Beer alcoholism returns

In the 70-80 years of beer were in great demand due to the fact that in terms of 1 g of alcohol was very cheap alcohol: for 1 penny could buy 1,2 - 1,4 g, beer, alcohol, and only about 0 5 g of vodka. Extremely characteristic of the time the disease was alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. As a rule, it has developed among consumers of beer and "tangle-legs.

Until now, I remember one patient who was treated in the hematology department of a hospital it. Mechnikov. He worked as an administrator of one of Leningrad's Brasserie. He drank beer in large quantities, and after work, before and during. Before my eyes is his face, earthy-yellow, emaciated, yellow eyes, the thin-stretched hands, and a huge, fluid-filled stomach, the stomach - a particular pattern of swollen veins: Head of Medusa, seal death. The diagnosis had been - alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. I think he realized that he was dying. But the beer he wanted relentlessly, continuously. In the hospital he had refrained from alcohol. But once outside the hospital, could not resist.

In the early 90's situation changed. Beer was expensive drinks. As the cost of 1 gram of alcohol beer has become unprofitable in order to get drunk. At some time, beer consumption has fallen. But after a few years, and found that the beer they drink again, but the drink is "everything and everywhere." Young and middle-aged men and women, boys and girls in the subway, the train station, on the street on the move, surprising foreigners such indecent, sipping from bottles, cans of beer and gin and tonic. Beer boom leads to expect over time the outbreak of beer alcoholism. It is still very slightly increases the number of "beer-dependent" in the practice of drug addiction. But I'm afraid the real problem on the approach. And now a beer drinker - this is not a lumpen, not 'Poor Peasants Committee "not idle" bruise. Why is there alcohol? What is its essence?

There is a reasonable question, which is easy to ask, looking at alcohol-dependent person from the side: "If you have problems with alcohol, then why do not you just stop drinking?" Stop - and everything. " First the obvious answer: "The forces will not" - is wrong. I assure you, are sick with alcoholism and can not stop not only spineless, feeble people, but those who achieve success, is able to cope with the problems, knows how to win. It's not that the will is weak, and that the enemy is strong.

Alcoholism - a special case of drug addiction, and the appearance of his subject common to drug laws. You can not of course compare heroin, for example, drug addiction and alcoholism at the same rate of development and consequences, but there is something in common: the metabolic disease in the central nervous system. One or another drug is necessary for the functioning of the brain.

In the most general form can explain the mechanism of formation of alcohol since. In the brain works many functional systems to allow either side of the brain, in particular, systems that form the emotional state ( "reward center", "center negative emotions") systems, providing state of rest or mobilization awake or asleep, and a great many others. Normal operation of each of the functional systems is provided specific to the substance of this system - a mediator. Naturally, all these systems are permanently interconnected, interdependent, and in violation of any of them are reflected in the work of all functional systems.

When someone does something that provided by nature as useful to him: decided to challenge, defeat the enemy, eaten tasty, met a good friend (or friends) - a neurotransmitter systems of positive emotions (the so-called endogenous opiates) is released in larger quantities. A person experiencing pleasure, joy, bliss - depending on the amount of mediator. But in order to get his portion, must decide to win, prepare to meet, understand music ...

All of these troubles can be avoided. You can take anything, any substance that the brain will turn into something that replaces its own opiates. And let this chemistry excites the system of positive emotions - good man. One of the oldest substitutes joy - alcohol. After injection into a small portion of alcohol into a false neurotransmitters of the brain that interact with multiple neurotransmitter systems. This activates the system of positive emotions and the rest system, is suppressed by exciting the system. With such a complex mechanism of action of alcohol subjectively favorable, if it is used in small doses. "To what is missing, what to add: relax," unleash the language and tie "," for courage ".

For sufficiently massive impact of the exchange rebuilt. Those mediators that are replaced by ethanol, are produced in quantities less and less. The system, suppressed ethanol out of control. To return to the work of these systems to the normal person is forced to drink alcohol. If you drink a healthy person, then, unless he was moved, the next morning, he forgets about the drinking. While a healthy person of culture will avoid "brute force" to stand guard over the psychological "brake" - want to preserve the dignity, clarity of thought - and physical - in overdose occurs vomiting.

In humans, dependent on alcohol, the situation is different. Here he is after yesterday's "waking up - not working sufficiently" system of positive emotions "nedorabatyvaet" rest system ", overly activated, initiating system. Initially, these violations are hardly noticeable, but, of course, if you continue the use of alcohol, violations heavier. Once they finally become so intense that it felt not merely as a malaise "before lunch", but as a very bad state of health. "Drug", which will lead all back to normal, at hand. The man, who began freshen the nip, is doomed to the fact that the hangover will become the second drunkenness. Thus formed binge. The more people treated for drinking alcohol, the more it needs to alcohol.

After multi-day binge in some neurotransmitter systems, which should generate a sense of fun, rest - neurotransmitter deficiency, their function is close to 0, other - forming the excitement - "unchained". In addition, the body is flooded with products of oxidized alcohol, due to poorly functioning liver mass of accumulated toxins. The result is inevitable: anxiety, agonizing depression, insomnia, pouring sweat, severe weakness, nausea, and so on. And so it has to suffer until they work correctly, all systems in the brain, it takes days and days.

Now, suppose a person with already formed violations for some time does not drink. But all the "broken" alcohol systems operate at the limit of compensation. Over time, these systems are "tired", beyond the norm, and begin to demand "feeding." And then, consciously or not, people looking for excuse to drink and always finds him.

In addition to the biochemical mechanism is triggered not least, psychological, ritual, cultural mechanism. Correctly use, alcohol relieves stress, anxiety, lets forget about the troubles, problems. Naturally, he is already at the dawn of civilization has been included in the ritual of the holiday, leisure, and meetings. And really in the Russian provinces, the ratio of vodka a really kind of cult. If you do not drink - you're suspicious, you're not ours, and in general - "what you are Russian, if you do not know how to drink?". Alcohol - is a common theme for strangers. Company gathered, all somewhat constrained. Drank - you'll see, already laughing, dancing, learn, and have fun. Gradually, alcohol becomes an indispensable attribute of communication. "If you do not drink, then not talk normally." "I met with my friends, so I have tea or something, to drink with him going?".

Alcohol quickly and easily create the illusion of psychological security, trouble-free existence. A person gets used, often using alcohol to such an illusory way to address the "here and now, more and more switches from the real action on the care of an alcoholic fog. Such an attitude usually begins with psychological problems, relationship problems and extends, in the end, to production and business issues.

Thus, habit, need, biochemical disturbances begin to support each other. There is a strong, backed by different mechanisms, the system of alcohol consumption. Alcohol becomes an end in itself. He is no longer a means, not the servant, he - the owner. Alcohol - a bad boss. Dependent person really needs to alcohol, without it does not work properly critical systems of the brain, there is no comfort, no communication. Patterns of flow of alcoholism

Like any illness, alcoholism has the internal laws of development. Extremely unpleasant feature of this disease is that, having begun, it progresses steadily. The only way to stop the process - completely give up alcohol.

One of the most obvious signs - increase tolerance to alcohol. Alcoholics can drink several times more vodka than a healthy person. Increasing the frequency of drinking. Forming or daily drinking binges, or any intermediate solutions. Binges longer, heavier alcohol withdrawal syndrome - convulsions and delirium tremens.

There is a growing and organic brain damage, so-called entsifalopatiya. From this it follows inevitably decline of intelligence: lost clarity and agility of thought, humor becomes more flat, moves to alcohol and sexual theme. Emotions are callous, gradually disappears their nuances. There is an ethical decline. Ethical category of high-order all to a lesser extent, direct the behavior of a sick person, it becomes unnecessary, develops and mendacity, of a close relationship to the increasingly disappear love, warmth. All this leads to social losses: first, lost money (not necessarily in the cases plucked contracts outstanding obligations, meals and drinkers parasites, instantly appears where the river pours alcohol). Then he lost the ability to earn big money, then - to earn at all. At the end of the disease - dementia: to think and feel is nothing. Dumb opinion, bleary eyes, lurch gait, slurred speech. And the nasty smell is not long mytogo body.

We treat these creatures with contempt and disgust. But many of them were once normal people, worked, loved children, made plans. They were clean and nice. But they did not stop in time.

Not so long ago, near the subway station I was someone called by name. I was surprised to find before you a man in clothes clearly with garbage, with a pale, puffy face, he was all some sort of rumpled and unhappy: wrinkled clothing, wrinkled face, crumpled it. Only then, when he called, I slowly began to recognize him. Once we were neighbors. At this time he was lucky circus artist, illusionist. It was a strong tall man with fair head and golden hands. He could improvise anything: TV, buffet cars to focus ... Many hours I spent listening to his stories and narratives, arguments and stories. Then we parted, and I have not seen him for 15 years. And I, nor anyone else would have thought that he was then still quite innocent habit of drinking in the evening liter - another beer will turn in such a nightmare. He want from me was only 2 rubles 50 kopecks. Nothing more. Features of "beer" alcohol

In various types of alcohol has additional, nutrient, ballast substances, harmful impurities. And this causes the difference in direct effect, and in the long term results. As well as tasty after a hard day's work, returning home, drink a poor-box cool flavored beer. Feel the tension releases, as relaxation and peace spreads through the body.

Mode of action of beer is that it really promotes relaxation, calm down. In the 20 th years of the century it had recommended as a sedative (ie, sedative) tool. Thus, with beer man teaches himself not only to the usual intoxicating effect of alcohol, but also to the sedative. It takes some time, and it becomes a necessary element of rest, calming. Are growing dose of beer, there are alcoholic excesses, failures occur in the memory. The first day was postponed to drink all the earlier period - in the early evening, late in the day, at noon, and, finally, in the morning. Formed alcohol, beer becomes a habit, and in biochemistry.

Beer alcoholism creates a false impression of prosperity. Beer in the public opinion - almost no alcohol. Beer alcohol abuse for a long time are not typical of alcoholic excesses of fights and sobering-up station. Need a beer does not cause such anxiety in humans, as the need for vodka. Beer alcoholism develops over an insinuating, subtly than vodka. But since when is developed, it is very heavy alcoholism.

In large quantities, beer is a cell poison, so if you abuse them heavily expressed in the somatic effects: myocardial dystrophy, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis. When beer alcohol addiction harder than vodka, affects the brain cells, so quickly disrupted intelligence revealed severe psychopathic changes. It happens that a patient comes to the therapist to smithereens diseased liver or circulatory failure, "beer heart" and competent therapist tells the patient that his problems with alcohol.

To combat addiction to beer more difficult than with addiction to vodka. This attraction is very intrusive and difficult to let go. Very long a patient would like once more to feel this deeply relaxing, sedative effect, this calm, to breathe that smell, feel the taste. As a result, beer alcoholism - is heavy, difficult to treat alcoholism option.

When to turn to narcologists?

That of course is not an exhaustive list of signs of alcoholism, but if you find yourself at least something from them - this is very serious:

1. "Failed brakes" - you can not or rarely can stay at a small dose.

2. You can drink a lot more than before, with the same or less effect.

3. Began to emerge memory lapses at the time of intoxication.

4. Forming binges.

5. You are trying to reduce the frequency and the dose consumed, but to no avail.

Does beer alcoholism curable?

Well, yes and no.

No - in the sense that the resumption of "booze culture" can not be never. Sharing the brain disrupted and normal reaction to alcohol and beer is not never recovered. Any use of alcohol will inevitably lead to the failure, immediately or after some time. If you have metabolic disorders , consider that your barrel or tank is drained. Even the long-term abstinence can not count on the fact that "the body cleansed and you can drink culture.

Yes - in the sense that even in severe alcoholism may complete and arbitrarily long period of abstinence from alcohol. But we, of course, can go only on the absolute sobriety. To drink or not drink - the third version of the alcohol does not leave. With its own unwavering commitment to medical help, even very heavy patients can achieve amazing results.

In the early 90's I was in the Botkin hospital with hepatitis, given to me by relatives of catering. I have already recovered, when my doctor called me to ordinatorskuyu with the words: "Would you, a colleague, to look interesting case of?". I naturally wanted to . ordinatorskoy awaited me in the history of the disease three years ago. In the story described a completely drunken woman. Dirty propitaya of patients dying from hopelessly advanced liver disease. By all accounts she had to live for several months, if very lucky.

"Want to see this patient?" - Asked the doctor.

I was surprised: "Well, she is still alive?".

"And how."

The doctor invited someone from the corridor. Came in middle-aged woman, well-groomed, elegant, slightly sniffy pleasant perfume.'s Face she did not have anything like that print, which leaves alcohol on drinking women. And nothing that would give clear that person is sick. No hint of liver disease. NN came to the test samples that she, too, were completely normal. I spoke to her. And she told me that by writing from the hospital, the doctor said to her directly and ruthlessly: "thou shalt drink - you die.