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Alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction

Alcohol Withdrawal at Home or in a Clinic: Which Is Safer?

Alcohol withdrawal can be managed at home under an addiction doctor’s supervision or in an inpatient unit. Home care is an option if the condition is stable, there have been no seizures or delirium, no serious illnesses, and an adult is nearby. Inpatient care is needed when the risk of complications is high. The doctor chooses the format after an examination; without a doctor, it is unsafe anywhere.

24 October 2026 11 min read
Alcohol addiction

Coming Off a Binge: What Happens to the Body During Alcohol Withdrawal

During a drinking binge, alcohol wears down the liver, heart and nervous system and disrupts fluid and electrolyte balance and sleep. After stopping abruptly, tremor, anxiety and insomnia appear; seizures are possible as early as the first day (6–48 hours), delirium on days 2–4. That is why it is better to come off a binge under a doctor’s supervision.

14 October 2026 9 min read
Alcohol addiction

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatment

Withdrawal syndrome occurs when alcohol addiction is already established: 6–24 hours after the last drink, tremor, sweating, anxiety and nausea appear. Seizures are possible after 6–48 hours, delirium usually after 2–3 days. Whether withdrawal can be managed at home is decided by a doctor after an examination.

6 October 2026 8 min read
Alcohol addiction

Stages of Alcoholism: From First to Third

The three stages of alcoholism are a clinical tradition of Ukrainian addiction medicine; ICD-10 and ICD-11 do not use stages. At the first stage, tolerance grows and control weakens; at the second, withdrawal syndrome appears; at the third, tolerance drops and damage to organs and the mind becomes hard to reverse.

24 September 2026 8 min read
Alcohol addiction

Social Drinking or Alcoholism: How to Tell the Difference

The key difference between social drinking and addiction is control, not quantity. Addiction is diagnosed when a person systematically cannot stop, tolerance and withdrawal appear, and drinking continues despite harm. The WHO AUDIT test can help assess the risk, but the diagnosis is made by a doctor.

12 September 2026 9 min read
Alcohol addiction

Signs of Alcohol Addiction: How to Recognize the Problem

Alcohol addiction is defined not by how much a person drinks but by loss of control: they cannot stop, keep drinking despite the consequences, and experience withdrawal without alcohol. Under ICD-10, the diagnosis is made if at least 3 of 6 signs are present within a year, but the list is a reason to see a doctor, not a self-diagnosis.

6 August 2026 12 min read