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What is alcoholism: disease or promiscuity

Currently, the spread of alcoholism in the developed countries has reached alarming scale, and the number of deaths related to the abuse of alcohol, is growing. However, opinions about what constitutes alcoholism: banal promiscuity or serious illness, are different. Because the process of alcohol consumption is ambivalent. In one case, it can be a painful relationship and the other dedication to an unhealthy lifestyle. Try to understand the problem and to determine at what point the love of booze turns into a disease.

The definition and when the man himself dismisses

According to psychologists, alcoholism is a form of deviant behavior. According to the world health organization, is a chronic, progressive disease due to regular consumption of alcoholic beverages and is characterized by the formation of psychological and physical dependence. But for the majority of the populations views on this issue do not coincide with the opinion of experts, therefore they do not perceive the problem as serious illness. Moreover, many do not even see any danger. As a result, relatives and friends perceive as addiction to alcohol, promiscuity and addiction. And in fact, it gradually develops into a disease.

Promiscuity depends on moral qualities of each. The promiscuity can be attributed to the first dose of alcohol. It was after her some lose control, can't stop and be not quite adequate. Given this, it is understandable why one of the criteria of alcoholism as a disease is a loss of control over drinking, inability to stop after the first drink. And if you have binges, out of which alone is not possible, neither of which promiscuity can not speak, so as to exit from this condition often need medical help.

Often promiscuity and irresponsibility are associated with alcoholism but not the disease. This statement is not applicable for all. After all, one can stop, and the other is a habit that will lead to the development of dependence.

When drinking becomes a disease

To prove the pathogenic nature of alcoholism is easy. Just look at the long-term effects of abuse. It is easy to notice, as the years change a person's appearance, change the personal features of his character, disturbed functioning of many organs and systems. Consider the main features, showing that the fascination with alcohol grew into a disease:

  • The lack of interest in the surrounding world, social valuesand a private Outlook.
  • Loss of situational control.
  • The lack of interest in earning cash as a result — low level of social well-being.
  • The presence of blackouts, defined as periods of indiscriminate use of alcohol for more than one day.
  • The lack of a gag reflex when drinking large amounts of alcohol and severe intoxication.
  • Increase tolerance to alcohol.
  • Failure to stop after taking small amount of alcohol.
  • The presence of the syndrome.
  • Hangover.
  • Alcoholic amnesia.
  • Damage to the nervous tissue, including structures of the Central nervous system, accompanied by incoherent speech, impaired motor skills of the muscles, tremor of the extremities, and can develop delirium or alcoholic psychosis.
  • The presence of progressive pathology of internal organs, blood vessels, and violations of the processes of blood clotting.

Stages of alcoholism

Alcoholism is almost the only disease, the development of which depends on the person. That is, once the individual chose a path of alcohol consumption, then over time will form a dependency and the disease will progress. Actually, a good result after the treatment is observed only if the person himself wants to get rid of addiction. In order to notice the moment of transition of bad habits in a disease called "alcoholism", it is important to know the basic stages of development of pathology. So, the disease progresses in the following scenario:

  • The first stage.

Characterized by loss of sense of proportion. Fades a gag reaction to alcohol, and the periods of feast fall out of memory.

  • The second stage.

The main feature of the transition to this stage is the accession of the hangover. And for its elimination there is a need to take another dose of alcohol just after waking up. In addition, begins to form a tendency to drinking bouts and drunkenness does not cause drowsiness. While at this stage of alcoholism, the individual is convinced that without alcohol life is meaningless.

  • The third stage.

The disease enters its final stage, which is characterized by the complete degradation, antisocial behavior. Develop severe lesions of the internal organs (liver cirrhosis, pathology of the cardiovascular system), encephalopathy, psychosis, polyneuritis. As a consequence of all the above — a lethal outcome.

Precede the disease can so-called everyday drinking, which is characterized by the preservation of the ability of control drunk. Also for this condition characteristic of vomiting due to alcohol intoxication and the inabilitydrinking in the next few days. But this term does not apply to medical diagnoses, it is likely the social evaluation of a person.

The spread of alcohol dependence is one of the symptoms of social disadvantage. Indeed, the abuse of alcohol leads to the exclusion of the individual from society. On the question of what is, after all: the disease or promiscuity, each has its own answer. But many data indicate that often it all starts with promiscuity and is gradually transformed into alcohol dependence. And the consequences of such dependence is highly deplorable.