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Signs of addiction

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
For families

How to Help a Loved One Who Drinks: A Step-by-Step Guide

Addiction is an illness, not a character flaw, and it is not the family’s fault. Name the problem out loud, take care of your own safety and boundaries, and get advice from an addiction doctor or psychotherapist, even without your loved one’s consent: you cannot decide for them, but you can make their path to help easier.

25 August 2026 9 min read
Gambling addiction

Gambling Addiction: Symptoms and Causes

Gambling addiction is a loss of control over gambling and betting: a person keeps playing despite debts, arguments and their own wish to stop. What sets it apart from a hobby is exactly this loss of control, not the amount of money or how often a person plays.

20 August 2026 8 min read
Drug addiction

Signs of Drug Addiction: How to Recognize Them

Signs of drug addiction can be physical (pupils, weight, sleep, marks on the skin), behavioral (lying, missing money, new acquaintances) and psychological (mood swings, loss of interest). One sign proves nothing, but several that last for weeks are a reason to see a doctor.

20 August 2026 10 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