Each of 7 million Russian alcoholics drinks 27 liters of alcohol a year

One should bear in mind that the alcoholic (even the one has been sober for several months or years after receiving treatment) is a person whose mental health was damaged, he is likely to be susceptible to periods of depression. Family problems and work-related stress are just some of numerous reasons why he may disregard his self-preservation instincts and hit the bottle again only to end up in a coma.

Myth No 5: hospitals and rehab clinics offer the most effective treatment

In fact, Russian hospitals and rehab clinics cannot cure alcoholism within an average of 3 weeks, a standard period. The time is too short for completing anything but a detoxification program, which is what hospitals and rehabs deal with. Apart from carrying out detoxification procedures, hospital alcohol-abuse specialists also deal with establishing further treatment programs. Inpatient detoxification and withdrawal treatment is no fun. Hospitals also provide treatment for patients who are either violently mental or socially deranged or both. Sometimes alcoholics are kept in close proximity to drug addicts. The latter are the hardest hit by withdrawal symptoms. There are bars on the windows of such institutions. In short, a stint in hospital is not recommended for the fainthearted. Besides, the cost of treatment in a hospital can be too high both in a literal and figurative sense. If a patient receives treatment on the condition of anonymity, his daily bills may run up to 1,000 rubles. Treatment is free if a patient is admitted to hospital using his real name. However, a patient will be subject to compulsory registration with a state-controlled institution for treatment of patients diagnosed with drug and alcohol dependence. The registration entails certain social restrictions effective over a period of years e.g. no driver’s license or permit for the possession of fire arms.

Our fellow countrymen used to refer to Russia as a country where every family was affected by the effects of World War II in one way or another. Nowadays a similar description can be used with regard to the problem of alcoholism in this country: every Russian has a family member, a friend or colleague who is struck by alcoholism. A country where booze is considered something akin to the second national currency will never be a healthy nation. Maybe it is about time we started taking action to change the situation until it is too late?

Arguments and Facts

Translated by Guerman Grachev
Pravda.ru

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