What is Alcohol-Substance abuse

ALCOHOL-SUBSTANCE ABUSE Meaning

Alcohol or other toxic substances have potential to be overused or abused by a person. This phenomenon is called as addiction. Medically the term ‘addiction’ refers to dependence on an illegal drug or legal substances like alcohol and nicotine.¹

Addiction causes people to use the substance even if it harms them. Addiction to alcohol or a drug causes severe craving that a person cannot fight against. Due to this, there are long term effects on personal health, mental problems and issues with relationships and social problems.¹

As per Ayurveda, addiction to alcohol is described as ‘madatyata’ (Madya meaning alcohol, ati meaning excessive).²

Alcohol intake causes aggravation of one of more doshas (body constituents) like Vata, Pita and Kapha. In addiction vitiation of Vata causes cardinal symptoms like headache, sleeplessness, hallucinations, restlessness, anxiety, depression and constipation. Vitiated Pitta causes stomach upset, sweating, giddiness, temper etc and vitiation of Kapha cause excessive sleep, lethargy, heaviness in the body, nausea & vomiting. Vitiation of Tridoshas causes combination of the above clinical feature. In general Vata predominant Tridoshaj pathology will be found in physiological dependence & withdrawal. Rajas dosha amongst the Manasa (Mental) dosha will be responsible for psychological dependence.²