What is an alcoholic beverage?
An alcoholic beverage is a liquid containing ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol. Wine, beer, brandies such as vodka, schnapps or liqueurs are some of the best known alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is obtained by fermentation of fruits, tubers or grains. Depending on the manufacturing process, a wide variety of tastes and colors can be obtained, which can contribute to the desire to consume and to the birth of an addiction or to the maintenance of an addiction. Alcohol is an easily accessible product that is generally consumed in a convivial context.
When is it called alcoholism?
Ethanol is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world, far ahead of THC in cannabis. Unlike cannabis, alcohol has an important place in our cultures. Its consumption can be favored by social factors, such as a festive context. Moreover, alcoholic products are extremely easy to access, and at very affordable prices depending on the alcohol chosen.
A person is considered to be a victim of addiction when he or she cannot do without alcohol. Drinking then becomes a necessity. Addiction can set in very slowly, in several months or years before the person who drinks or his entourage becomes aware of it. Alcohol then becomes an aid to cope with everyday life, or to forget it. Little by little, the body gets used to alcohol, and a higher dose is necessary to obtain the desired effects, but also to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Because if the consumption of alcohol is interrupted, the organism is plunged into a state of withdrawal, these are the effects of withdrawal. This state of extreme stress for the organism gives rise to anxiety, trembling, sweating, insomnia and great agitation.
What are the effects of alcoholism on the body?
The consumption of alcohol has harmful effects on health even in small doses. Studies have shown that an alcoholic can replace up to 50% of his or her daily calories with alcohol, which is not without consequences for his or her health, since it can cause serious nutritional deficiencies, due to the lack of certain nutrients essential to the proper functioning of the body.
The effects of alcohol in the short term
In the short term, regular consumption of alcohol increases the risk of traffic and work accidents, as scientific studies on the subject have shown. In the short term, the health effects of regular consumption can lead to diseases such as gastric reflux, gastritis, acute alcoholic hepatitis, but also nausea and vomiting.
The effects of alcohol in the medium and long term
In the medium and long term, alcohol can become an addiction. Chronic alcohol consumption will have disastrous effects on the body, affecting different organs and functions of the body :
- The liver can suffer from hepatocellular insufficiency (cirrhosis)
- The pancreas : pancreatitis
- The nervous system can be affected by different diseases such as alcoholic neuropathy, neuritis, alcoholic dementia, etc.
- The cardiovascular system : heart disease, hypertension.
- Excess alcohol can also cause genetic damage that can lead to cancer.
How is alcoholism treated?
For a long time, stopping alcohol completely and abruptly was considered the only option, which could be a hindrance for many patients. Today, other options are considered, such as a gradual reduction towards complete cessation or controlled consumption. Whatever the option chosen, medication can be prescribed to facilitate the process. Psychological help can be valuable. The first step is to talk to your doctor.
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a substance from the hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa), whose possible effects on stress, anxiety, sleep or pain are being explored by research, without any conclusion to date. CBD oils to be swallowed are not authorised as food in the EU and must be withdrawn from the French market.
CBD should not be confused with THC, which is another substance found in cannabis. To clarify the subject, cannabis is not a plant, but a family of plants :
- Cannabis Sativa, or industrial hemp is the only variety whose cultivation is legal in France and Europe, provided that its THC content is below 0.3%. It is from hemp that CBD is extracted.
- Cannabis Indica is grown illegally for its high THC content, sometimes up to 34%. The cultivation of this variety of cannabis is totally forbidden, because THC has strong psychotropic effects.
- Cannabis Ruderalis is used in East Asia for its fiber. This variety is low in CBD and THC.
CBD and addiction
CBD (cannabidiol) is a molecule that is gaining more and more popularity in the world of research, as well as among individuals, as its possible effects are being studied. CBD comes from industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa). Unlike THC (Cannabis Indica), CBD is not psychotropic and is not classified as a narcotic in France (Conseil d'Etat, 29 December 2022). CBD is not a medicine and does not replace the care of an addiction. Studies, mostly preclinical or on small groups, explore several leads:
CBD and anxiety: what studies explore.
A 2012 review (Campos et al.) gathered studies, mostly preclinical, suggesting a possible anxiolytic effect of CBD; these data do not allow any conclusion.
CBD and sleep: early research.
A study carried out on rats (Chagas et al. 2013) observed an increase in sleep duration after CBD administration; this result has not been confirmed in humans.
CBD, addiction and withdrawal: a lead under study.
In 2014, a study looked at the effect of CBD on behavior towards alcohol. These early results do not show that CBD reduces the risk of relapse. To reduce or stop drinking, talk to your doctor or contact Alcool Info Service (0 980 980 930).
