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Novalco Oy
ContrAl Clinics
Medicity Tapiola
Länsituulentie 1 A 2. krs
02100 Espoo
Tel. +358 9 530 50 600
Fax: +358 9 530 50 660

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About Alcoholism

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, alcoholism is one of the major health problems in the developed world. Alcoholism is commonly seen as a learned behavioural disorder - the more and longer one drinks, the greater the possibility of learning a destructive drinking pattern will become. Alcohol will gradually be associated with ever increasing number of situations, thoughts and feelings. At some point in this process one can be classified as an alcoholic. It is possible for almost everyone to learn to drink excessively - it only requires enough practice.

Drinking problems can occur just as well in young people as well as in older people. The growing problem is that young people drink more and more, and thus the problem just increases. At ContrAl we try to help those who have already entered the drinking cycle. Our treatment is suitable for all people with drinking disorders, from teenagers to the elderly.

The undesired effects of alcohol can be divided into two main groups, the long-term effects of continuous drinking and the effects of single drinking experiences. Examples of the risks involved in single experiences are overdosing (poisoning), violence, and various accidents such as drowning. Alcohol affects both mental and physical functioning. Best known long-term effects are depression, diseases of the nervous system, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver as well as pancreatic diseases. Routine drinking can also lead to dependence. In such a manner alcohol becomes associated with day to day routines, alcohol resistance grows, and larger amounts are consumed. Coping with regular day to day events can seem hard.

Often family members do their best to help overcome alcohol dependence, but alcohol does not seem to let go easily. It is important to turn to a professional for proper relief of the problem. When alcohol dependence is broken abruptly and without aftercare the drinking problem often reoccurs in the long term. The ContrAl method, on the other hand, treats the craving for alcohol and reduces consumption gradually during the treatment. This approach reduces the occurrence of unpleasant side effects like shaking, nervousness, sleeplessness etc. often encountered in common abstinence-oriented treatments.