What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to drink, lack of control when trying to stop alcohol consumption, alcohol tolerance (increasing doses needed to feel the effects), and physical dependence, which manifests through physical and psychological symptoms during alcohol withdrawal.

The diagnosis of alcoholism is not related to the type or amount of alcohol consumed, but rather to the individual's ability to control their drinking.

In addition to the well-known genetic predisposition to dependence, other factors may be associated: anxiety, distress, insecurity, easy access to alcohol, and cultural conditions. Because it is closely linked to socialization—the initial effects of alcohol include euphoria and disinhibition—it is common for the habit to begin during adolescence, a period when gatherings with alcoholic beverages become more frequent.

In Brazil, 10% of the population suffers from alcoholism. Men account for 70% of cases, while women represent 30%.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms classically associated with substance dependence include lack of control over use, increasing tolerance, and manifestations of withdrawal syndrome. In the latter case, the person experiences certain symptoms when they stop consuming alcohol: trembling of the lips and extremities (hands, feet), nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, anxiety, irritability, which can progress to seizures and states of mental confusion, with disorientation in time and space, and hallucinations.

Diagnosis

Some useful questions to assess whether an individual has problems with alcohol include:

Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking?
Do you get annoyed when people criticize your drinking habits?
Have you ever felt guilty about drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, it may be a sign that the issue needs to be investigated more thoroughly. Seeking medical advice is a good option.

Treatment

The first step is for the person to recognize that they are struggling with alcoholism and to want to change the situation. Then, the family and/or the individual should seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist, who will assess the available treatment options.

Treatment may involve detoxification, which is the withdrawal from alcohol under professional supervision, the use of medications that help control the craving to drink, and individual or group counseling.

Family involvement is essential at this stage, as alcoholism is a disease that affects not only the person with the dependency, but also everyone around them.

Impact

Alcohol, along with tobacco use, is one of the main risk factors for the development of various diseases.

When used over a prolonged period, it has a toxic effect on several organs. Constant use causes damage to the nervous system, potentially leading to dementia, as well as decreased sensitivity and muscle strength in the legs. Other possible consequences include: in the stomach, it can cause gastritis and ulcers; in the liver, it may lead to hepatitis, fat accumulation, and cirrhosis; in the pancreas, it can cause pancreatitis; and in the circulatory system, it increases the risk of myocarditis, high blood pressure, strokes, and atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty plaques in blood vessels).

Alcohol is also linked to the development of cancer in the intestinal tract, bladder, prostate, and other organs.

In addition, social relationships are negatively affected. In both excess and withdrawal, the dependent individual becomes irritable, experiences tremors and anxiety attacks, which only improve with increasing alcohol consumption.