Narcology: diseases — симптомы, диагностика и лечение

Alcohol addiction is a disease, not promiscuity or “weak will.” When consumed regularly, alcohol becomes integrated into the brain's reward system and changes its functioning: over time, alcohol is no longer needed for pleasure, but in order to feel normal. Therefore, reproaches, promises and demands to “pull yourself together” do not help - this is about the same as using willpower to lower blood pressure in case of hypertension. It’s important to know two more things right away: coming out of a long-term binge can be life-threatening, and what is commonly called coding does not cure addiction in itself—it only creates a pause that needs to be filled with something.

Nicotine addiction is the most widespread of all addictions and the only one that others do not usually consider a disease. Meanwhile, nicotine reaches the brain in about ten seconds after puffing, briefly increases dopamine levels and begins to be eliminated almost immediately: its half-life is about two hours. This is why the smoker reaches for the next cigarette every hour or two, and mistakes the growing irritation for “nerve work,” although this is already a withdrawal symptom. The second trap is the belief that you can quit “at any time, it’s just not the time”: attempts without preparation and support end in success for a minority, while a combination of properly selected therapy and behavioral support increases the chances several times.

Alcoholic liver disease is liver damage caused by regular alcohol consumption. It develops gradually and goes through several stages: first, fat accumulates in the liver cells (steatosis), then inflammation can occur - alcoholic hepatitis, and with continued use, scar tissue (fibrosis) and cirrhosis are formed. For a long time, the disease occurs without symptoms, and a person learns about it through tests or ultrasound. In the early stages, the damage is reversible: after quitting alcohol, the liver is able to recover. At the stage of cirrhosis, the changes are irreversible, but stopping alcohol consumption still significantly improves the prognosis and prolongs life.

Alcoholic delirium, known as delirium tremens, is a serious condition that usually develops 2-3 days after stopping long-term alcohol consumption. The brain, accustomed to the constant depressant effect of alcohol, finds itself in a state of overexcitation: confusion, disorientation, frightening visual hallucinations, severe trembling, sweating, rapid heartbeat and a rise in temperature appear. This is not just a mental disorder, but an emergency condition with a risk to life: convulsions, heart rhythm disturbances, and dehydration are possible. Delirium cannot be treated at home. At the first sign, you need to call an ambulance by calling 103 and ensure safety.

Korsakoff's syndrome is a severe memory disorder that develops due to long-term deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), most often due to many years of alcohol consumption. A person stops remembering new things: he doesn’t remember what happened an hour ago, repeats the same questions, gets lost in a familiar place. At the same time, consciousness remains clear, speech is preserved, and the brain fills gaps in memory with fictitious but plausible stories - confabulations in which a person sincerely believes. Most often, the syndrome becomes a continuation of untreated Wernicke encephalopathy. Early administration of thiamine and complete abstinence from alcohol can stop the process, but lost time results in a permanent memory defect.

Drug dependence is a condition in which a prescribed drug becomes necessary in itself. Most often we are talking about sleeping pills and sedatives of the benzodiazepine group, some painkillers and cough medications. At first the medicine helps, then the previous dose stops working, the person increases it, and when he tries to stop, anxiety, insomnia, trembling and sweating return. A vicious circle is formed: the reception is continued not for the sake of effect, but so that it does not become bad. The main danger is sudden self-withdrawal, which, if dependent on sedatives, can cause convulsions. You need to stop taking it gradually and under the supervision of a doctor.

Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease in which the use of a psychoactive substance becomes uncontrollable and continues despite obvious harm. Key features include severe cravings, loss of control over quantity and frequency, increased tolerance, withdrawal upon cessation, and repression of former interests. This is not a matter of weak will: substances rearrange the brain's reward system, and without help it is rarely possible to break the cycle. Addiction develops gradually, often starting with occasional social use. The condition is treatable, and the sooner a person gets to a narcologist, the higher the chance of long-term remission and restoration of relationships, work and health.

Substance abuse is the abuse of volatile household chemicals: glue, solvents, gasoline, the contents of gas cans and aerosols. Vapors quickly pass from the lungs into the blood and brain, causing a short-term state of intoxication with euphoria, dizziness and distorted perception. Teenagers suffer more often because the substances are accessible and cheap. The danger is that it is impossible to predict the body's reaction: death from cardiac arrhythmia or suffocation can occur even with the first episode. With regular inhalation, the brain, liver, kidneys and bone marrow are irreversibly damaged, and intelligence is reduced. The sooner the family and specialists get involved, the higher the chance of stopping the process.

Wernicke encephalopathy is an acute brain lesion due to a severe lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Classic signs include confusion, impaired eye movements with double vision and twitching, and an unsteady, unsteady gait. The complete triad does not occur in everyone, so the condition is often mistaken for intoxication, a stroke, or ordinary weakness, and time is missed. This is an emergency situation: without rapid administration of thiamine, brain damage becomes irreversible and develops into permanent memory impairment - Korsakoff's syndrome. Encephalopathy develops not only with alcoholism, but also with prolonged vomiting, fasting, and after gastric surgery. If suspected, urgent hospitalization is required.