Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a type of addiction that causes individuals to constantly consume alcohol and experience withdrawal when they cannot obtain alcohol. Alcohol addicts feel bad and stressed when they cannot obtain alcohol. This situation affects the family, work and social lives of addicts in a very negative way. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol).
BASIC SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION
- Inability to control alcohol consumption
- Prioritizing alcohol consumption over other activities
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities in family, work or social life
- Continuing to use alcohol despite encountering its harmful effects
- Alcohol losing its former effect day by day
- Starting to consume more alcohol than intended
- Consuming alcohol in potentially dangerous situations
- Withdrawal symptoms that occur when alcohol consumption is stopped (consists of symptoms such as sweating, shivering, increased temperature, nausea or vomiting, headache, insomnia, restlessness, perception disorders, high blood pressure and attention deficit) (TBM, 2021).
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ALCOHOL ADDICTION?
Alcohol addiction is often seen together with different psychological and physical disorders. In addition to mental problems such as mood disorders, anxiety problems and personality disorders, alcohol-addicted individuals also experience physical disorders such as various liver disorders, cancer, cirrhosis, blood pressure and vascular occlusion.
Alcohol decreases male hormones and increases female hormones.
Alcohol use during pregnancy causes ‘retardation’ in the baby’s growth and development process (Varol, 2011)
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION ON FAMILY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE?
Family is the cornerstone of our society. According to the 2017 TÜİK report, 12.2% of divorces in our country are due to alcohol and gambling. The rate of women divorcing due to alcohol is 23%, while the rate of men divorcing due to alcohol is 3.5%. However, it is thought that alcohol also has an effect on other reasons for divorce, such as disrespectful and unconscious behaviors, inability to provide for the family, mistreatment and beatings.
(TÜİK, 2017).
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
First of all, addicted individuals should be told that addiction is a disease. It should be explained what kind of problems alcohol consumption causes both to the person and to those around them, and they should be convinced about this. While doing this, attitudes and behaviors such as bad words, humiliation and hatred should be avoided. The addicted person should be informed about this issue and should be made aware of the consequences of their actions. The person should be informed about treatment methods and should be persuaded to receive treatment. The person should be removed from the social environment where alcohol is consumed and should be started on beneficial activities that will replace it.