Addictions are a very serious problem nowadays. Their source may be not only illegal substances, widely considered harmful, but also substances that are readily available. One of them is alcohol. It is alcohol, rather than drugs, medicines or other psychoactive substances, that is the main cause of addiction in our country. We can buy it in every shop and drink it in almost every restaurant. Alcohol is also considered an inseparable companion to celebrating important occasions. Yet it is an intoxicating substance, a poison that in fact has no positive properties for the body. What is more, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to disastrous consequences, and not only health-related ones. So where is the line? How can an addicted person be helped?
Alcohol addiction – causes
There can be many causes of alcohol addiction. To a large extent, this depends on a person’s environment and everyday habits. Customs have a very significant influence on increasing the likelihood of addiction. We live in times when various events are associated with drinking alcohol. These may include parties, family gatherings, business trips and other similar circumstances. The problem may begin quite innocently, for example with getting drunk every week during evening outings, drinking beer while watching a match or even having the traditional glass of wine with dinner. It is not difficult for that one glass to later turn into another, and then yet another one.
Of course, in many cases alcohol addiction may stem from specific events. Many people also drown various sorrows in a glass. Failures related to family life, professional life or a general lack of satisfaction with life are very common reasons for drinking alcohol.
Symptoms of addiction – how can alcoholism be recognized?
An addicted person is commonly associated with someone in a terrible visual condition, homeless, someone who is practically on the brink of life. In reality, however, this image is very rarely accurate, although in this form it is the most ''noticeable''. Most often, this problem is not at all so visible to the alcoholic’s wider surroundings. In fact, addicted people can be found virtually everywhere. They may be an office worker, a salesperson, the CEO of a large company or an unemployed person.
How can alcoholism actually be diagnosed? When can it be determined that we are truly dealing with a serious problem? It usually all begins with a lack of control over the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. Problems controlling behavior related to drinking may also appear. A very serious signal indicating the immediate need for treatment is the point at which a person is unable to stop drinking because doing so causes characteristic reactions in the body.
What consequences can habitual alcohol consumption have?
Clear evidence of the harmful consequences of drinking alcohol does not have to be sought far away. The fact that it is toxic to our bodies is shown, for example, by a hangover. This occurs because alcohol is converted in the liver into acetic acid, which is a very strong poison. However, this is only one of the ''tangible'' short-term effects.
It is worth focusing on alcohol’s effect on overall health, especially when discussing an addicted person who consumes this toxic substance every day. Alcohol has a negative effect on almost every tissue and organ. Therefore, it can cause highly varied and extensive pathological changes in different areas of the body. High blood pressure, hormonal changes, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the esophagus and kidney failure are just some of them. It must also be remembered that alcoholism has a very negative effect on mental health and social relationships.
What does addiction treatment look like?
There is only one way to get rid of alcoholism. It is, of course, addiction therapy conducted under the supervision of qualified specialists. Only in this way is it possible to fully address all the aspects that contribute to effective alcoholism treatment.
Private addiction treatment center is a place that provides comprehensive care for an addicted person. The therapy process in such a facility is individually tailored to each patient. However, many stages are quite similar. Usually, such a stay begins with examinations and detoxification aimed at completely cleansing the body of psychoactive substances. Pharmacological treatment is then provided. The patient’s health is, of course, also cared for by addiction psychotherapy specialists.