A sober lifestyle is the best barrier against alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic mental illness caused by alcohol abuse, characterized by a pathological craving for alcohol (psychological and physical dependence), with associated physical and mental consequences of alcohol intoxication of increasing severity.

It is well known that alcohol not only has the ability to cause addiction but, equally importantly, acts as a potent toxic agent, pathologically affecting virtually all vital bodily functions.

Gastrointestinal tract - functional disorders of the stomach are observed in 95% of alcohol abusers, with chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP), pancreatic calcification, diabetes mellitus, and subhepatic jaundice identified. The development and course of the disease run parallel to pathological processes in the liver.

Liver - ethyl alcohol has significant caloric value and isocalorically replaces food. Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption significantly affects nutritional status, depriving a person of appetite and impairing absorption from the digestive tract, even when food and vitamins E, C, B1, B2, B6, B12 are consumed. As a consequence, chronic alcohol intoxication is accompanied by a deficiency of essential substances, with signs of protein malnutrition observed. This results in the development of: fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, and malignant liver tumors.

Cardiovascular system - alcoholic cardiomyopathy develops. Cardiovascular dysfunction in alcoholic heart disease is most dangerous during the acute phase of alcoholism, which is characterized by pain syndrome, circulatory insufficiency, and heart rhythm disturbances. Sudden death is often the first and only manifestation of APS. According to clinical data, sudden death during abstinence (hangover) syndrome accounts for 90% of all cases of sudden death in individuals who abuse alcohol.

Central Nervous System - Chronic toxic effects of ethanol lead to impairments in higher nervous activity, including memory, intellect, thinking, and emotions. Disorders of perception are characteristic, manifesting as illusory, hallucinatory, and delusional disorders, which can develop both during abstinence syndrome and in a state of alcohol intoxication. A fairly common outcome is alcoholic encephalopathy or alcoholic amnestic syndrome (Korsakoff's psychosis).

Alcohol abuse is a recognized risk factor for stroke. High doses of alcohol increase blood pressure, enhance blood clotting, and promote thrombus formation. Consuming 3 or more standard drinks of alcohol per day (1 standard drink - 10 g of 100% ethyl alcohol) doubles the risk of stroke development.

Lungs - In most patients (88%), pulmonary tuberculosis develops against the background of alcoholism, meaning alcoholism is the primary disease. The risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis increases not only in individuals with alcohol dependence but also in those who abuse alcohol. Studies have shown that among tuberculosis patients without a co-occurring diagnosis of "Chronic Alcoholism," approximately half abused alcohol. The reasons for the increased risk include malnutrition, reduced resistance (immunity) of the body, and immunodeficiency.

Alcohol-related harm extends beyond the health of the drinker; the well-being and health of those around the alcoholic also suffer. Alcohol is associated with many serious social aspects and developmental problems, including violence, child neglect and abuse, as well as absenteeism from work and commission of offenses.

The task of modern society is to protect people from this danger, convince healthy individuals of the perniciousness of alcohol consumption, stop nascent alcoholics who have just started down a slippery path, and help patients who still have a chance for recovery. For this purpose, special alcoholism prevention is carried out, including various forms and directions.

Alcoholism Prevention

Primary prevention of alcoholism is a way to protect those who have not yet encountered the realities of alcohol dependence from the disease. The simplest and safest way to prevent alcoholism is to make the potential patient understand what awaits them on this path: severe dependence; numerous health problems; problems in the family and society; and, finally, a tragic end – death.

The main task of primary prevention of alcoholism is to initially form a negative image of drinking in the mind of a young person, convincing them that an alternative life without alcohol consumption is not only possible but also more comfortable and enjoyable. Convinced teetotalers very rarely change their views on life; on the contrary, they try to convince their loved ones and friends of the correctness of such a choice.

Secondary prevention of alcoholism is help for people who are already ill and have become dependent on alcohol. Often, alcoholics do not take their problem seriously, being convinced that everything is under control and they can fix everything at any moment. The distorted perception of reality of an alcoholic carefully smooths out their own image: what others notice, the alcoholic themselves does not see. The alcoholic perceives a strong hangover, an unhealthy appearance, trembling hands, and inadequate behavior as the norm, and, as they think, masterfully hides more obvious signs of the disease. In such cases, help is simply necessary; without support, an alcoholic is unlikely to cope with their "hobby." It is precisely such people who require secondary prevention of alcoholism. It includes a number of measures:

• Working with the patient's family and close friends.
• Organizing meetings with former alcoholics to create a positive role model.
• Various interviews and psychological training sessions.
• A wide range of other socio-psychological types of assistance.

Secondary prevention is aimed at helping the patient realize their problem and start taking action themselves. The patient's personal desire to get rid of alcohol dependence is one of the most important turning points, provided, of course, that the fatal mark has not yet been passed and the patient's health gives them a chance for a normal life. The task of secondary prevention of alcoholism is to manage to stop the alcoholic at a time when their body has not yet undergone pathological changes incompatible with a full life.

Alcoholism Prevention After Treatment (Tertiary Alcoholism Prevention). Tertiary alcoholism prevention is a set of measures applied to recovering patients who have abstained from alcohol. At this stage, it is crucial to prevent a person on the path to recovery from relapsing. The body's memory is much stronger than we think: it is enough for a former alcoholic to experience the "charm" of intoxication just once to recklessly dive back into the world of alcohol. Tertiary alcoholism prevention includes:

• Psychological counseling.
• Organization of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

If the patient wants to recover, such prevention is an ideal opportunity to slip out of the tenacious grip of the "green serpent" and start a new, alcohol-free life.

Social alcoholism prevention is an attempt at public regulation of alcohol consumption, a possibility of legislative restriction of the scale of this problem. These include:

• Prohibition of alcohol purchase by children and adolescents.
• Restriction of alcohol sales hours.
• Prohibition of alcohol consumption in public places, etc.

A person's psychological focus on a sober lifestyle is the best barrier against alcoholism.

Everything is in your hands!

 State Institution "Rassonsky RTCGE", 2023.