From the author: 06/10/2010 Our society is very destructive in its alcohol culture. When we are still little, when we start drinking “children’s champagne” on holiday, we establish an inextricable connection: holiday and alcohol. Intimate conversations with girlfriends or friends are also accompanied by drinking. For most of us, the state of intoxication also provides a state of intimacy and trust. In fact, because of these habits, we are all walking on the verge of illness. Alcoholism, as a disease, is also dangerous because it can occur in several forms and is sometimes difficult to recognize. This disease is determined not by the amount of alcohol consumed (many people drink regularly and relatively heavily without being alcoholics), but by the quality of the relationship that is established between a person and alcohol - a relationship of dependence. Signs of alcoholism: the presence of at least three of them may indicate the onset of the disease. Alcohol is often consumed in larger quantities or for a longer period of time than the person intended. The person has a strong desire to cut down on alcohol consumption. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to do this. A lot of time is spent on activities related to the production of alcohol; the use itself (binge drinking); returning to a normal state after the effects of alcohol (post-hangover syndrome). A person is often under the influence of alcohol, while he must perform his duties. Important areas of life are abandoned, or time for them is reduced due to alcohol consumption. A person continues to drink, despite problems caused by alcohol (family quarrels, depression, exacerbation of diseases, difficulties at work). The need for an increase in dose to achieve a state of intoxication or a noticeably lower effect when using the same amount. Taking alcohol to relieve a hangover or to avoid withdrawal symptoms (the desire to “get hungover”). The danger of alcoholism is that in the early stages it is not noticeable. The “drinking norm” stimulated by society is actually significantly higher than the biological need for alcohol in an alcoholic at the first stage, when alcohol is consumed for “fun in the head.” And it is objectively difficult to distinguish alcoholism from “non-alcoholism.” The main difference is subjective. As the famous narcologist Dr. E.E. Bechtel said, “a healthy person goes to a certain company for the sake of the company itself, and is even ready to drink there - just to have the opportunity to communicate in this company. An alcoholic goes to a company for the sake of drinking, and is even ready to endure the communication in this company, if only he would be allowed to drink there." But outwardly it may be completely indistinguishable.