Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, periodically escalating disease characterized by:

  1. Increased tolerance of alcoholic beverages – over time, more and more doses of alcohol are required to achieve intoxication.
  2. Development of a hangover syndrome. This condition develops after a person abruptly stops or significantly decreases the amount of alcohol consumed. Hangover can manifest as insomnia, anxiety, depressed mood, restlessness, sweating, tremors, headache, sensitivity to light, sound, and smell; in severe cases, it may lead to a psychosis with hallucinations, delusions, and disorientation. All of the above symptoms disappear after taking another dose of alcohol, thus forming a vicious circle.
  3. Loss of control over the amount or frequency of drinking.
  4. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to limit alcohol consumption.
  5. A considerable amount of time is spent on purchasing, actually using, and recovering after use.
  6. The emergence of problems with the law, in personal life, and professional activity due to drunkenness.
  7. Continuing to drink despite full understanding of the negative consequences of alcoholism.
  8. Feelings of guilt and regret caused by alcohol consumption.
  9. Irritation caused by condemnation of alcohol consumption by others.

Alcohol consumption causes a significant, all-round deterioration of physical and mental health. 

Because alcoholism affects both physical and psychological conditions, it can cause serious impairment of bodily functions, including damage to the brain, heart, liver, and other vital organs. In addition, as physical and psychological dependence increases, people with alcoholism may face a high risk of relapse, which means that it is difficult to abstain from alcohol in the long term. For this reason, treating alcoholism requires an integrated approach that includes medical detoxification, long-term support, and therapy to address both physical and emotional issues. A variety of strategies are often used to promote remission and help people regain control of their lives, including group support meetings, psychotherapy, and, in some cases, medications that reduce alcohol cravings. The recovery process is long and requires the close cooperation of the patient, his family and the medical staff.

What does regular alcohol consumption do to a person?

  • Alcohol can affect brain function by disrupting communication between nerve cells, which can lead to memory loss, impaired concentration, and impaired decision-making. In the long term, it can cause serious brain damage and even dementia.
  • Regular excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), heart failure and stroke.
  • Alcohol is toxic to the liver, and excessive consumption can lead to inflammation of the liver, fatty liver, hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis, a serious and often irreversible liver disease.
  • Regular alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of various cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, and bowel.
  • Alcohol can weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections, including respiratory infections, and even increasing the risk of more serious illnesses.
  • Regular use increases the risk of developing alcohol dependence, which can lead to a wide range of social and psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
  • Alcohol can cause gastrointestinal problems, including gastritis and stomach ulcers, as well as damage to the esophagus and inflammation of the pancreas.

Alcohol abusers are significantly more likely than non-drinkers to behave in a hostile manner, and also suffer from depressed mood, anxiety, intellectual degradation, and loss of motivation. In addition, binge drinking increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, increases blood pressure, negatively affects cholesterol levels, increases blood sugar, lowers libido and fertility, weakens the immune system, thus increasing the likelihood of developing infectious diseases, and is especially harmful to liver and pancreas; finally, it contributes to the development of many types of cancer. 

Our clinic provides modern, effective, internationally recognized methods of alcohol addiction treatment. Treatment is carried out in two stages: first, detoxification is carried out in hospital settings, followed by an outpatient consultation of the patient.

Most people with alcoholism are unable to stop drinking on their own. Having entered our hospital, the patient undergoes combined drug detoxification, the purpose of which is to extinguish all the above manifestations of the hangover syndrome. This allows a person to stop drinking alcohol without experiencing any disturbing sensations. The duration of detoxification usually varies from one to three days; the duration of inpatient treatment depends on many individual factors, among which is the duration of alcohol consumption before admission, as well as the daily amount of alcohol consumed: the more and longer the patient drank, the longer the detoxification course will be.

Upon completion of the inpatient stage of treatment, the patient is discharged from the hospital with a referral to an outpatient consultation, which also takes place in our clinic. The purpose of the consultation is to develop an individualized treatment plan aimed at correcting the nature of alcohol consumption; in some cases, this implies a significant reduction in the volume of alcohol consumed, in others – complete abstinence.

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Rehabilitation

Alcoholism rehabilitation is an intensive recovery process aimed at managing long-term addiction and improving quality of life. It aims to help people detoxify their bodies from alcohol, restore physical and mental health, and teach them new skills and strategies for living alcohol-free.

Treatment of alcoholism

Alcoholism treatment is a complex and individualized process that can vary depending on personal needs, the severity of the addiction, and the health problems involved. The goal of this process is to help a person stop drinking alcohol, address related health and social problems, and promote long-term recovery.

Components of alcoholism treatment usually include detoxification, which is the first step in alcoholism treatment. It takes place in a controlled environment where medical staff monitor and relieve withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening. Detoxification usually lasts from a few days to a week.

After detox, people often enter outpatient or inpatient rehab programs that provide therapy, addiction education, and various practical skills training to help people continue to lead healthy, alcohol-free daily lives. These programs may include individual counseling, group therapy, and support groups.

Alcoholism treatment requires time, patience and commitment from both the patient and their family and support network to promote long-term recovery and improve quality of life.

In case of questions related to the treatment of alcoholism, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling +37167204065, +371 66065588 or by emailing us at detoxhelp@inbox.lv