Moldova leads in alcohol use; doctor warns: "All organs suffer"
For many Moldovans, having a glass of wine or a few hundred grams of spirits may seem like an innocent habit. However, the statistics tell a different story. The Republic of Moldova ranks among the highest in Europe for alcohol consumption, and the consequences are profound. They manifest in various ways, including serious health issues, premature deaths, broken families, and thousands of drunk drivers. Nevertheless, an increasing number of people are becoming aware of these risks and are making efforts to reduce or even quit drinking altogether.
A man said that he used to drink alcohol several times a day, but, realizing the adverse effects, he reduced his consumption to once a week.
"I used to drink, say, two or three times a day, a glass, 100 grams of brandy, a glass, two of wine. If I saw that it was a lot, it didn't really work, I couldn't do that thing, it was like something was falling out of your hand. Now it happens once a week, but the frequency depends on what is being consumed and in what quantities. It messes up your mind and after that you try to walk back and forth and talk."
Other citizens also say that they have become aware of the negative effects of alcohol. Some people told us that they avoid drinking alcohol often:
“Before, I used to drink very actively, but now I haven’t been drinking for a year. I just suddenly stopped for no particular reason. One drop of alcohol knocks out the whole body at once”.
“Lately, very rarely, I think sometimes I never drink for a month”.
“We try not to drink. This happens very, very rarely”.
“Once a week, two or three glasses of wine. Everything that is a little, even if it is harmful, is also beneficial for the body”.
“A little alcohol is even recommended, it was a medicine in the 14th-15th century and was sold in pharmacies, the same cognac, the same whiskey, and then it turned into a pleasure”.
Currently, the Republic of Moldova is in tenth place in Europe in alcohol consumption. This ranking does us no justice. The statistics are harsh: one in 13 deaths is directly related to alcohol. In addition, over 200 diseases, including neurological or cardiac conditions, as well as several forms of cancer, are caused by excessive consumption.
"Patients suffer from various diseases, all organs are affected, but the most affected is the central nervous system. In the case of abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages, performance decreases, work productivity decreases, and these individuals are also subject to various violent states both in the family and in society", said doctor Eudochia Paciu, from the Narcology Dispensary.
People with symptoms of alcoholism are encouraged to seek help in a timely manner, including anonymously.
"It is very important to consult a psychologist, so that the psychologist can convince them that they really have a problem with the abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Treatment is voluntary, the treatment is based on a medical insurance policy and is free for the vulnerable social contingent", said the doctor.
Alcohol not only affects health, but also endangers public safety. In the first nine months of the year, police officers detected over 5,300 drunk drivers. Many of them caused accidents resulting in deaths.
“Drivers who are detected with a concentration higher than the permissible level risk a fine of up to 125,000 lei or imprisonment from 1 to 3 years and more, in these cases their right to drive vehicles is cancelled,” said Ana Chiselița, press officer at the National Inspectorate of Public Security.
Specialized detoxification centers operate in towns such as Bălți, Orhei and Chișinău. Annually, approximately 6,000 alcohol-dependent people undergo treatment, and over 43,000 are under the supervision of doctors.
