The most widely used drug worldwide is alcohol. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that worldwide there are 237 million men and 46 million women who drink alcohol excessively. Alcohol is a legal substance, but that does not mean it is not harmful. Alcohol is responsible for approximately 3 million deaths a year.
There are some recommendations to prevent addiction to the most widely used drug. At CCAdicciones, we know how important it is to identify alcohol addiction early to avoid developing an alcohol use disorder, alcoholism, and thus avoid negative side effects that affect health and the development of diseases, both physical and mental. We offer a treatment for alcohol detoxification.
Preventing alcoholism
Preventing addiction to the most widely used drug is possible. Getting ahead of alcohol use and preventing it is the best guarantee of not falling into abuse. It is necessary to educate and raise awareness among new generations by explaining the dangers of alcohol. The age at which people start drinking alcohol is very young. In Spain, the starting age is around 13, according to official data from the Government of Spain. 75.1% of adolescents aged 14–18 have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives; 6 out of 10 adolescents have been drunk at some point, and 1 out of 3 has binge-drunk in the last 30 days.
Therefore, awareness is essential so that adolescents have as much information as possible and know from a young age the risks involved in drinking alcohol and the resulting consequences. Alcohol consumption in people who have not completed their development and are still growing, such as adolescents, exposes them to an even more harmful effect than adults, and also increases the likelihood of developing an alcohol addiction once they grow up.
Another recommendation to prevent alcoholism is not to drink alone or keep alcoholic drinks at home. Because in a moment of weakness or, on the contrary, a high, one temptation may be to drink alcohol, either to drown your sorrows or to celebrate something. Do not surround yourself with people who drink a lot of alcohol. Being in an environment where alcoholic beverages are always present increases the chances that you will end up drinking too.
How does alcohol addiction arise?
Genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors contribute to developing an alcohol addiction, or conversely, to preventing it from occurring. It is difficult to establish the exact causes that will end up triggering an alcohol use disorder. No one is exempt from suffering this disease. Despite this, some reasons that would explain the origin of this disease can be identified. First, a person going through a difficult situation in their life, who feels nervous, anxious, depressed… may drink alcohol to forget their reality momentarily. Even the inability to manage stress or other complex circumstances can lead to alcohol abuse.
Drinking alcohol in specific situations, such as going out partying or at social gatherings… but as they repeat over time, the person develops an alcohol addiction. What initially was social drinking in company ends up turning into an addiction and drinking every day in secret, alone.
It should be noted that there is a genetic predisposition; some people have greater genetic vulnerability.
Why is alcohol so addictive?
The most widely used drug is alcohol because its perceived risk is extremely low. It is consumed without being aware of the risks involved. Therefore, a percentage of cases end up turning into addiction.
Alcohol consumption directly affects the brain and changes its usual functioning, disrupting it. When alcohol is consumed, endorphins are released, so the person feels great well-being because the brain’s reward circuit is activated. Alcohol, like other drugs, has an impact on the brain, and can produce pleasurable effects and reduce negative ones.
What happens is that the person only feels good if they drink alcohol because their reward system has been completely altered. It should also be added that it is a substance that creates tolerance. Increasingly more alcohol will be needed to feel the effects that were previously achieved with a smaller amount.
The risks associated with excessive alcohol
Socially, alcohol is not looked down upon. It is a substance that is accepted and normalized today. Alcoholism is a chronic disease that has negative and very serious consequences for the health of those affected. It causes physical, mental, and even social health problems. However, excessive alcohol consumption also causes harm. Some of the effects associated with excessive alcohol are:
- Liver fibrosis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
- High blood pressure
- A gateway to other drugs
- Emotional instability
- Problems in the family, friendships, or workplace
Alcoholism treatment
If preventing addiction to the most widely used drug has failed and an alcohol use disorder has developed, what must be done is to look for solutions. The person will require treatment to overcome alcoholism. Quitting alcohol brings many benefits, whether physical, psychological, or family-related. Some of the advantages of stopping drinking include better immune system function, prevention of certain diseases, improved physical appearance and well-being, and stabilization of liver and stomach biomarkers…
An alcohol addict should not quit drinking abruptly, as they will suffer severe withdrawal syndrome, with symptoms such as tremors, sweating, tachycardia, and anxiety. Therefore, the first step is to consult a professional for support and to assess the best treatment option.
CCAdicciones is an addiction detox center located in Roda de Berà. We also have treatment centers in different cities across Spain. Both the patient and their family members will be cared for with the utmost discretion and warmth by one of our professionals. After assessing patients, our medical and therapeutic team recommends the best treatment to follow according to their needs. Our goal is to give the patient back control of their life, providing all the necessary support and medical supervision that will enable them to stop drinking completely. If you need to start over and live a life without alcohol, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
