Alcohol addiction means the pathological dependence on alcohol. In addition to physical and psychological damage, alcoholism also has social disadvantages. Around 42,000 deaths are associated with alcoholism in Germany every year. The number of male victims is about three times as high. Around 1.3 million people in Germany are dependent on alcohol. Not everyone who drinks alcohol is addicted. The fulfillment of certain criteria make the diagnosis.
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Who becomes dependent?
From a scientific point of view, there is no satisfactory answer to this question. Factors such as personal characteristics and social environment contribute significantly to alcohol consumption. The family environment in which the children grow up also plays a very important role. Adolescents learn the example behavior of their parents and orientate themselves on the habits of adults.
How can you recognize alcoholism?
There are a variety of possible symptoms that indicate alcohol addiction. You can immediately recognize the alcohol consumption of your counterpart from dilated vessels and movement disorders, but you should not ignore longer-term consequences either. Nausea, tremors, restlessness and increased irritability are also signs of excessive alcohol consumption. Apart from the sometimes very bad health consequences, excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to social decline. Family , friends and distant relatives turn away over time when they feel at a loss and helpless.
Are there really clear indications of an alcohol addiction?
A video campaign by the French organization Addict Aide and BETC shows how easy it is to simply overlook the signs of alcoholism or simply misinterpret them.
You can watch the video of the awareness campaign here:
In an online and on-site experiment, 7,000 people were asked to search the home of a stranger to find out what secret the resident was hiding. There was speculation about affairs, smuggling and murders, but none of the candidates came up with the idea that the resident suffered from extreme alcohol addiction – although the evidence spoke for itself.
The self-test
Many people find it difficult to admit they are addicted to alcohol. The following phases can help you to check for yourself how your relationship to alcohol is. It is not a substitute for therapy or professional treatment .
- First of all, people drink more and more to forget problems and to deal better with difficult situations. Daily alcohol consumption can be the result – there does not have to be a recognizable intoxication.
- In the next stage, alcohol becomes more and more important – thoughts revolve around the addictive substance. Other duties, interests and social contacts in life become unimportant and you try to hide your drinking habits. Losing control over one’s own actions is one of the many side effects
- After all, alcohol dominates people’s entire lives. Mostly men, but also more and more women in Germany, then start with the first sip as soon as they get up. Things in everyday life can no longer be managed without alcohol in the blood. Physical damage can no longer be overlooked.
Avoid a relapse
There are certain situations in life that are particularly difficult for people at risk of alcohol abuse. These include:
- Pubs where alcohol is readily available
- Situations in which you fall into old habits, for example the beer in the evening
- Stress with your partner, friends or family
- trouble at work
- Emotional pain, sadness
