Alcoholism is quite common. In the United States, it is estimated that 13.9% of the adult population has this problem in any 12-month period. The prevalence of the disease is highest among young people and decreases with age. Among people aged 18 to 29 years, the estimated prevalence of alcoholism over 12 months is 26.7%, and the seriousness of alcoholism is 7.1%, while for people ≥ 65 years old, the prevalence of alcoholism over 12 months is only 2. 3%.

Alcohol in the field of narcology is a substance such as ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is obtained during the breakdown of carbohydrates. Various drinks contain a certain concentration of alcohol. For example, strong alcohol (whiskey, gin, vodka) includes the highest ethylene dosage - 30% or more. Such drinks as wine contain up to 15% alcohol. It is worth saying that despite such a dramatic difference in the percentage, the harm to the body remains practically unchanged. Exceeding the maximum dose can be both a person who uses champagne or low-alcohol beer, and an addict who is addicted to cognac or liqueur.

Chronic alcohol abuse interferes with the ability to socialize and work. That is why it is crucial to look for an AA hotline or rehab after noticing the very first sights of alcohol addiction. Although estimates vary from study to study, about 13.9% of adults meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder (abuse or dependence) every year. Heavy drinking, defined as the consumption of ≥ 5 alcoholic beverages at a time for men and ≥ 4 alcoholic beverages at a time for women, is a particular problem among young people.

What is the danger of progressive alcoholism?

Dishonest manufacturers, aware of the immense desire of addicts to drink at any cost, sometimes add dangerous surrogate substances to alcohol that supplement ethylene. Methanol is a common ingredient in low-quality alcohol. This substance in any concentration provokes severe poisoning of the body, dysfunction of many organs and systems.

The main symptoms that speak of methanol intoxication are as follows:

• Blurring of surrounding objects, "fog" before the eyes;
• It is difficult for the patient to focus on any object;
• There is an increase in pupils several times;
• Photophobia and seizures;
• Sharp pain in the abdomen;
• Not passing nausea, the person vomits without interruption;
• Loss of consciousness, being in a coma.

The manifestation of these signs in parallel with the intake of alcohol is a good reason to call a narcologist at home.

People who drink for a long time

The more distant echoes of alcohol intake are no less deplorable. During a certain time, while a person regularly consumes alcohol, their personality is destroyed - degradation, loss of moral values ​​sets in. Friends and family observing what is happening can try to help the addict by properly motivating them for treatment or at least calling an alcoholism helpline. Sometimes close people give in to despair and turn away from the alcohol addict. Broken families are a common result of alcohol abuse. The number of divorces due to the alcohol dependence of one of the spouses is growing rapidly.

Close consequences of alcohol abuse

Why are people so attracted to alcohol? The reason is the rapid development of euphoria after taking ethyl alcohol. This substance slows down the reaction of the psyche to irritating factors, blocks negative emotions. At this moment, a person completely denies the existence of problems and does not even accept help from the family or alcohol abuse hotlines. 

However, the iridescent sensations are short-lived - when alcohol starts to leave the body, everything will be the same. The addict's feelings will take on a more tragic tone. The patients themselves do not realize that they are in a vicious circle. Solving a problem does not happen, and life without alcohol already seems unbearable.

In addition to the mental health changes of a person under the influence of alcohol, the effect is also on human physiology. This consists in:

• Skin redness;
• Hot flashes;
• Chaotic movements of the limbs;
• Lack of coordination;
• Slow or too fast speech;
• Amnesia for near events;
• Vomiting and nausea.

The long-term effect of alcohol on the body

Ethanol has a destructive effect on the human body from the inside.

There are irreversible processes in the organs, the result of which is death:

• Fatty degeneration of the liver;
• Heart failure;
• Cerebral hemorrhage;
• Degeneration of brain cells;
• Renal cell atrophy.

The alcohol addiction hotline specialists say that people who constantly drink are impossible to confuse among the crowd. Their appearance immediately reflects the damage done to the individual and the body.