Alcohol abuse, alcohol addictionThe consumption of alcohol is omnipresent in every society. Excessive consumption of alcohol (alcohol abuse) can lead to alcohol dependency. Both long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction can lead to various neurological diseases, which will be listed here.
Alcohol abuse is the use of alcohol that can lead to physical and psychological damage due to the excessive consumption of alcohol in an inappropriate manner. To illustrate from when the consumption of alcohol is to be classified as abuse, the following example shows: the maximum daily dose of alcohol is 20-24 g alcohol per day for men and 10-12 g alcohol per day for women. This dose should not be consumed every day.
For example, a beer has 4.5% vol. alcohol = 4.5 grams of alcohol100 ml of liquid. The maximum daily dose would then be 0.5 to 0.6 l. Alcohol abuse would then be present from a dose of more than 24 g (for men) daily.
Alcohol addiction
On the other hand, the alcohol dependency is through: characterized.
- The desire for more alcohol (tolerance development)
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Unsuccessful control of consumption and
- Through the superior position of alcohol over other activities and behaviors
The simple alcohol intoxication is characterized by psychopathological and neurological symptoms. A psychological change after the consumption of alcohol depends on the type and amount of alcohol, on the particular situation and the personality of the drinker.
After a low alcohol dose, the drinker is in a stage of excitation (easy excitability). With further alcohol intake a clouding of consciousness occurs. In severe cases, increased drowsiness or coma may occur.
Gaps in memory (amnesia) can occur after high doses of alcohol, commonly known as film tearing. The neurological symptoms are intention tremor (trembling during purposeful movements), poor articulation (slowing down, faltering = blanket in the mouth), gait and stand ataxia (disturbed movement coordination when walking or standing = walking along lines or driving a car) and pathological nystagmus (eye movement disorder). Dizziness and palpitations may also occur.
Stopping the dose leads to a decrease in the psychological and neurological strength of symptoms. In very severe cases it is necessary to induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage to get the alcohol out of the stomach. This psychosis (disturbance of psychic functions) is especially caused by a reduced tolerance of alcohol (e.g. due to brain diseases, etc.).
The psychosis sets in suddenly and is usually very short (less than 1h). Psychomotor excitement, outbursts of anger, later exhaustion or sleep and after awakening memory gaps occur. In an emergency, a doctor may administer benzodiazepines (sedatives) or butyrophenone to the patient.
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