiction is a problem with many causes. For some patients, psychological traits such as impulsivity, low self-esteem, and a need for approval lead them to use stimulants. Some people drink to cope with emotional problems.

Social and environmental factors, such as peer pressure and easy availability of alcohol, may play a key role. Poverty and physical or sexual abuse also increase the chances of developing alcohol addiction.

Stages of alcoholism

There are three in total:

• At the first stage, people develop psychological dependence; alcohol is perceived as a way to solve a psychological problem. Drinking fills the void, helps you forget negative situations for a while and relieve the stress associated with them. Psychological addiction is not the result of chemical changes in the brain. An addict drinks alcohol on a regular basis to relieve emotional stress. The first stage of the disease is characterized by an increase in doses and frequency of ethanol intake. Psychological dependence is manifested by a feeling of dissatisfaction in a sober state, constant thoughts about alcohol, and raising the mood before drinking alcohol. The stage lasts from one to 5 years.

• At the second stage, people who feel the need to drink for pleasure, emotional pleasure, have a physical alcohol dependence. Even the sight, thought, or smell of alcohol can trigger feelings of pleasure. This occurs due to chemical changes in the brain. Over time, the body gets used to the systematic intake of alcohol. The amount of drinking to achieve the desired effect of pleasure increases. When trying to stop, a person experiences intense withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal). Alcoholism of the second stage has a progression period from 5 to 15 years.

• At the third stage, alcohol tolerance decreases, intoxication occurs after taking small doses of alcohol. Long-term binges, decreased intellectual abilities and mental degradation are observed. The stage lasts 5-10 years and most often ends in death.

Causes of alcoholism

Alcohol addiction is a disease. The reasons for the abuse are still unknown. The cravings experienced by an alcoholic can be as strong as the need to eat food or drink water. There are a number of factors that can lead to alcohol dependence in a person:

Consequences

Alcohol addiction has a negative impact on a person's body and mind, their appearance, and their personal and professional relationships. Most importantly, alcohol addiction kills. Those who suffer from addiction can die in painful and extremely unpleasant ways. These could be infections, bleeding, accidents. Below are some of the consequences of alcohol abuse:

1. The influence of alcoholism on appearance:

2. The effect of alcohol on the body. Health problems that can be caused by alcohol abuse:

• oncological diseases,
• obesity,
• infertility,
• heart diseases,
• impotence,
• ulcers,
• high blood pressure,
• damage to the heart muscle
• alcohol poisoning.

3. Impact on consciousness. Alcoholism not only affects your appearance and physical health, but can also cause serious damage to your mind. Alcoholism is thought to increase the risk of the following symptoms:

• depression,
• dementia,
• hallucinations,
• personality disorder,
• memory loss,
• loss of consciousness,
• mood swings,
• decreased libido,
• the appearance of suicidal thoughts,
• suicide.

4. The influence of alcohol on relationships. Addiction is extremely strong. It is incredibly difficult for relatives and friends to overcome addiction. Patients often deny their addiction, which makes treatment even more difficult.

Female alcoholism

About 12% of women drink alcohol heavily, compared to 20% of men. Research also shows that this gap is gradually closing. This trend is due to the fact that it is developing faster. Alcohol-related problems, such as brain atrophy or liver damage, also occur more often in the fairer sex.

Women are more vulnerable due to certain biological factors. First, they tend to weigh less than men. Women's bodies contain less water and more fatty tissue, which retains alcohol. Secondly, women are more emotional, have a harder time dealing with stress and are more prone to depression.

Treatment of alcoholism

There are many ways to overcome alcohol addiction. Treatment tactics are selected individually, depending on the stage and duration of alcohol abuse. Currently, there are many of them: “Esperal”, “Colme”, “Proproten-100”. The first two make drinking alcohol extremely unpleasant after drinking. This leads to a reflexive aversion to the taste and smell of alcoholic beverages. "Proproten-100" is a homeopathic medicine to reduce cravings for alcohol. Also, along with drug therapy, psychological support is an important aspect of treatment.

Adoption

The first step to recovery is recognizing the problem. People struggling with alcohol abuse can easily convince themselves that they don't have a problem. Or that they are doing everything possible to combat this disease. But these thinking models are fundamentally wrong.

Detoxification

The second important step is to detoxify the body. Usually, for this, the patient must be inpatient treatment. To cleanse the body and relieve hangover syndrome, detoxification therapy is carried out. It consists of several stages:

Rehabilitation

The next step in treatment for abuse is choosing an alcohol rehab center. In such institutions, an individual approach is provided to everyone, appropriate therapy, diet, special physical exercises, control and monitoring of the patient are prescribed. While in a rehabilitation center for alcohol addiction, the patient is away from his usual company and is excluded from drinking alcoholic beverages. In a word, there is no temptation. This is a definite advantage in addiction treatment.

Encoding

Coding for alcohol addiction is also widely popular as a method of treatment. This method involves psychological or physical influence on a person. Coding can be carried out by a specialist both at home and in a hospital. The following methods are distinguished:

• psychotherapeutic (hypnosis),
• block,
• intravenous,
• intramuscular,
• laser technique.

Solving the problem at home

Alcoholism is a tragedy both for a person and for his loved ones. Is it possible to get rid of alcohol addiction at home? Can. It is worth noting that not all people who decide to give up addiction forever achieve results. Most often, after a short period of abstinence, a breakdown follows, after which the person begins to drink even more heavily. As a rule, the problem lies in an illiterate choice. The most important thing in treatment is the desire and willpower of the patient. Help and support from loved ones also plays an important role in combating abuse.

To treat alcohol addiction at home, you must first stop communicating and meeting with drinking buddies.

An important feature in the treatment of alcohol addiction is the lack of free time a person has. To do this, you need to devote yourself to some hobby, for example, drawing, reading, horse riding.

ethnoscience

How to get rid of alcohol addiction at home? To treat cravings for alcohol, you can try using traditional medicine methods. These can be various tinctures, decoctions, tea. They have diuretic and tonic properties, which is additional support in the fight against alcoholism. Below are a few recipes for alcohol addiction:

• Bearberry decoction. Required ingredients: 2 tbsp. l. bearberry, 200 ml water. Pour water over the leaves of the plant and bring to a boil. After 15 minutes, the decoction is ready for use. Take a tablespoon daily.
• Herbal tincture. For preparation you will need plants such as yarrow, wormwood and thyme. Mix all ingredients. Pour boiling water over it. Leave for a couple of hours. Take the strained broth 4 times a day. The duration of treatment is 2 months.
• Herbal tea. The necessary ingredients need to be taken in 20 grams. These are wormwood, St. John's wort, yarrow, caraway, angelica, mint. Pour boiling water over the plant mixture and let it brew.

Prevention

What can you do to reduce your risk of becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs? Tips for preventing alcohol addiction are given below:

1. Avoid drinking alcohol. Don't be afraid of a negative reaction from friends or strangers.
2. Choose the right social circle.
3. Be able to enjoy life without the influence of alcohol or other stimulants.
4. Know the enemy by sight. Have an accurate understanding of the consequences of the harmful effects of alcohol or drugs on the body.
5. Be smart, have your own opinion and control your life. Do not be influenced by other individuals.

Alcohol addiction. Reviews

Alcohol has serious effects on the health of both young and old people. Timely treatment and support from loved ones reduce the risk of relapse into addiction.

According to reviews, the fight against alcohol addiction is a long and difficult process. Self-medication may not only not bring a positive result, but can also be dangerous for the patient. Former alcoholics claim that the most effective way to recover is rehabilitation in specialized centers for alcohol addiction.

Finally

Alcohol addiction is a terrible tragedy of the 21st century. According to statistics, about 4 percent of the population suffers from addiction to alcohol.

Alcohol abuse can have negative consequences not only for a person’s health, but also for their overall quality of life. Fighting alcoholism on your own is quite difficult due to the widespread and easy availability of alcohol. However, there are proven treatments. They will help you manage, combat, and regain control of your life.

Regardless of the chosen treatment tactics, it is necessary to adhere to the correct lifestyle not only until the results are obtained, but throughout life.

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is one of the forms of substance abuse, which is characterized by addiction to drinks containing ethyl alcohol. Alcoholism is characterized by social maladaptation and the development of mental and physical dependence.

Today, alcoholism is one of the common causes of death among adults. Thus, over the past decades, life expectancy among the male population has decreased by more than 7 years, and among the female population - by 10 years. It is worth noting that previously such a massive loss of the working-age population was typical only during wars. Moreover, the mortality rate due to alcoholism in some countries is so high that it outpaces population growth.

Such a high percentage of alcoholization of the population is explained not only by the poor quality of the healthcare system and psycho-emotional stress, but also by the wide variety of alcoholic products, most of which are highly toxic.

Statistics on alcoholism

According to statistics for 2014, more than 3 million people in the Russian Federation are alcoholics. Alcohol addiction often begins to develop in adolescence. Among the alcoholics surveyed, 65 percent noted that they tried alcohol for the first time between the ages of 10 and 20.
In 2014, the World Health Organization published the Alcohol Use Report, which released data on the amount of alcohol consumed per capita (over 15 years of age). In this list, Russia ranks 4th, and the volume of alcohol consumed is 15.1 liters. The leading first place according to the study belongs to the Republic of Belarus (17.5 liters). The second place is occupied by Moldova (16.8 liters), the third - Lithuania (15.4 liters). Portugal closes the top ten (12.9 liters). In total, the report included 188 countries. Last place is occupied by Afghanistan (0.02 liters).

Alcoholism is a social problem because the actions of those suffering from this disease often cause harm to others. So, if we look at road traffic accidents, 85 percent of them happen due to the fault of drunk drivers.

More than 3 million people die every year due to alcoholism. The main cause of death due to alcohol is accidents (29.6 percent). Common causes of death include liver cirrhosis (16.6 percent) and cardiovascular diseases (14 percent), which develop against the background of alcoholism. The problem of alcoholism has been known to mankind since ancient times. The first document on alcohol abuse was published in China in 1116 BC. It's called the Drunkenness Notice and contains information about the dangers of drinking. In Rus', the first punishments for drunkards were introduced by Peter the Great. Also, this king built the first workhouses to correct those who were excessively addicted to alcohol. In Ancient Rome, wine was prohibited for those under 30 years of age. Women were also not allowed to drink alcohol, regardless of age. The rest of the inhabitants drank wine only in a diluted form (two-thirds water to one-third wine). Drinking wine in its pure form was considered a sign of alcohol dependence.

Causes of alcoholism

It is generally accepted that alcoholism is a psychosocial disease. It affects not only a person’s physical and mental health, but also affects all aspects of his life. Therefore, the causes of alcoholism are divided into social, psychological and biological.

Social causes of alcoholism

The social causes of alcoholism include many factors affecting both the ethnic characteristics of the individual and his personal level of development.

Social causes of alcoholism include:

• personal level of education;
• the level of culture of the environment where the individual lives;
• the presence in this culture of certain prohibitions or beliefs regarding the benefits or harms of alcohol (most often this is associated with religion);
• environmental factors that influence personality development.

Thus, each nation or race has its own moral principles that influence the individual. Often, one of the factors in the development of alcoholism is a misconception about the healing or stimulating effect of alcohol. Also, an important role in the formation of alcoholism is played by “alcoholic” customs, which are associated with certain spiritual equivalents. For example, representatives of such an ethnic group as the Sherpa (living in the mountains of Nepal) have an increased addiction to alcohol. In their rituals they use exclusively rice wine or beer. It is known that the most severe forms of drunkenness are in those ethnic groups where fear of supernatural forces dominated. At the same time, in countries living under Sharia law, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. Thus, in Saudi Arabia (a country with the strictest religious orders), drinking alcohol in the country is punishable by imprisonment. This explains the lowest level of alcoholism in Islamic countries - less than 0.25 liters of alcohol per capita in Saudi Arabia, 0.02 liters in Afghanistan, 0.06 liters in Pakistan. For comparison, in Moldova this figure is 18.22 liters, in the Czech Republic - more than 16, in Russia - more than 15, in Ukraine - 15.60.

Most of the research on the ethnocultural characteristics of alcoholism has been conducted in the United States of America. The greatest number of psychosocial risk factors for the development of alcoholism were identified in white Americans.
Social factors also include the economic and political situation in the country. However, the influence of these factors is ambiguous. For example, such a highly developed country as Switzerland is ahead of less developed countries such as Cuba, Vietnam, and India in terms of the amount of alcohol per capita. This fact is explained by the phenomenon of urbanization and a certain lifestyle in developed countries. Thus, in many industrialized countries, a fashion for the use of alcohol and drugs is emerging. Moreover, there are certain trends that influence both the level of consumption and the choice of a particular toxic substance.

Depending on the geographical location of countries, a northern and southern type of alcoholism is conventionally distinguished. The northern version of alcoholism (Scandinavian countries, Russia) involves the consumption of drinks such as vodka and beer, while the southern version (Italy, Spain) involves drinking wine.

Psychological causes of alcoholism

The psychological causes of alcoholism are the presence of certain personality defects that make social adaptation difficult.

Some personality characteristics that make it difficult for a person to adapt socially are:

• timidity and self-doubt;
• impatience;
• increased irritability;
• increased sensitivity;
• egocentrism.

It is much more difficult for people with such defects to adapt to society and socialize. They do not find support in the eyes of others, and they have the feeling that “no one understands them.” It is more difficult for egocentric people to find a job, and if they do find one, it is not for long. Difficulties in establishing contacts are one of the reasons why people find solace at the bottom of the glass.
It is especially difficult for individuals with great aspirations, but insufficient achievement of their goals. In this case, alcohol gives a feeling of success. One way or another, a positive attitude towards alcohol is formed.

Constantly low mood and dissatisfaction with oneself also leads to the need to drink. In this case, alcohol has a euphoric effect, as it compensates for these negative emotions. Thus, very often alcohol becomes a tool for obtaining pleasure and positive emotions.

Biological causes of alcoholism

These causes of alcoholism take into account all kinds of neuropsychiatric diseases, as well as a genetic component. It is believed that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than other children. Of course, the intrafamily factor is also taken into account here, when the need for alcohol becomes a kind of behavior pattern for children. But it also takes into account the fact that under the influence of alcohol a number of changes occur in the body at the metabolic level. This, in turn, leads to the development of increased susceptibility to alcohol. Therefore, a pregnant woman suffering from alcoholism has children born with metabolic disorders that predetermine increased susceptibility to alcohol in the future.

An equally important role is played by the personality type and temperament inherited from the parents. Thus, some pathological character traits in combination with certain metabolic disorders can form a pathological craving for alcohol in a child.

Biological factors also include insufficiency of certain enzymes involved in the metabolism of ethyl alcohol. Once in the body, ethyl alcohol breaks down into carbon dioxide and water under the action of enzymes. However, when there is a lot of it, intermediate metabolic products are formed. These include phenols, which cause intoxication of the body. With the systematic consumption of alcohol, the body becomes completely poisoned.

Low activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme that is involved in neutralizing alcohol in the body) was observed in American Indians and northern peoples, which was a prerequisite for their rapid alcoholization. Also, numerous studies have shown that due to the ethnic enzymatic characteristics of the inhabitants of the Far North, alcohol in their bodies is oxidized to phenols much faster. This, in turn, leads to massive poisoning. For representatives of the Caucasian race, this process is tens of times slower, which leads to less rapid alcoholization.

The issue of the heredity of alcoholism is still controversial. In order to put a final point on this issue, a study was conducted that traced the fate of children born into alcoholic families, but who were subsequently raised in normal conditions. Despite the favorable environment in the host family, the risk of developing alcoholism in these children was still tens of times higher than in other children of this family.

Psychology of alcoholism (mechanisms of psychological defense)

The vast majority of alcoholics deny that they have any problems with alcohol. In medicine, this phenomenon is called alcoholic anosognosia, that is, denial of one’s illness. This is due to the development of psychological defense, which is formed at the subconscious level. At the beginning of the disease, complete ignorance of drunkenness prevails. The patient is sure that everyone around him is wrong and unfair to him.

Next comes a shift in emphasis. Patients downplay the problem and believe that even though they drink alcohol occasionally, they can quit at any time. People who abuse alcohol initially try to motivate or justify themselves before drinking.

The motivations are:

• Traditional reason – alcohol is consumed in connection with a holiday or some more or less significant event;
• Pseudocultural reason – an alcoholic drink is consumed in order to attract the attention of others with a complex cocktail recipe or rare wine;
• Ataractic cause – alcohol is consumed to “relieve stress”;
• Hedonic reason – alcohol is consumed in order to obtain pleasure and a state of euphoria;
• Submissive reason – patients drink because they are unable to resist their friends, the excuse is the phrase “I don’t want to be a black sheep.”

At the final stage of the disease, patients move to the stage of motivational rationalization. A patient with alcoholism begins to give a lot of reasons and reasons to justify his drunkenness.

Types of alcoholism

There are several types of alcoholism. Each species has its own flow characteristics.

Certain types of alcoholism are:

• social alcoholism;
• family alcoholism;
• beer alcoholism.

Social alcoholism

It is believed that social alcoholism is a plague of the 21st century, which poses a danger not only to the current generation, but also to the future. For many countries, the problem of alcoholism is a national disaster, as alcohol consumption per capita is growing every year. There are many reasons for social alcoholism. This is the lack of demand of the adult generation (many start drinking when they find themselves without work or without a family), and the early degradation of the younger generation. However, not only lonely and unemployed people resort to alcohol consumption. Many people claim that circumstances force them to drink. These include numerous corporate events, meetings with business partners, and get-togethers with friends.

The evolution of social alcoholism
The current rhythm of life is such that a person is in constant tension. There is always a burden of responsibility on his shoulders, and it doesn’t matter whether he is a woman or a man. Therefore, as often happens, a glass of cognac (or vodka) becomes a daily remedy for relieving stress. They drink little by little, but every day. Often a glass of vodka helps to cope with such a common ailment as insomnia. At the same time, sleep occurs, but from physiological it turns into narcotic. As a result, the body does not rest, and the next day, closer to lunch, the person already feels tired. To remove it, he again resorts to a glass. Thus, a vicious circle is formed. People are constantly trying to relieve the fatigue that often results from drinking alcohol.

Gradually getting used to daily alcohol consumption, a person begins to increase the dose unnoticed. Instead of one glass, he drinks two or three. To get a feeling of lightness and relieve fatigue, the dose of alcohol is constantly increased.

Over time, a person begins to look forward to Friday in order to “relieve stress” as much as possible. This phenomenon is called Friday syndrome. Thus, in popular parlance, “the soul asks for another dose.” The most dramatic situation becomes when a person always has a “medicine” hidden in case of stress at home or at work. Wine or champagne is no longer alcohol, but an “indulgence”; people give preference to stronger drinks. Now the attraction to alcohol becomes obsessive. Control over drinking alcohol is constantly decreasing, and resistance to it is constantly growing. To eliminate the stress of the day, one drink is no longer enough.

A beginning alcoholic becomes quarrelsome, irritable and conflict-ridden. Often the reason for the first binge is dismissal from work or a conflict situation in the family.

Family alcoholism

Family alcoholism is the case when alcohol dependence develops in both spouses. This dependence can be formed both simultaneously and sequentially.

Several reasons can contribute to the simultaneous formation of addiction. For example, if people get married with an already formed dependence, which only intensifies during their cohabitation. It may also be that dependence is formed in marriage. Very often, the impetus for this is some kind of unfavorable situation related to a family member (for example, the death or illness of a child). In order to reduce tension and pain, a spouse resorts to alcohol. Such regular drinking leads to the formation of family alcoholism.
No less common is the option when addiction develops in the wife of an already formed alcoholic. This type of family alcoholism is also called codependent. Often wives themselves bring drinks home to their husbands so that he can drink “under control” at home. At the same time, the spouse herself begins to keep her husband company, maintaining a conversation with him and drinking.

Since women are most vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, other motives soon join in, for example, to relieve fatigue. Alcohol addiction develops very quickly in women. Often, in terms of the severity of the disease, the wife begins to “overtake” her husband. While studying the topic of family alcoholism, experts identified three types of families.

The types of families in which familial alcoholism is observed include:

• sociopathic family type;
• neurotic family type;
• oligophrenia-like family type.

Sociopathic family type
This type of family is characterized by early and rapid alcoholization and a malignant course of the disease. Family relationships are characterized by a violation of all social roles and a psychopathic reaction. Wives often have hysterical reactions, while husbands have explosive reactions. Social norms in such families are grossly violated, and a tendency towards group forms of alcohol consumption forms early. Antisocial behavior quickly affects all aspects of life - family, household, social and work. Spouses interrupt their work activities, jointly commit illegal actions, and fail to cope with educational activities.

Neurotic family type
These families combine a neurotic type of relationship and alcoholism. Here, alcohol serves as the main means of relieving post-conflict tension.

Oligophrenia-like family type
This type of family is characterized by underdevelopment of all spheres of life. Initially, both spouses have a low level of education and spiritual and moral development. Systematic alcohol consumption leads to even greater degradation and social maladjustment. Drinking alcohol together in such a family is based on alcoholic traditions (“for order” or “to respect relatives”).

Beer alcoholism

It should be noted that in narcology there is no such term as “beer alcoholism.” However, the relevance is such that a morbid addiction to beer has long become a separate form of drunkenness. One of the reasons for this is the uncontrolled propaganda of beer in the media.

The reasons for the development of beer alcoholism are:

• intensive advertising;
• positive image of beer compared to other alcoholic drinks;
• lack of self-criticism and “social condemnation”;
• maximum availability, beer is sold everywhere;
• relatively low price.

Features of beer alcoholism
Few people know that beer also contains ethyl alcohol. However, due to the presence of gases and pleasant taste, this fact is not perceived objectively. Daily consumption of beer, even in small quantities, increases tolerance to ethyl alcohol. This means that even if a person does not drink strong alcoholic drinks, his tolerance to alcohol will increase. Thus, narcologists believe that the role of beer in the development of alcoholism is the same as the role of soft drugs in the development of drug addiction.

Despite the fact that beer alcoholism develops much more slowly than other types, it is accompanied by irreversible somatic (bodily) disorders. This primarily concerns organs such as the liver and heart. The components of beer have a direct damaging effect on the heart, leading to disorganization of structural elements. With systematic consumption of beer, the so-called “beer heart syndrome” develops. This syndrome is characterized by non-inflammatory damage to the heart muscle, which is expressed in metabolic disorders. This syndrome will manifest itself in rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and irregular heart rhythm. On an x-ray, the heart appears to “sag,” and the function of the pump is irreversibly lost.

The second target organ for beer is the liver. Regular consumption of beer leads to the development of fatty liver. Also recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) published data according to which beer abuse is a risk factor in the development of colon cancer. Beer has a specific effect on the male body. It causes suppression of the secretion of male sex hormones (in particular, methyltestosterone) and increased production of female hormones (namely estrogens). This is the reason why men's mammary glands begin to grow and their pelvis becomes wider. In general, beer leads to increased body weight and the development of obesity.

Beer poses the greatest danger to teenagers. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, it is a quick and imperceptible addiction to this drink. The so-called “usual dose” for an adult is toxic for a growing teenager. Secondly, the lability (instability) of the endocrine and emotional system, which is noted in adolescence, makes the body most vulnerable to the effects of harmful factors, including the effects of beer. Very often, teenagers combine daily drinking of beer with smoking, which further enhances the toxic effect on the nervous system of the body.

Many studies in this area have shown that adolescents already develop mental dependence in the first year of their “beer life.” Then, after a couple of years, physical dependence also forms, which leads to the development of teenage alcoholism.

Alcoholism can also be classified by gender or age.

Types of alcoholism by gender are:

• male alcoholism;
• female alcoholism.

Types of alcoholism based on age are:

• childhood alcoholism;
• teenage alcoholism;
• alcoholism in the adult generation.

Alcohol syndromes

At the second and third stages of alcoholism, there is a high risk of developing alcoholic psychosis. Alcoholic psychosis is a group of mental disorders that most often develop during abstinence from alcohol. There is a large variety of alcoholic psychoses, which can be acute or chronic in duration.

Types of alcoholic psychoses in alcoholism are:

• alcoholic delirium;
• delusional psychosis;
• alcoholic hallucinosis.

Delirium tremens or delirium tremens

This is the most common psychosis, which has received the popular name delirium tremens. This name is associated with two factors. The first is that this psychosis occurs when drinking “40 percent white wine” (or vodka). The second factor is associated with a high rise in temperature to 40 - 41 degrees Celsius.

Most often, delirium develops in people 40–50 years old who have suffered from alcoholism for more than 10 years. The onset of delirium tremens is acute - it develops several hours after drinking alcohol against the backdrop of a severe hangover. The first symptoms are insomnia, increased sweating, and hand tremors (tremors). These symptoms are quickly accompanied by signs of agitation - rapid and inconsistent speech of an incoherent nature.

The mood becomes unstable and quickly moves from euphoria to depression and vice versa. Severe autonomic disorders appear - increased heartbeat, increased sweating. Against the background of these symptoms, visual hallucinations appear. As a rule, these are visual images of various animals - mice, rats, cats. The appearance of visual hallucinations in the form of deceased relatives or snakes is very typical. Patients begin to become agitated. They hide, hide, try to defend themselves. All this is driven by a feeling of fear and anxiety. Patients become dangerous to others, as they begin to sweep away and destroy everything as they go. Disorientation in time and space occurs. However, in their own personality, patients, as a rule, remain oriented.

These periods of darkness may be accompanied by bright intervals. Thus, against the background of complete disorientation, patients can suddenly come to their senses (the so-called “bright windows”). However, by evening their condition worsens again. The behavior of patients constantly changes and depends on the type of hallucinations. As a rule, during delirium tremens, hallucinations of a frightening type are observed, which causes defensive and aggressive behavior in a person.

The average duration of delirium tremens is from two to seven days. In rare cases (5 - 10 percent) it drags on for up to 10 - 14 days. Recovery occurs as sharply and suddenly as the delirium itself began. As a rule, the patient comes to his senses after deep sleep. Sometimes, recovery from delirium can be delayed and gradual. In both cases, recovery ends with deep asthenia (weakness).
The severity of alcoholic delirium is determined by the presence of concomitant somatic (bodily) disorders. The more severe the physical illness, the worse delirium tremens occurs. At the same time, characteristic agitation and aggression are not observed. In this case, the clinical picture is dominated by stupor and agitation in the bed. This type of delirium is called "murmuring" or "mumbling." Mumbling delirium is very difficult to treat and is observed mainly in the elderly.

Alcoholic hallucinosis

This is the second most common alcoholic psychosis. Hallucinosis is a mental disorder with a predominance of auditory, visual or tactile hallucinations. Against the background of these hallucinations, hallucinatory delusions and agitation develop.

Like delirium tremens, this psychosis develops during the abstinence period against the background of a severe hangover. Hallucinatory images usually appear in the evening or at night, often while falling asleep. Most often, auditory hallucinations (“voices”) appear, which are frightening in nature. Voices can threaten, comment on some actions, or order. The most dangerous are imperative (commanding) hallucinations that force the patient to perform certain actions. Voices can also insult, accuse, or tease. Alcoholic hallucinosis is accompanied by severe motor agitation and autonomic disorders (excessive sweating, palpitations). Patients rush around, trying to hide from visual and verbal hallucinations. Against the background of constant voices, the patient experiences delusions of persecution. It seems to them that someone is constantly watching them and trying to harm them. Delusional ideas often spread to family members. The duration of alcoholic hallucinosis ranges from 2 to 4 days. Protracted alcoholic psychoses that last longer are called chronic. The incidence of chronic alcoholic hallucinosis varies from 5 to 10 percent of cases. The picture of chronic hallucinosis is dominated by constant verbal hallucinations, often in the form of dialogue.

Alcoholic delusional psychosis

Alcoholic delusions are much less common than the previous two psychoses. Like previous psychoses, it develops against the background of abstinence. However, it can also be protracted. The most common delusions of persecution, delusions of influence, and delusions of relationships occur. Patients are obsessed with the idea that they want to rob and kill them. Behavior takes on an impulsive character - patients hide, run away and defend themselves from “pursuers”. A separate variant of alcoholic delusions is alcoholic delusions of jealousy or alcoholic paranoia.

Delusions of jealousy occur more often in mature men. At the same time, they become obsessed with the idea of ​​adultery. At first, ideas arise only at the moment of intoxication or a hangover (that is, episodically), and then they take on a permanent character. Suspicions regarding betrayal become constant. Subsequently, the delirium becomes systematized - theories of proof and verification are developed, the patient interprets every gesture of his wife in his own way. Very often, against the background of this delirium, delirium of poisoning develops. The patient thinks that his wife and lover want to poison him. The mood is always anxious, with a tendency towards aggression. As a rule, alcoholic delirium is chronic in nature with periodic exacerbations.

Symptoms of alcoholism

Alcoholism is a pathology that is accompanied by systematic and long-term intoxication of the body with ethanol. Therefore, the symptoms of alcoholism affect all organs and systems of the body.

Manifestations of alcoholism are:

• damage to the cardiovascular system;
• damage to the digestive system;
• kidney damage;
• neurological complications.

Signs of alcoholism from the cardiovascular system

Impaired functioning of the cardiovascular system is observed in 95 percent of alcohol abusers. The severity of the lesion, as well as the frequency, increases as the disease progresses. Thus, at the first stage of alcoholism, cardiac disorders are detected in only 37 percent of patients, while at the third stage, already in 95 percent.

Ethanol has a direct and indirect toxic effect on the heart muscle, leading to the development of obesity and dystrophy. The myocardium (heart muscle) becomes flabby. The indirect toxic effect of ethanol is a disruption of the metabolism of B vitamins, magnesium and potassium salts. For this reason, signs of impaired myocardial contractility appear very early.

Sometimes a single intoxication can lead to severe damage to the heart muscle. In this case, patients complain of pain in the heart area, rapid heartbeat, and interruptions in heart function (arrhythmia). As the disease progresses, swelling and high blood pressure appear.

People who abuse alcohol experience the phenomenon of “young heart attack” (heart attack at the age of 50 years). However, most often alcoholics suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). They have this pathology twice as often as the rest of the population. Against the background of arterial hypertension, strokes are not uncommon, which lead to even greater disability of the patient.

The consequences of damage to the cardiovascular system due to alcoholism are:

• high blood pressure;
• young myocardial infarction;
• strokes.

Signs of alcoholism from the digestive system

Most often, alcohol leads to toxic damage to the pancreas, liver and intestines. There are several mechanisms that cause damage to the digestive system in alcoholism.

Mechanisms of damage to the digestive system during alcoholism include:

• direct contact of alcohol with the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach and intestines, which has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane itself;
• the influence of ethanol at the cellular level, which leads to disruption of the structure and organization of cells;
• violations of food hygiene accompanying a state of intoxication (consumption of spicy and often poor-quality dishes);
• increased gastric secretion, which leads to the development of gastritis.

Alcohol intestinal damage
Intestinal damage due to alcoholism is the cause of impaired absorption and insufficient assimilation of the main components of food. First of all, the process of absorption of vitamins, as well as potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphates, and folic acid, is disrupted. This leads to deficiencies of these vitamins, that is, to vitamin deficiency. Vitamin deficiency, in turn, is accompanied by anemia, encephalopathy, and cardiac arrhythmia. Often intestinal damage manifests itself as diarrhea, which leads to severe body weight loss.

Alcohol damage to the pancreas
Systematic alcohol consumption is the cause of the development of chronic pancreatitis in 40–90 percent of cases. Acute pancreatitis occurs much less frequently, in 5–20 percent. The most dangerous consequence of the action of ethyl alcohol on the pancreas is pancreatic necrosis. Pancreatic necrosis is the death of pancreatic cells, leading to death. Most often, pancreatic damage affects men aged 30–40 years. However, this pathology does not bypass women either. With regular consumption of ethanol, damage to the pancreas develops within 5 to 10 years.

Alcoholic liver damage
Liver damage is the most common pathology in alcoholics. This is due to several reasons. The first is the direct toxic effect of ethanol on liver cells (hepatocytes). The second reason is explained by the fact that alcohol oxidation occurs in the same liver. All this leads to the occurrence of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. To refer to the numerous liver pathologies caused by alcohol, the World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term “alcoholic hepatitis.”

Research in this area has established that liver damage does not depend on the type of alcoholic drink, but is determined by the percentage of alcohol in them. Experts believe that in most cases, liver cirrhosis is caused by ethanol intoxication. The incidence of liver cirrhosis in alcoholics is 5 times higher than in people who do not drink alcohol.

The risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis is directly dependent on the dose of alcohol consumed. The pathology is extremely difficult and constantly progresses. Jaundice and ascites (the appearance of fluid in the abdomen) quickly appear. The mortality rate for cirrhosis is about 30 percent. Since cirrhosis is considered a precancerous condition, it can transform into liver cancer. This happens rarely, in about 5 to 15 percent of cases. In women, alcoholic hepatitis develops much faster. Due to the fact that they have an increased sensitivity of the liver to the effects of alcohol, liver diseases are observed in them even with a low level of ethanol in the blood.

Signs of alcoholism from the kidneys

In alcoholism, kidney damage develops due to the direct effect of alcohol and its metabolites on the renal tubules and renal parenchyma. Kidney damage can occur in acute or chronic form. Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis are more common.
There are complaints about a decrease in the amount of urine excreted (oliguria), the urine becomes dark in color. Due to fluid retention in the body, renal edema develops. The most severe kidney damage develops when consuming alcohol substitutes, namely products from the perfume industry (colognes, perfumes). You need to know that these liquids contain substances that have an increased tropism (effect) to the kidneys, that is, “kidney poisons.” When using these drugs, acute renal failure quickly develops.

Neurological complications of alcoholism

The most common nervous system symptom of alcoholism is alcoholic polyneuropathy. It occurs in every third alcoholic. This complication consists of the destruction of peripheral nerve fibers. This destruction is due to the long-term toxic effect of alcohol simultaneously with a deficiency of B vitamins and nicotinic acid. At the third stage of alcoholism, liver damage is added to these causes, which further enhances the toxic effect of ethyl alcohol on the nervous system.

Clinically, alcoholic polyneuropathy is primarily manifested by sensory disturbances. This is manifested by such symptoms as a burning sensation, tingling, and crawling. Later, unpleasant sensations appear in the form of muscle tightening, and severe weakness appears in the legs. Sometimes the weakness is so severe that it completely immobilizes the patient. Further, polyneuropathy is accompanied by a loss or decrease in pain, tactile and temperature sensitivity. Fibers degenerate in the calf muscles, which leads to the appearance of a “rooster gait.”

Alcohol and pregnancy

Alcohol has a negative impact on the health of both the pregnant woman herself and the development of the fetus. There are two mechanisms through which the negative effects of alcohol are realized.

The mechanisms of the toxic effect of alcohol on the fetus are as follows:

• first mechanism associated with pathological changes in the germ cells themselves (sperm and egg) due to alcoholism;
• second mechanism associated with the direct toxic effects of alcohol on the fetus.

It is known that men who abuse alcohol are more likely than others to develop infertility and decrease libido. In women, ovarian function is impaired in 40 percent of cases.

The effect of ethanol on the fetus depends on the period in which it occurs. Thus, in the prenatal period, two periods are distinguished - embryonic (the first two months of pregnancy) and fetal (from the third month until the birth of the child).
If alcohol acts on the fetus during the first period, it causes an embryotoxic effect. Since it is during this period that the laying of the neural and digestive tubes occurs, as well as the formation of the placenta itself, disturbances occur in these areas. Anomalies of the nervous, digestive, and reproductive systems develop. Very often this leads to spontaneous abortion and fetal death.

If the greatest effect of alcohol occurs during the fetal period, then numerous fetopathies develop. These include cardiac fibroelastosis, arterial calcification, and fetal hypoxia. Children are born premature, with low body weight and signs of oxygen starvation.

Children born to alcoholic mothers often gain weight poorly and are prone to infections. Mental retardation in such children is registered in 60 percent of cases.

Forms of alcoholism

In order to better understand the clinic of alcoholism, there are several options for drinking alcohol.
Thus, chronic alcoholism is always preceded by everyday drunkenness. Casual drunkenness is the periodic consumption of alcohol with harmful consequences. There are several types of drinkers.

Types of domestic drunkenness are:

• withdrawal symptoms – persons who drink alcohol on average 2–3 times a year, 100 grams of wine;
• casual drinkers – persons who drink strong drinks from several times a year to several times a month;

• moderate drinkers – persons who drink up to 3–4 times a month, an average of 150 milliliters of vodka;
• regular drinkers – people who drink alcohol 1–2 times a week, 200–500 milliliters;
• habitual drinkers – persons who drink alcohol (more than 500 milliliters) more than 3 times a week.

There is also a distinction between acute alcohol intoxication and chronic alcoholism.

Acute alcohol intoxication

Acute alcohol intoxication is also called alcohol intoxication. This term refers to a complex of vegetative, neurological and mental syndromes that appear under the influence of alcohol. It must be remembered that alcohol is, first of all, a psychotropic drug, so the clinical picture of alcohol intoxication is very variable. Depending on the course of intoxication, several forms of acute alcohol intoxication are distinguished.

The forms of alcohol intoxication are:

• simple alcohol intoxication;
• atypical alcohol intoxication;
• pathological alcohol intoxication.

Simple alcohol intoxication
This form is characterized by a feeling of physical and mental comfort. There are minor fluctuations in the emotional background. The person becomes talkative, agitated and disinhibited. Vegetative symptoms are clearly expressed - red and moist skin, rapid heartbeat and breathing. Criticism of one’s own condition decreases, and there is an overestimation of one’s own capabilities. Neurological symptoms are present during severe alcohol intoxication. Ataxia (uncertain and shaky gait), dysarthria (speech impairment), and muscle weakness appear. Vestibular disorders increase rapidly, namely dizziness, nausea, vomiting. A dangerous symptom is the appearance of epileptic (convulsive) seizures. Since alcohol inhibits the respiratory center, death from paralysis of the respiratory center is possible.

The duration of this period depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, as well as the weight and age of the patient. Also, the duration of the period of intoxication depends on the metabolic rate in the body. As a rule, the next morning there is complete amnesia (memory loss) of the period of intoxication itself, and multiple post-intoxication phenomena are noted.

Post-toxication phenomena are:

• Strong headache ;
• thirst;
• nausea and vomiting;
• weakness and feeling of weakness;
• dizziness;
• unsteady gait;
• tremor (shaking) of the limbs;
• maximum decrease in performance.

Unlike the hangover syndrome in people suffering from chronic alcoholism, post-intoxication syndrome is not accompanied by the desire to hangover. The mere mention of alcohol causes unpleasant sensations in people who do not suffer from alcoholism.

Atypical alcohol intoxication
Atypical alcohol intoxication is an alcohol intoxication in which there is a sharp increase or, conversely, a weakening of any functions. This can happen if a person has previously had some kind of traumatic brain injury or has pathological personality development. This is explained by the fact that everything depends on the “soil” on which alcohol acts. Most often, this atypia manifests itself in mental functions.

Conventionally, three variants of atypical alcohol intoxication are distinguished - dysphoric, depressive and hysterical. In the dysphoric variant, instead of the characteristic euphoria, aggression and irritability develop. Dysphoria is a form of mood characterized by anger and aggressive behavior. This type of intoxication is more often observed in people with an organic personality type or with a history of traumatic brain injuries (medical history). In the depressive variant, instead of the classic euphoria from drinking alcohol, a sharply reduced mood, melancholy, and depression develop. A drunk person begins to cry and becomes dissatisfied with himself. This option is very dangerous, as it is characterized by the appearance of suicidal behavior. The hysterical version of intoxication is manifested by demonstrative behavior. People begin to behave very emotionally, theatrically wring their hands, and faint.

Pathological alcohol intoxication
In essence, this type of pathological intoxication is a transient psychosis caused by drinking a small amount of alcohol. A distinctive feature of this condition is that the dose of alcohol can be very small. This state occurs with pronounced excitement against the background of a narrowed consciousness. In more than 80 percent of cases, intoxication is accompanied by illegal actions.

The patient becomes completely disoriented in time and space and displays aggressive behavior. There is a sharp motor agitation with chaotic behavior. The patient rushes about, his actions are not purposeful. He shouts out individual phrases and words, sometimes they take on the nature of commands or threats. Sometimes the patient is characterized by delusional behavior, which develops against the background of vivid hallucinations of a frightening type. Patients at this moment are extremely uncommunicative; they cannot be stopped or “reasoned.” They perform all their actions alone, which also distinguishes them from chronic alcoholics.

An interesting fact remains that, as a rule, this condition is not accompanied by symptoms of intoxication. The severity of illegal actions can vary from minor hooliganism to the commission of a serious crime. After an episode of pathological intoxication, total amnesia occurs. Patients do not remember anything that happened to them the day before. As a rule, after this they find themselves in places unfamiliar to themselves, completely unaware of how they ended up there.

Forensic examination of such a condition is very difficult. A person who finds himself in such a state for the first time and is not aware of his pathological reaction to alcohol does not bear criminal liability.

Stages of chronic alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease that has several stages.

The stages of alcoholism are:

• first stage;
• second stage;
• third stage.

The first stage of chronic alcoholism

The duration of the first stage of alcoholism can vary from 5 to 10 years. Many of its symptoms are determined by a person’s personal characteristics. But, at the same time, there are a number of features that characterize the first stage of alcoholism and are not found in subsequent ones.

The characteristics of the first stage of alcoholism are:

• mental dependence;
• increased tolerance to alcohol;
• decreased situational control;
• memory impairment;
• personality changes.

Mental dependence
The first stage of alcoholism is characterized by the development of mental dependence. It is characterized by a constant need to take a certain dose of alcohol. That is, a person feels the need not for alcohol itself, but for the euphoric effect that it gives. Over time, the dose of alcohol that gives this effect increases. In order to get positive emotions and a good mood, the volume of alcoholic drinks is constantly increasing, while the periods between abstinence are decreasing. These periods are characterized by a constant craving for alcohol, which has an obsessive nature. During periods of abstinence, patients are in constant psychological discomfort. However, having satisfied their need, their mood improves. This reflects mental dependence.

Increased tolerance to alcohol
The main characteristic of the first stage is the constant increase in tolerance to alcohol. This means that the dose that intoxicates a person and has a euphoric effect is constantly increasing. Simultaneously with the increase in tolerance, a decrease in situational control develops. A person cannot fully control the situation and own it. An irresistible craving for alcohol becomes incompatible with moral and ethical considerations. At this stage of alcoholism, a change in the nature of intoxication itself is noted. The changes concern the period of excitation and inhibition. So, at the first stage, the duration of excitement increases - during the period of intoxication, alcoholics are agitated and aggressive. Characterized by rapid declines in mood. Alcoholics become conflicted, explosive and begin to pester others.

Another distinctive feature of this period is the disappearance of vomiting during an overdose of alcohol. Vomiting is one of the main signs of intoxication and a barrier to further intake of alcohol. However, when resistance to alcohol increases 2–3 times, this important symptom disappears. Therefore, intoxication occurs without visible manifestations for the patient.

Memory impairment
Also, this stage of alcoholism is characterized by periodic memory loss. These failures relate to individual episodes during the period of intoxication. At the same time, the next morning the person cannot remember what happened to him the day before. In addiction medicine, such periods are called palimpsests. At the end of the first stage, episodic drinking becomes permanent.

Personality changes in alcoholism
The first stage of alcoholism is characterized by initial personality changes. The term personality is understood as a set of characterological characteristics that determine the personality of an individual. This set of traits is stable and does not change over the course of life. However, under the influence of toxic alcohol, these features are distorted and new features that were not previously inherent in humans appear. Such traits are lack of self-confidence, loss of previous interests, explosive character. Some people have lowered certain moral and ethical standards, sometimes people become deceitful and hypocritical. Over time, all these emerging traits become so entrenched that they form new stereotypes in behavior.

Second stage of chronic alcoholism

The second stage of alcoholism is characterized by both the progression of previous symptoms and the appearance of new ones. Personality disintegration, social maladjustment and memory disorders progress. But, at the same time, at this stage a number of new signs appear.

Symptoms of the second stage of alcoholism include:

• maximum tolerance to alcohol;
• physical dependence;
• withdrawal syndrome (popularly a hangover).

Maximum alcohol tolerance
Resistance to alcohol reaches its maximum in the second stage. Along with this, maximum intoxication of the body occurs. There are jumps in blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, and trembling in the limbs. This has the greatest impact on the mental function of the alcoholic. Changes begin that are called “alcohol degradation.” It is characterized by a decrease in individual activity, up to its complete loss. Social and professional decline develops, the person loses interest in everything that is not related to alcohol. The level of critical attitude towards oneself also decreases. A person suffering from alcoholism tries to find an excuse for his behavior. He blames his family or service for his addiction. However, at the same time, he denies that he has an illness and is constantly looking for circumstances that lead him to drink.

The second stage of alcoholism is also characterized by exacerbation of chronic diseases and a general decrease in immunity. However, new diseases that are associated with toxic effects on the nervous, cardiovascular, and hepatic systems are also characteristic. Such diseases are alcoholic psychosis, hepatitis, myocarditis.

Physical dependence
It is known that alcoholism is characterized by mental and physical dependence. Mental dependence appears at the first stage of the disease and progresses to the last. It is characterized by the patient's irresistible craving for alcohol. Physical dependence appears only on the second. It is characterized by the development of withdrawal syndrome during alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal syndrome is a set of physical manifestations that appear at the moment when alcohol stops entering the body.

Manifestations of withdrawal syndrome at the second stage of alcoholism are:

• increased sweating;
• rapid heartbeat and heart rhythm disturbances;
• feeling weak and overwhelmed;
• increased blood pressure;
• nausea, vomiting;
• tremor of the limbs;
• fear and anxiety.

All these symptoms appear when, for some reason, a person suddenly begins to abstain from alcohol. The reason for all of the above symptoms is the fact that in the second stage of alcoholism, ethanol becomes part of the patient’s metabolism. Metabolism changes so much that alcohol becomes necessary to maintain basic metabolic processes. Therefore, when it is absent, the body experiences a difficult physical condition. Alcoholics in the second stage feel bad, not because they consumed a lot yesterday, but because they haven’t drunk yet today.
The duration of withdrawal syndrome ranges from several hours to several days.

The third stage of chronic alcoholism

The third stage is the final stage of alcoholism, which is characterized by severe damage to internal organs and the development of encephalopathy. A distinctive feature of this stage is a persistent decrease in tolerance (resistance) to alcohol. A person begins to get drunk from much less alcohol. Withdrawal syndromes that appear in the third stage are very difficult. They are characterized by the appearance of fear, suspicion, and a persistent decrease in mood. The concentration of alcohol in the blood falls, and the titer of anti-brain agents increases.

The characteristics of the third stage of alcoholism are:

• persistent decrease in tolerance;
• changes in the very form of drunkenness;
• development of Wernicke encephalopathy;
• polyneuropathy.

Persistent decrease in tolerance
Alcohol tolerance refers to the degree of resistance to it. Thus, in the first and second stages, this stability is constantly growing. To get the desired euphoric effect, a person consumes more and more alcoholic beverages. However, this does not always continue. At the third stage of alcoholism, the body's resistance to alcohol begins to decline. And therefore a person begins to get drunk from a much smaller volume of alcohol. Even a small dose of alcohol is intoxicating. However, an alcoholic needs these doses every day, because without them he feels bad.
Physical dependence in the third stage of alcoholism reaches its maximum degree. It is accompanied by severe withdrawal syndromes with the development of alcoholic psychoses.

Changes in the form of drinking itself
At the third stage of alcoholism, true binges predominate, and episodic drinking occurs only in 15 percent of cases. Intoxication itself occurs without the effect of euphoria with a predominance of passivity and stupor. There is no high spirits, which was so characteristic of the initial stages of alcoholism. Even during the period of intoxication, decreased mood, depression and dissatisfaction are noted. Sometimes these periods of depression and apathy can lead to a complete cessation of alcohol consumption. However, this state does not last long. Being by this time an integral part of metabolism, the body experiences a constant need for alcohol.
Sometimes there is brutality and aggression. As a rule, there is a transition to daily alcohol consumption. These daily binges lead to complete social degradation and maladjustment.

Wernicke's encephalopathy
Encephalopathy is an acquired irreversible brain lesion, which is accompanied by various symptoms. The cause of the development of encephalopathy is both the toxic effect of alcohol and the impaired metabolism of B vitamins. It is known that the first blow from the effects of alcohol is taken by nerve cells. Becoming an integral part of metabolism, alcohol interferes with the synthesis of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and also disrupts the metabolism of vitamins. As a result, the conduction of the nerve impulse is disrupted, and symptoms characteristic of encephalopathy develop. It manifests itself with symptoms such as sleep disturbances, disturbances of consciousness, frequent dizziness, and noise in the head. Irreversible cognitive (mental) impairments occur, which manifest themselves as impaired memory and attention. Severe mental and physical weakness develops, patients become deprived of initiative. Encephalopathy is always accompanied by numerous neurological symptoms. This may include twitching of facial muscles, athetoid movements, or spasms. At the third stage of alcoholism, muscle tone always changes, and hyperkinesis (involuntary muscle movements) occurs. Pupillary disorders often occur - miosis (constriction of the pupil), anisocoria (different pupil diameters), weakened reaction to light.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.