The consequences of alcoholism are a complex threat not only to physical health, but also to the personality, psyche, and socialization. The disease can progress over several months or several years. But without qualified medical care, the result is always the same:

• complete isolation from society
• destruction of all relationships - up to family
• intellectual and personal degradation
• damage to vital organs up to the development of life-threatening conditions (heart attacks, strokes, etc.)

It is important to understand that there are no safe alcoholic beverages. The strength of alcohol is unimportant - constant use will sooner or later lead to the development of addiction.

Physiological consequences of alcoholism

Already on the second, external changes appear, the development of serious diseases begins.

External manifestations

• constantly shaking hands;
• wrinkled flabby skin with age spots;
• severe swelling;
• thinning hair;
• bad teeth.

All this is the result of the destructive effects of alcohol toxins and a changed lifestyle.

Alcohol causes severe dehydration, so the body tries to store water as much as possible - as a result, edema appears. This is especially noticeable on the face.

Disturbed metabolism and a constant increased load on internal organs that are trying to remove toxins lead to a decrease in immunity, susceptibility to any infections and gradual tissue destruction (hair and teeth become brittle and begin to fall out).

Disorders of the digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular and other systems inevitably affect the appearance of the addict, with prolonged dependence visually turning him into literally an “old man” at a fairly young age.

Internal disorders

• disturbances in the work of the heart;
• anemia;
• kidney damage (up to chronic renal failure);
• fatty degeneration and cirrhosis of the liver;
• pancreatitis;
• gastroduodenitis;
• functional disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems;
• disorders of cerebral circulation;
• encephalopathy (irreversible changes in the brain);
• strokes;
• heart attacks.

In the absence of timely, at the third stage, the consequences of alcoholism become even more dangerous - the actual destruction of internal organs begins:

• the effect of alcohol on gastrointestinal tract can cause severe disturbances in the functions of the pancreas (up to pancreatic necrosis), cancer of the esophagus, stomach and rectum;
• the main load on the removal of toxins falls on liver, in which entire sections of tissues gradually begin to die off, as a result, the remaining part of the organ simply cannot cope with the “volume of work” and may fail at any moment;
• increasing concentration of toxins continues to destroy cardiovascular system, the heart muscle is stretched and is not able to contract effectively; impaired blood circulation leads to progressive oxygen starvation of the tissues of the whole organism.

According to the World Health Organization, 4-7% of deaths in our country are caused by alcohol addiction. The main causes are heart disease, pancreatic necrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as various injuries and accidents that occur to people while intoxicated.

Mental consequences of alcoholism

The action of ethanol consistently destroys the nervous system, leads to the death of brain cells.

The consequence is:

• sleep disorders
• memory impairment
• intellectual decline
• emotional inadequacy

In the later stages of alcoholism, even the ability to speak and perceive someone else's speech disappears.

Already at the beginning of the development of dependence, the criticality of judgments and self-perception decreases, the alcoholic ceases to adequately assess what is happening. The sense of self-preservation gradually fails, which leads to various injuries and even death.

In the second stage, during the period of acute abstinence or binge, you have to, already in order to avoid the threat meth-alcohol psychoses.

Alcoholic delirium ("delirium tremens")

The first signs are sleep disturbances, nightmares. At dusk (especially in the evening) the first hallucinations begin. An alcoholic may mistake the shadows in the room for someone's silhouettes, the thrown clothes for some kind of monster.

Over time, the hallucinations become more intense. At first, imaginary images fit into the surrounding reality, but gradually drag the addict into an illusory world, and so real that the alcoholic can hear non-existent sounds, smell, hear voices.

Such visions are almost always negative, cause a feeling of real anxiety, make you defend yourself from some threat (for example, run away from a terrible monster).

In this state, the addict is a danger not only to himself, but also to others. Fleeing from something that is real only for him, he can jump out the window or attack a person standing next to him, seeing an imaginary enemy in his place.

Psychosis is accompanied by fever and disturbances in the metabolic processes of the body. Without qualified medical assistance, an alcoholic can die from cardiovascular insufficiency or cerebral edema.

Alcoholic hallucinosis

The disorder is characterized by delusions and verbal or visual hallucinations. The addict begins to hear "voices" that talk to him or among themselves, discuss him, even scold or threaten him. Gradually, such "interlocutors" bring him to the mania of persecution.

Hallucinosis happens:

• acute - lasts from several days to 2-3 weeks;
• protracted - lasts from a month to six months;
• chronic - up to several years.

This type of psychosis is usually characterized by the predominance of one symptom - either delusions or hallucinations. The longer the condition lasts, the more severe the anxiety and depression become, which can lead the addict to suicide.

delusional psychoses

In most cases, the disorder manifests itself as delusions of persecution. Unlike hallucinosis, a person does not begin to hear some extraneous "voices" in his head. His mania refers to real people and is provoked by false judgments, as a result of which the patient thinks that someone is following him. Any word, any action, not only of relatives, but also of strangers, will only confirm this confidence.

Over time, this conviction will only grow, provoking fear and prompting unpredictable actions. This condition lasts for weeks and in many ways resembles the manifestations of developing schizophrenia. It will take, with experience in the field of narcology, to make the correct diagnosis and find an effective treatment.

Alcoholic encephalopathy

One of the most dangerous consequences of alcoholism is the death of brain cells, which gradually lead to encephalopathy.

The characteristic features are:

• decrease in intellectual abilities;
• primitive thinking;
• severe memory impairment;
• inhibited motor reactions;
• convulsions (as in an epileptic seizure);
• partial loss of sensation.

The consequences of alcoholism for the individual

The destructive effect of alcohol is reflected in the moral and ethical qualities. Already by the second stage, a loved one can change beyond recognition - a previously educated and correct person becomes a deceitful egocentric, unable to reckon with the feelings of other people.

All his actions are aimed only at obtaining alcohol. He shows incredible ingenuity, perseverance and cunning. To get what they want, the addict begins to steal valuables from the house and sell things. May decide on robbery and even more serious crime.

The lack of critical perception gradually leads to the complete degradation of the personality. Having lost all moral values, an alcoholic tries to involve other people into his world - he gets the younger generation drunk, provokes former drinking buddies who have already been treated in a drug treatment clinic to break down.

At the same time, the addict strongly denies the negative impact of alcohol on his life. Almost impossible on your own. In 99% of cases, relatives manage to send an alcoholic to the hospital only thanks to the help of motivational psychologists who know how to properly talk with such patients.

Social Consequences of Alcoholism

With the loss of the value system, the social behavior of the addict also changes:

• Trouble starts with study or At work. Increasingly, classmates and colleagues see the addict drunk. The student "fills up" the session, the employee neglects his duties. The inevitable expulsion or dismissal does not bother him in any way. Moreover, he increasingly finds blame for his failures and stubbornly refuses to admit that most of his troubles are associated with uncontrolled drinking. The only reason he will agree to work is to get money for a drink.

• escalate problems communicating with others. Mood swings and lack of critical perception lead to regular cases of antisocial behavior: the addict can hit a child or an old man, be rude to a stranger, start a fight in a crowded place.
• Gradually addiction to alcohol displaces all other hobbies and hobby. Only those associated with drinking remain interesting activities for the addict. It is not uncommon for a person who, before his illness, was not at all interested in gambling, getting into alcohol addiction, begins to spend a lot of time playing card games.

Only complex treatment with an individually designed course helps to cope with the consequences of alcoholism and return a person to a sober life.

In the Clinic of Dr. Isaev, special programs of psychological, behavioral and social correction are used to work with alcoholics, which allow restoring health to a certain extent even at the last stage of addiction.

Remember that there is always hope - but the first step must be taken.

Ekaterina Yartseva: the first stage of alcoholism treatment (video)

What is alcoholism and its consequences is known to almost everyone. But despite this, the disease is spreading at an inexorable speed. At what not only men become a victim of dependence. More and more young women and children suffer from alcoholism.

In addition, driving while intoxicated leads to traffic accidents. A large percentage of injuries at work also occurs due to the fault of drunken persons.

Women's alcoholism has even more serious consequences because women become mothers.

In addition to the fact that health is destroyed and the same problems arise as drinking men, female alcoholism leads to impaired reproductive function. Very often there is a problem of conceiving and bearing a fetus even after treatment for alcohol dependence. Drinking women give birth to sick children. These can be serious genetic problems that cannot be treated.

Even the appearance of babies born with alcoholics can betray the fact of alcohol abuse during pregnancy. Incorrect body proportions, too large head, deep-set or spherical eyes and other signs.

But even if the newborn does not outwardly differ from healthy peers, he may have a developmental delay. They later acquire physical skills, are restless, do not sleep well. Such babies often suffer from hypermobility and aggressiveness. They do not know how to calmly play and focus their attention on a particular activity.

Very often, children born to drinking mothers do poorly in school and have behavioral problems. And if they live with parents who regularly drink, they get a serious psychological trauma, leading to problems such as stuttering, enuresis, night terrors and other mental disorders.
In adolescence, such children show manifestations of aggression and cruelty. They find it difficult to communicate with peers and adults. It is these guys who are at risk of possible suicide or addiction to alcoholism.

The consequences of female alcoholism occur much earlier than in men, since the female body is more vulnerable to alcohol.

Children's alcoholism has become a serious problem of our days. ... The consequences of such a hobby are detrimental both for the child and for society as a whole.

When a child at the age of 8-10 begins to taste alcohol, his taste may not be pleasant and cause disgust. But there are a number of reasons that can lead to regular alcohol consumption. Children from dysfunctional families are most at risk of alcohol addiction. They do not receive due attention, often run away from home and lead a wandering life. In the company of the same homeless children, they try alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.

But it also happens that children from prosperous families fall into the risk group. Excessive guardianship does not allow the child to express himself, and at the first opportunity, having received a little freedom, he uses it not for the best purposes.
Imitation of idols or more popular peers, loneliness, misunderstanding of others - all this can lead to the first samples of alcohol. The teenager will want to repeat the resulting state of euphoria at the slightest difficulty. For a fragile body, it will take very little time to become dependent on alcohol.

Children and teenagers do not realize what such pranks threaten. For the human body, alcohol is a poison, and for an emerging personality, it can cause a slowdown in development and the appearance of all kinds of diseases.

The consequences of childhood alcoholism are irreversible, since health will never become standard.

In order for alcohol addiction not to destroy life, it is very important to be careful about alcohol. Drinking on holidays can very quickly develop into the first stage of alcoholism. If you do not stop in time, you will not be able to do without the help of a narcologist in the future. Therefore, the use of alcoholic beverages should be minimized, or even better, completely abandon them.

Alcoholism is a phenomenon of truly frightening proportions. People sometimes do not even suspect how strong the damage from this phenomenon can be. But for this it is enough just to turn to the statistics, which are extremely disappointing. The fact is that almost every third death in our country, if not directly, then indirectly caused by alcohol. And this is not counting all those numerous diseases, abnormalities and pathologies that occur in the body of men and women under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

Unfortunately, people either don't know enough about the problem or don't want to admit it. And therefore every year, instead of decreasing, this problem develops and progresses. And needless to say, how this negatively affects both the health of the entire nation and the processes that occur in individual families. The latter often collapse because of this, because if someone in the family is an alcoholic (for both men and women), then this is a real problem. Therefore, we will deal with the main dangers that are fraught with a terrible phenomenon called alcoholism - consider alcoholism and its consequences.

Description of the problem

In its general form, alcoholism is called addiction to drinks containing ethyl alcohol. This addiction includes both physical and psychological dependence. Over time, a person cannot control the amount of alcohol that he consumes, he begins to drink more and more, his organs are affected, his memory deteriorates - but he continues to drink. It is believed that there are about 140 million alcoholics in the world (of which there are many women) - a frightening figure, it can be compared with the population of Russia. So the problem is very serious.

Causes

A very important point is the genetic predisposition to alcoholism, such a phenomenon exists. Psychological aspects are also important, because for many people alcohol intoxication is a very simple and affordable method of escapism, which helps to forget, to get away from the problems of the outside world. Sometimes it all starts small - a person drinks in small quantities just to relax, for example, after a hard day at work (or, which is especially bad, after taking care of a child, if we talk about women). He does not believe that those smaller portions he consumes are capable of causing any significant harm. And therefore, gradually an addiction forms in him, which after some time he can no longer control normally.

As for the social factor, it all depends on the environment that is inherent in this person. If there were alcoholics in the family, then a person may develop a subconscious association that drinking alcohol is the norm. They say it helped my parents, why wouldn't it help me too? And with such a deliberately false belief, a person gets hooked on destructive alcohol. This usually happens in men, but in women the possibility of this is not excluded. Of course, these are not all reasons, but the most common.

stages

Conventionally, there are several stages of alcoholism:

Consequences

With alcoholism, the many consequences it entails can be frighteningly negative. Here are just a few examples:

• gastritis and ulcers;
• fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver;
• poor heredity in children (not only when women drink, but also when the father drinks);
• problems with the functioning of the reproductive system (primarily in women, in men too, but in women the problem is more pronounced);
• problems with the nervous system, which leads to epilepsy, psychosis, and so on;
• an increase in the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases and pathologies, for example, hypertension, strokes, myocardial ischemia, and so on;
• the risk of developing schizophrenia;
• an increase in the likelihood of manifestation of various pulmonary pathologies, for example, tuberculosis and emphysema.

These are just some of the consequences of alcoholism. Do not forget about various social factors, for example, limiting communication with many people, difficulties in adapting to a team, and so on - these are just some of the social consequences of alcoholism. In a word, in the presence of alcoholism, you can safely forget about a full life - now an alcoholic, no matter whether it is a man or a woman, has to live with restrictions.

The most common form of drug addiction is alcoholism.

Man began to produce and consume alcoholic beverages many centuries before our era. Probably, already in primitive society, in order to achieve intoxication, they used fermented fruits, honey. With the development of agriculture and viticulture, the production of wines has spread widely. Numerous historical studies show that wine was widespread among the most diverse peoples of antiquity. In ancient China, for example, alcoholic beverages were made from rice, in India - from millet, rice or barley, in Iran - from hemp. The Scythians received an intoxicating drink from mare's milk. The Egyptians were the first to learn how to brew beer. In ancient Greece and Rome, in honor of the grape harvest, festivities were organized - Bacchanalia (Bacchus - the god of winemaking), accompanied by revelry and drunken orgies, the name of which has become a household word.

Alcoholic drinks quickly won numerous adherents because of their ability to change the mental state of a person, especially mood, causing a variety of pleasant sensations, usually erroneous, i.e. illusions. After taking alcohol, health improves, longing and sadness are weakened, carelessness and fun appear. Timid - becomes bold, silent - talkative, etc. The environment is perceived in a distorted light, the voice of reason is muffled, a person ceases to be himself, very often his behavior becomes asocial. But all this does not last long, soon there is weakness in the whole body, weakness, drowsiness, depressed mood.

The concept of alcoholism

To date, there is no generally accepted definition of alcoholism. In everyday life, the term "alcoholism" means excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and is synonymous with the concept of drunkenness. According to the WHO, “alcoholism is any form of alcohol consumption that exceeds the traditional, socially accepted “food” norm or goes beyond the social habits of a given society.”

According to the definition adopted in medicine, “alcoholism is a disease determined by a pathological craving for alcoholic beverages (i.e., mental and physical dependence occurs), the development of an abstinence syndrome when alcohol is stopped, and in advanced cases, a violation of the internal organs, nervous system and mental degradation".

The term “chronic alcoholism” (“alcoholic disease”) is more commonly used. It can be said that alcoholism - This is a set of pathological changes that occur in the body under the influence of prolonged immoderate alcohol consumption.

Alcoholism and drunkenness are different stages of alcohol abuse. Most often, when it comes to alcohol abuse, they mean drunkenness. Drunkenness, in turn, is the cause of alcoholism.

Classification of consumption of alcoholic beverages

Depending on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, the following groups of limes are distinguished (according to Yu. P. Lisitsyn):

• non-alcoholic drinkers (convinced teetotalers);
• consuming alcoholic beverages rarely (on holidays and family celebrations), on average no more than once a month, in small quantities (several glasses of wine or strong alcoholic beverages);
• moderately drinking alcoholic beverages (1-3 times a month, but not more than 1 time per week), in small quantities in cases that are socially justified (holidays, family traditions, meetings with friends), do not allow antisocial actions;
• alcohol abusers, which include: a) drunkards - drinking alcohol often, several times a week, in large quantities, the reason for drinking has no social explanations ("for the company", "for no reason", "wanted and drank", etc.); d.), alcoholic drinks are drunk in random places, in a state of alcoholic intoxication, behavior is disturbed (conflicts in the family, absence from work, violation of the rules of public order), sometimes there may be an uncontrollable craving for alcohol; persons with initial signs of alcoholism (mental dependence on alcohol intake, loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed, increased tolerance to alcohol); b) persons with pronounced signs of alcoholism, when physical dependence on alcohol, hangover syndrome (withdrawal syndrome) and other symptoms up to serious mental disorders (alcoholic psychosis) join mental dependence.

Alcohol myths

The spread of alcoholism is facilitated by the so-called alcohol myths, i.e. illusory representations that justify the use of alcohol.

Myth one: alcoholics are those who drink cheap drinks every day (but this is not so, because the forms of alcoholism are different).

Myth two: drunkenness is unpleasant for others, but in general it is not very dangerous for health (this is also not true, since alcohol is a risk factor for diseases of the liver and organs of the cardiovascular system, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer stomach, psychological and biochemical dependence is formed, intellectual and mental degradation sets in).

Myth three: only those who have an innate tendency to become alcoholics become alcoholics (but this is not at all necessary, since cases of the development of alcoholism in children of non-drinking parents are known).

Myth four: without alcohol it is impossible to celebrate any events of human life, etc.

Causes of alcoholism

Along with alcohol myths, the following reasons are important, usually acting simultaneously:

biological: in 30-40% of cases, alcoholism develops due to hereditary predisposition. If one of the parents is an alcoholic, then the probability of developing chronic alcoholism in children is 50%, if both parents are alcoholics, then the probability is 75%;

psychological: personality type largely determines addiction to alcohol. People who are weak-willed and lack initiative are more often subject to alcoholism. Psychogenic trauma often leads to alcoholism, when a person cannot cope with trouble and finds solace in escaping from reality by drinking alcohol; social: following the traditions that have developed in the family and the surrounding society, low cultural level (including the lack of a culture of drinking alcohol), lack of leisure, awareness of the hopelessness of one's social position, the inability to change anything in one's life;

socio-economic: the sale of alcoholic beverages generates multi-billion dollar revenues in all countries (in our country, income from the sale of alcoholic beverages constitutes a significant part of the state budget).

Consequences of alcoholism

The consequences of alcoholism can be:

medical: alcohol leads to damage to such organs as the liver (5th place among other causes of death), the central nervous system (CNS) (alcoholic encephalopathy, alcoholic psychosis, polyneuritis, etc.); the risk of acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebrovascular accident increases, against the background of alcohol abuse progresses pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis; parental alcoholism leads to the birth of unhealthy offspring with birth defects and diseases, an increase in infant mortality, etc.;

social: alcoholism leads to an increase in crime, an increase in morbidity, disability, mortality, i.e., to a decrease in health indicators of the population, an increase in injuries;

socio-economic: a decrease in working capacity as a result of the effect of alcohol abuse on health leads to material and economic damage to society, a decrease in labor productivity, etc.

Measures to combat drunkenness and alcoholism

As experience has shown, prohibitive measures in the fight against alcoholism are ineffective. The organization of the fight against drunkenness and alcoholism should be based on the principles of persuasion, the formation of a healthy lifestyle, overcoming alcohol myths, the activities of the media and sobriety societies, etc.

Measures to prevent drunkenness and alcoholism should be divided into specific and non-specific (indirect). Specific prevention implies measures directly aimed at reducing alcohol consumption: public opinion formation, health education, limiting the time for the sale of alcoholic beverages, the age limit for the sale of alcoholic beverages, administrative measures (fines, deprivation of additional holidays, bonuses, etc.).

Measures of indirect prevention indirectly affect the reduction of alcohol consumption. These include attitudes towards the formation of a healthy lifestyle, raising the level of well-being and culture, education, etc.

Stages of development of alcoholism

Most people who begin to try and then consume alcohol and drugs go through a series of stages that coincide with each other and reflect the complexity of the development of alcoholism (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. The development of alcoholism

Stage of acquaintance with alcohol

At this stage of their introduction to alcohol, teenagers often begin to try alcohol (in the company of peers, at home, etc.) in order to cheer themselves up. Negative reaction of the body: feeling unwell, headaches, nausea, vomiting, i.e. negative experience, can wean from alcohol. However, for those who have experienced pleasure after drinking, the desire to continue drinking increases, and they move on to the next stage of drinking - the stage of regular drinking.

Stages of regular use

Teenagers who drink alcohol regularly are people who drink in the company. A certain degree of self-control is present in an adult, but most adolescents get drunk drunk (various physiological disorders and changes in behavior no longer cause them concern). Prolonged use accompanies the transition to the third stage.

Obsession stage (persistent thoughts about drinking)

The third stage is the presence of obsessive thoughts about alcohol. During the dating and regular drinking stages, adolescents drink to experience the pleasurable sensations they associate with drinking. But at the third stage, a teenager begins to drink in order to eliminate or muffle unpleasant sensations, negative emotions. At this stage, adolescents begin to lose control of themselves, they develop physical endurance to alcohol (and at the same time physical dependence). This
the main warning sign that an addiction to alcohol and, possibly, alcoholism is developing.

Physical Demand Stage (Chemically Dependent)

The fourth stage is chemically conditioned need or alcohol dependence. A characteristic feature of this stage is the loss of self-control, prolonged binges. The main driving motive at this stage is self-treatment. The behavior of an alcoholic has a number of characteristic features: tolerance - more and more alcohol is required to achieve the same effect; withdrawal syndrome - the appearance of painful symptoms that develop when a person does not drink; drug addiction behavior, - behavior changes dramatically when an alcoholic is deprived of the object of his passion; drinking becomes more important than everything else in life; there is a degradation of personality.

Alcohol use and effects

Alcohol - ethyl alcohol (ethanol, chemical formula C 2 H 5 OH) is a colorless volatile liquid, highly flammable and with a characteristic odor and burning taste.

Short-term effects of alcohol:

• slow reaction to external stimuli;
• slow reflexes;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• decreased sharpness of thinking;
• memory impairment;
• vomit; blurred look;
• increased risk of accidents;
• staggering when walking or standing still;
• loss of consciousness.

Consequences of long-term alcohol exposure:

• alcoholism disease;
• memory lapses;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• dysfunction of the brain;
• violation of the nervous system;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• disruption of the digestive system and other systems;
• reduction in life expectancy;
• coma;
• death (as a result of accidents, from excess alcohol).

The alcohol molecule is small and easily absorbed into the blood. Absorption begins already in the oral mucosa, about 20% is absorbed by the gastric mucosa, and the bulk of alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine. Ethanol easily penetrates the cell membranes of all tissues, but its concentration is directly dependent on the water content in them. Therefore, for example, the concentration of alcohol in brain tissue is 1.5-2 times higher than in other tissues. Its concentration is also quite high in the liver, since it actively absorbs and neutralizes any substances in the blood in concentrations exceeding the norm.

After a single injection, ethanol is oxidized at a constant rate of 85-100 mg/kg per hour. With its frequent use, the rate of oxidation increases as a result of an increase in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, which is the reason for the increase in tolerance in the first stage of alcoholism.

Alcohol refers to substances that have a harmful effect on almost all systems of the human body. It is clear that its action is especially dangerous for a growing, not yet formed organism: it inhibits growth, delays the development of mental and sexual functions and muscles, affects the appearance of a person, etc. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the sensitivity of a growing organism to alcohol is much higher than that of an adult, so sometimes even 100 g of wine is enough to make him very intoxicated. A persistent addiction to alcohol - alcoholism - develops in a teenager 5-10 times faster than in an adult. If we take into account the irreversibility of the changes that occur in the human body during alcoholism, this means that a teenager who has become an alcoholic remains an inferior person in terms of health for almost the rest of his life. He can still return to normal work, family or social activities, but he will no longer be able to fully realize the opportunities allotted to him by nature.

The effect of alcohol on the central nervous system is determined primarily by the fact that when it is used it is in her cells that it enters in the first place. This is due to the property of alcohol to dissolve fats well, the content of which in the shell of the nerve cell is higher than in any other, and exceeds 60%. Having penetrated inside the neuron, alcohol lingers here, because its cytoplasm contains a lot of water. Actually, in the described features of the effect of alcohol on the central nervous system, its attractiveness for a person lies: after drinking, it quickly causes excitation of the nervous system, and a person has a feeling of lightness and fun. However, as the concentration of alcohol in the nerve cell increases and, accordingly, excitation, it gradually turns into the so-called transcendental inhibition. It is very important that, first of all, those parts of the brain that control behavior, a person’s relationship with other people, and criticality in relation to their own behavior fall into it. As a result of turning off these centers in a state of intoxication, a person becomes talkative, aggressive, and to himself he seems extremely intelligent and witty, strong and courageous. It is no coincidence, therefore, that many crimes and dangerous acts that threaten the life and health of both this person and the people around him are committed while intoxicated.

Unfortunately, it is the ability of alcohol to cause extreme inhibition that makes people often resort to its use when any life problems arise (conflicts, unrealized opportunities, unrequited love, etc.), when instead of trying to resolve them in practice, a person tries to get away from these problems. problems. It seems to him that he achieves this goal through the use of alcohol. Ethanol causes a rapid inhibition of the dominant centers of the central nervous system - and "no problem", the person becomes well and easily. But problems remain, and then he wants to return again and again to this blissful state, where there is an illusion of their absence. True, this does not take into account several important and dangerous consequences of such behavior:

• problems still do not disappear, but accumulate and grow more and more;
• any alcohol intake is accompanied by the destruction of brain cells, which, as you know, are not restored;
• a person loses time that could be used to solve the issues facing him;
• more and more alcohol is required to achieve intoxication;
• the more and longer he consumes alcohol, the more his body suffers.

But this is only the first phase of intoxication. As it develops, inhibition captures ever deeper formations of the brain. Therefore, at first speech becomes less and less controlled, memory is disturbed, coordination of movements is upset. Gradually, inhibition can also cover those nerve centers that are responsible for the most important functions of the body, which can disrupt the regulation of body temperature (for this reason, drunk people often freeze in cold weather), breathing (up to its stop) and heart activity.

Table. Diseases and physiological disorders in drinkers

Diseases
Hypertonic disease
Cholelithiasis
genitourinary system
Nasopharyngeal bacteria (pneumonia)
Childless alcoholics
Oligophrenics (children)
Epilepsy
Violation of the mammary glands (no milk)
Decreased sperm count in drinkers 2-4 or more times a month
Decreased sperm motility in drinkers 2-4 or more times a month
Decline in women's life expectancy
Decreased life expectancy for men

IN reproductive system human alcohol destroys both proteins, which form the basis of the structure of the gonads, and fats, which are the most important part of sex hormones. Moreover, penetrating into male reproductive cells, alcohol causes damage to their genetic apparatus, and if such a spermatozoon fertilizes an egg, then a child may be born handicapped, with various physical and mental defects, and mental underdevelopment. Now it is known for sure that mentally retarded, with physical deformities, children can be born from healthy parents, whose only fault was the conception that occurred while one or both parents were intoxicated.

French scientists, using a large statistical material, proved that a large number of stillborns were conceived during the carnival period, and even the term “carnival children”, “Sunday children” appeared. In Bulgaria, it was found that 15 stillborns and 8 freaks were born from 23 chronic alcoholics.

Of particular note is that alcohol often leads to a weakening of sexual function in men, especially young men. As a result, a person is deprived of the opportunity to have a strong family, offspring.

Liver a person performs many important functions. One of them is the destruction and removal from the body of harmful substances that have entered or formed in it. One of these substances is alcohol. Its destruction and excretion from the body (with urine, sweat, feces, through the respiratory system) takes at least a day to a week, although the breakdown products of alcohol can remain in the body (especially in the brain) up to a month. Throughout this period, the liver is "fighting" with alcohol. If it is used regularly, then gradually this vital organ begins to break down, and cirrhosis of the liver develops, in which the production of this bile is disrupted, and the role of the liver as a “security guard” of the body is first reduced, and then perverted in such a way that even useful for substances can become hazardous to the body. It has been proven that cirrhosis of the liver develops not only from strong alcoholic beverages, but also from the regular use of weak ones, including beer.

Lungs, providing gas exchange between the body and the environment, after taking alcohol, they begin to play a protective role and remove it from the body, which manifests itself in an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth of a drunk person. They continue to play such a role during the entire period while alcohol or its decay products remain in the body, i.e. for at least a few days. As a result, the delicate lung tissue breaks down, and the capabilities of the respiratory system gradually decrease more and more.

Digestive system A person under the influence of alcohol also experiences significant adverse changes. Alcohol itself causes the destruction of the gastric mucosa and disrupts the production of digestive juices by it. Under its action, the absorption of many important substances, such as vitamins and proteins, is difficult for the body. Gradually, gastritis develops, and then a stomach ulcer, metabolism is disturbed, aging processes go faster and the body's capabilities decrease.

Significant changes under the influence of alcohol occur in musculoskeletal system due to a violation of the body's absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for building its actively growing bones; as a result, growth slows down.

It is clear that alcohol consumption is incompatible with physical education and sports. This is due not only to the changes that occur in all body systems and are described above, but also to disorders directly in the muscular system, so that the performance of the muscles and the degree of their tension (tone) fall. In addition, the rate of recovery of the body after physical exertion decreases, so the athlete has to disrupt his training process and reduce the load, which does not allow him to achieve high sports results.

Alcoholism is a disease that is characterized by the constant and uncontrolled use of alcoholic beverages, addiction, a pathological craving for intoxication and a change in alcohol tolerance.

Pathology is manifested by a combination of various mental and somatic disorders that develop as a result of systematic alcohol abuse.

The consequences of drunkenness and alcoholism are conditionally divided into two classes:

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Negative consequences for the patient himself, associated with the progressive deterioration of his health and the gradual degradation of the personality:	an increase in the percentage of accidents, hypothermia or overheating while intoxicated; aggressiveness; the occurrence of psychological and personal problems; development of cirrhosis of the liver, oncological diseases, pathology of the reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous and digestive systems; disability; low-quality alcohol poisoning, often leading to disability and death.
Negative consequences for the family and society, manifested by an increase in the number of social and economic problems:	increased conflicts in the family and its gradual destruction; economic difficulties; increase in traffic accidents; crime.

Psychological changes

Significant consequences of alcohol consumption are observed in the psychological state of a person. These changes occur regardless of the personal characteristics that he had before the development of the disease - interests, life position and behavior.

Previously active, enthusiastic and cheerful people in a certain period of alcoholism become rude, irritable, cynical and picky, which provokes loved ones to scandals and conflict situations. Alcoholics become sloppy, withdrawn, surround themselves with the same personalities.

Even in the initial stage of the disease, people lose a good job, find a less prestigious one, and as alcoholism progresses, they lose it, gradually sinking to the very “bottom”. Patients significantly change their moral character, their desires are limited by the need for the systematic use of alcoholic beverages.

With the duration of the course and the progression of alcoholism, the destruction of the personality is noted:

• alcoholics deny the presence of the disease;
• degradation of personal characteristics is observed: the emotional-volitional sphere is destroyed, progressive apathy and carelessness, indifference to everything except alcohol are noted;
• there are periods of aggression, anger, irritability (more often in women);
• develop complex mental consequences:

• decrease in personal qualities in the form of loss of moral values ​​and interests;
• psychopathization with suicidal tendencies;
• a steady decline in intelligence and memory;
• which are manifested by sudden mood swings, alcoholic depression, aggressiveness, dysphoria, hallucinations, delusions of jealousy;
• dementia develops in the later stages.

Effects of alcoholism on the body

The most significant consequences of alcoholism for the body are severe somatic diseases, combined pathologies of various organs and systems, which quite often lead to disability and death. In this case, almost all internal systems and organs of the patient are affected.

central nervous system	Frequent and prolonged use of alcohol affects almost all organs and systems of the body, including the normal functioning of the central nervous system. The toxic effect of alcohol-containing drinks on neurons and brain structures begins even with a slight intoxication - there is a change in the regulatory mechanisms of all structures of the cortex, the activity of control centers is disrupted, which contributes to a partial loss of control over actions, a quick change in mood, and later the appearance of negative reactions - aggressiveness, irritability and inadequate psychopathic reactions of the brain. Alcohol has a different effect on the functioning of the brain - in some patients, stimulation of all nervous processes is noted, and in some patients, ethanol has a depressant effect on the brain. Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, pathological changes in metabolic processes in neurons occur, which negatively affects the work of all sensory organs, the intellectual capabilities of the brain and memory decrease, and the progressive death of cells of the central nervous system leads to the formation, brain infarction, the development of acute cerebral syndromes (epileptiform and cerebellar ). The progressive death of neurons causes the development of such complex nervous diseases as demyelinating pathologies. Alcohol has an extremely negative effect on the cerebral vessels of the brain, causing their structural changes: pathological fragility, areas of expansion (aneurysms), which often leads to their ruptures, especially in the presence of concomitant cardiovascular pathology (hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmias). Prolonged spasm of cerebral vessels, combined with coagulation disorders and increased formation of blood clots, often causes circulatory disorders in certain parts of the brain and leads to the development of the brain and spinal cord, atrophy of the optic or auditory nerves. Gradually, chronic alcoholism leads to irreversible changes in the functioning of cells and structures of the brain with the development of mental disorders and complete degradation of the personality.
Cardiovascular	Ethyl alcohol adversely affects the work of the heart muscle and the tone of blood vessels. The consequences of alcoholism are severe dystrophic disorders of all organs and tissues of the body, leading to progressive death of cells of the regulatory centers of the nervous system and cardiomyocytes, leading to the formation of complex cardiovascular pathologies: cardiomyopathy with progressive heart failure; malignant hypertension with a tendency to rupture pathologically altered vessels and veins, aneurysms; ischemic heart disease; severe blockades and arrhythmias; heart attacks. The activity of the central regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system is gradually and significantly disrupted - this largely concerns the tone of the arteries and veins. Under the influence of alcohol, the vessels expand for a short period of time, and then spasm. The toxic effect of the cells of the heart and blood vessels is not only ethyl alcohol, but also its decay products - acetaldehyde, which disrupts the structure of cardiomyocytes and causes degenerative processes in the cells of the heart muscle, which leads to the development of alcoholic and specific cardiomyopathies. These pathologies lead first to hypertrophy and then to atrophy of the heart muscle with a violation of its contractile activity, progressive chronic heart failure and dilatation (expansion) of the cavity structures of the heart. The consequences of alcohol are most pronounced in the form of a prolonged spasm of the coronary vessels of the heart, which significantly disrupts the blood supply to the heart muscle, and gradually causing degenerative changes in cardiomyocytes and an acute violation of the blood supply to the myocardium. This leads to progressive coronary heart disease, severe arrhythmias, and acute myocardial infarctions that develop under the influence of alcohol and are increasingly common in young patients. Blood pressure in a state of intoxication first decreases somewhat, and then a sharp increase is observed, which leads to a severe course of hypertension and acute circulatory failures.
reproductive	Frequent alcohol consumption often leads to sexual promiscuity and an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection and other dangerous infections that adversely affect the normal functioning of the reproductive system of men and women, causing irreversible changes in the normal functioning of the genitourinary system. Gradually, long-term inflammatory processes develop, causing: violation of the maturation and viability of germ cells with the formation of infertility or a high risk of complex congenital deformities and anomalies in the fetus; the occurrence of disorders of the sexual sphere (decrease in erectile function and the extinction of sexual desire with the gradual development of impotence). Also, alcohol abuse leads to persistent endocrine disorders and hormonal dysfunction. This is manifested by menstrual irregularities, the occurrence of benign neoplasms (fibroids, polyps, cysts), prostate adenoma and the formation of malignant diseases of the reproductive organs and the mammary gland.
Respiratory	No less detrimental is the effect of ethanol and its decay products on the organs of the respiratory system. On the one hand, respiratory disorders develop against the background of the toxic effect of alcohol on the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane of the upper and lower respiratory tract, the occurrence of allergic reactions in the form of chronic obstruction and the formation of malignant neoplasms of the lungs and pleura. Often these diseases develop with the simultaneous use of nicotine, prolonged exposure to occupational hazards (work in gassed or dusty rooms), with congenital instability of the respiratory system, the presence of concomitant chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema, bronchiectasis). Quite often, the development of pulmonary pathology in alcoholism occurs against the background of persistent cardiovascular disorders and blood stagnation in the pulmonary circulation with the addition of inflammatory diseases of the lung tissue (sluggish pneumonia, pleurisy, tuberculosis).
gastrointestinal tract	Frequent consequences of chronic alcoholism are inflammatory and ulcerative-necrotic processes of the digestive tract (gastritis, ulcers), damage to pancreatic cells with the development of acute and chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. Also, the depletion of the whole organism is gradually noted, associated on the one hand with the progression of diseases of the digestive system, a significant metabolic disorder and a persistent decrease in appetite as a result of regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. In this regard, there is a persistent deficiency of nutrients, minerals, trace elements and vitamins, which leads to disruption of the normal functioning of all cells and body systems, but the nervous and cardiovascular systems are considered the most vulnerable. Against the background of alcoholism, malignant neoplasms of the liver and pancreas often develop, and the stomach and intestines are also affected by oncological diseases.
Liver	Liver diseases are considered the most dangerous diseases - the constant use of large amounts of alcohol, liver cells cannot cope with the processing of substances from the breakdown of alcohol and fatty acids and accumulate in the liver over time. Therefore, alcoholics first suffer from fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, which turns into fibrosis, and then into cirrhosis of the liver. Inflammatory diseases of the liver tissue (hepatitis) are observed. The dangerous consequences of these pathologies are: ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity); progression of chronic renal failure; varicose veins of the esophagus; A diseased liver cannot fully perform the function of cleaning the body of toxins, which significantly affects the development of pathology and aggravates the course of diseases of other organs and systems of the body - pathologies of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the digestive tract, purulent-septic diseases. The most characteristic liver lesions in constantly drinking individuals are: alcoholic hepatopathy; cirrhosis; fatty hepatosis; hepatitis.

Impact on social aspects

The consequences of alcohol abuse significantly affect social life. Gradually sinking as a person, alcoholics become outcasts in society. Most narcologist patients lack self-control, a sense of self-preservation, ethical and moral standards.

• problems in the family, which are manifested by an increase in conflicts, disturbance of peace and internal balance, aggravated by aggressiveness and rudeness of a drinking family member and economic difficulties (almost all financial resources are spent on the purchase of alcoholic beverages), which leads to its destruction;
• at the country level, the social consequences of the abuse of strong drinks are unemployment, devastation and degradation of the population;
• an increase in crime - alcoholics often commit theft, robbery or even murder;
• traffic accidents (80% of all accidents were caused by drunk drivers);
• violation of the relationship of alcoholics with society as a whole - against the background of the systematic intake of alcohol, the moral character of a person changes, he becomes rude, sloppy and surrounds himself with the same people whose desires are limited only by the need to take alcoholic beverages.

Economic shifts

Alcoholism has a pronounced negative impact on human health, and its consequences gradually lead to the country's economic crisis. Due to the systematic use of alcoholic beverages, the worker's ability to work is reduced, which negatively affects the productivity of the company.

The state suffers heavy losses by paying financial resources for disability and disability benefits. There is an increase in the death rate and a decrease in the birth rate, gradually leading to a labor shortage.

All these factors negatively affect the state budget and its gross domestic product.

During pregnancy

To date, a proven fact is the negative impact of strong drinks on the state of the reproductive system of women and the health of the fetus when drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Therefore, frequent consequences of alcohol abuse in childbearing age are infertility, chronic miscarriage or the birth of a child with genetic anomalies (Down syndrome, autism, polydactyly and other complex genetic anomalies).

Conception while intoxicated is considered no less dangerous - this can also lead to the birth of a child with pathologies of the neuropsychic sphere or congenital anomalies (brain atrophy, combined congenital heart defects, eye anomalies).

Alcoholic drinks that a woman consumes during pregnancy cause irreparable harm to the health of the unborn child - it does not matter in which trimester of pregnancy the pregnant woman consumes strong drinks. This is manifested by persistent toxicosis, threats of abortion, nephropathies and exacerbation of somatic diseases. At the same time, chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia, the development of intrauterine malnutrition, and significant morphofunctional immaturity of the baby are noted.

It is important to remember that the most dangerous period for the fetus is the first trimester of pregnancy. During this period, the laying and formation of all the main organs and systems of the baby takes place, so any dose of alcohol, even the smallest one, can cause various pathologies in development - congenital anomalies of the neural tube, eyes, cardiovascular system, digestive tract.

The consequences of frequent and uncontrolled alcohol intake in the third trimester of pregnancy is the likelihood of having a baby with fetal alcohol syndrome.

This disease is incurable and is manifested by a lack of weight, short stature, various deformities of the head and / or facial skeleton (anomalies of the upper and lower jaws, an abnormal cut of the eyes), as they grow, these children lag significantly behind in mental and physical development, manifestations in the form of symptomatic epilepsy, enuresis, logoneurosis, vegetative and mental disorders.

With diabetes

Patients with diabetes should take their own diet seriously. It is important to remember that alcohol intake is absolutely incompatible with this pathology. Ethyl alcohol is one of the reasons for the development of hypoglycemia and aggravation of the course of this complex disease.

The main dangers of drinking even small doses of alcohol in diabetes are:

• the negative impact of alcohol on the normal functioning of liver cells with inhibition of glucose production;
• substances of alcoholic beverages and their decay products have a destructive effect on cell membranes that protect them from direct contact with glucose;
• when alcohol-containing drinks enter the body, cell membranes are destroyed, glucose enters the cells with a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels and the development of a hypoglycemic state;
• under the influence of alcohol, the death of insulin-producing cells of the pancreas occurs, provoking a complicated course of diabetes mellitus.