CHECK Magazin - Gesundheitsmagazin für Männer No.9

Community
ENGLISH
ALCOHOLISM AMONG GAY MEN
WHY ARE WE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY?
FOTO: Arthiti / ADOBE STOCK
In Germany, an estimated 1.77 million people between the ages of 18 and
64 are addicted to alcohol and 1.61 million drink excessively. Research
shows that men consume significantly more alcohol than women and
are also more likely to be addicted. In 2015, 29 % of 18- to 59-year-old
men had problematic alcohol consumption that was clinically relevant.
This is compared to 11 % of women.
Alcohol abuse and its consequences are the
second most common cause of hospital treatment
in Germany. More than 150 internal, neurological
and psychiatric diagnoses are associated
with alcohol abuse. It is estimated that around
74,000 people die every year as a result of their
alcohol consumption. Although about three
quarters of those affected are men, there are
hardly any male-specific support concepts.
Although about three quarters
of those affected are men, there
are hardly any male-specific help
concepts.
The categories of alcohol consumption
Risky consumption for men starts on average at
24 g and for women at 12 g of pure alcohol per day
on a maximum of four to five days a week. There
is no health-promoting consumption of alcohol
and consumption is never risk-free.
Drinking larger amounts per drinking episode is
associated with a health risk, regardless of the
average amount of alcohol consumed.
This so-called ”binge drinking“, starts with men
from five glasses with 10 g of alcohol per drinking
unit, for women from four glasses.
These glasses contain about 10 grams of alcohol:
beer wine sparkling liqueur shots
wine
0,2 l 0,1 l 0,1 l 2 × 2 cl 2 × 2 cl
Alcohol abuse or harmful consumption begins,
regardless of the amount drunk, with physical or
psychological damage as a result of consumption.
An addiction exists if at least three of the
following criteria are present at the same time
within the last 12 months:
Craving (compulsion / strong desire for alcohol)
· Decreased ability to control the initiation,
amount, and cessation of use
· Tolerance development
· Withdrawal symptoms
· Neglecting other pleasures or interests in
favour of alcohol consumption, spending
more time on procurement, consumption
and recreation
· Consumption despite harmful
physical, mental- psychological or
social consequences
The Good News: Even if not all physical consequences can be reversed, a cure in the form of complete
abstinence or controlled consumption is possible, even in the case of a severe addiction.
58 CHECK BERLIN #9