Alcohol addiction can also be expressed as the abuse of alcohol. Drinking or becoming addicted to alcohol in a way that harms yourself. Social drinking means that alcohol is consumed in limited quantities and intermittently, and there is no social or physical health problem due to alcohol use. Harmful use or addiction is defined as more than 14 units of alcohol per week. However, alcohol is definitely a harmful substance if taken in any amount.
An alcohol unit is approximately 8 g or 10 ml of pure alcohol:
- Half pint low to normal strength beer/cider (ABV 3.6%)
- Single small shot measure (25ml) spirits (25ml, ABV 40%)
- A small glass (125ml, ABV 12%) of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol.
The amount of alcohol used in the person who develops addiction gradually becomes insufficient for him and cannot provide the same effect. His body has developed a tolerance to alcohol. For this reason, the amount of alcohol consumed begins to increase gradually in order to experience the same effect. Thus, a life-threatening vicious circle begins. So much so that the addicted individual begins to plan his life on alcohol consumption. He starts to disrupt his work, economic problems arise, family problems begin to increase rapidly, social ruptures begin to be seen.
Individuals who develop addiction usually do not accept that they are addicted. He doesn’t want to admit his problems. He thinks he can quit alcohol if he wants to. However, he experiences withdrawal symptoms when he does not drink alcohol. An alcohol addict is a person who can’t help himself from drinking even though he knows that alcohol is harmful to him and his social relationships.
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What are the symptoms of alcohol addiction?
- The individual cannot experience the same feeling and effects with the amount of alcohol he is used to. Tolerance has improved.
- When the individual reduces the amount of alcohol they use or does not drink alcohol, they experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms improve with the same amount of alcohol intake.
- The individual drinks more alcohol than the planned amount and frequency.
- The individual spends considerable time and money on obtaining, using and recovering from alcohol.
- The individual stays away from the society due to alcohol use, cannot fulfill his social and professional duties or leaves.
- The individual has repeatedly failed to end or limit alcohol use.
- Although the individual is known to be harmed by alcohol, he continues to consume alcohol.
- The amount of alcohol consumed by the addicted individual may be sufficient for alcohol poisoning for a non-drinker or a beginner.
What are the problems caused by alcohol?
- Alcohol facilitates health problems such as injuries or head injury.
- It can cause the individual to lose or damage their valuables.
- It makes it easier for the individual to use violence around himself or to be a victim of violence.
- May cause unplanned pregnancy
- In the presence of pregnancy, it causes serious harm to the baby.
- It paves the way for sexually transmitted diseases.
- It can be life-threatening due to alcohol poisoning.
- It can cause cirrhosis with fatty liver and hepatotoxic effect.
- It can cause cancers of the esophagus, larynx, stomach and pancreas.
- It can cause increased blood lipid levels and vascular occlusion.
- It can cause anemia and vitamin deficiencies due to malnutrition.
- It impairs mental or physical cooperation.
- Sleep disturbances increase.
- Headaches become more frequent.
- Sperm quality deteriorates.
- It causes heart and blood circulation diseases.
- The risk of high blood pressure and cerebral hemorrhage increases.
- In the long term, the risk of liver, colon and breast cancer increases.
- Increased risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.
What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal is a health problem seen in addicted individuals when alcohol is not consumed or in the usual amount. These:
- Shaking or shaking hands
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Hallucinating
- Depression and anxiety
The addicted individual prefers to drink alcohol quickly to get rid of these symptoms.
Is every alcoholic addicted?
Of course not. If the individual feels that he needs to reduce the amount of alcohol he drinks, he sees that other people criticize him more and more every day, he feels guilty or bad for drinking alcohol, he feels that he needs to drink some more alcohol in the morning to calm down, he drinks more than 14 units of alcohol a week, the day he takes alcohol If he does not remember what he went through the night before, if he does not perform the activities expected of him due to alcohol, this person is an alcohol addict.
How is alcohol addiction treated?
The first condition of getting rid of alcohol addiction is to apply to the health facility in a sober, willing and determined manner. Outpatient or inpatient treatment is planned by evaluating the individual. Alcohol addiction treatment is a long-term treatment. Hospitalization may be more appropriate for people with severe health problems and willpower difficulties but who want to get rid of alcohol. Even rehabilitation treatments, which facilitate the return and adaptation of the person to his daily life after inpatient treatment, are very effective in prolonging the period of abstinence and reducing relapses.
Alcohol addiction treatment is a multi-part multisystemic treatment consisting of individual therapy or group psychotherapy, supplementation of various drugs and missing vitamins, habit changes, and trying to develop a new lifestyle with the patient. There are stages of detoxification, therapy, rehabilitation and full recovery. Medication may also be required during the detoxification and rehabilitation phases. Medication can take 6 months or a year.
The first step in getting rid of alcohol addiction is to consult your doctor. It is to contact your relatives or social circle who can help you along with it. You can also benefit from official or non-governmental organizations that can support you about alcohol addiction.