Albanians are a drink-loving people, but unfortunately 4% have exceeded the norm by becoming addicted to alcohol.

Even more problematic is the fact that many young people combine it with cocaine.

“The trend is scary because of the interference with cocaine. Young people, middle-aged people, have alcohol as a trigger, so first they use cocaine, this is a trend that has been widespread for 6 years. Even middle-aged people who are parents, who have family obligations and in rural areas are using alcohol and cocaine,” says doctor Shpëtim Doksani.

Alcohol does not only harm health but also society, and often those who are addicted seek help when they realize they have hit rock bottom.

“They lose their loved ones, problems with their spouses, cohabitants, children, economic problems because gambling starts with it and becomes a multi addiction. All these are reasons why they come,” the doctor continued.

Over the course of a year, the toxicology service treats an average of 300 people for alcohol and cocaine addiction, but not all of them succeed.

Even today, the service has seen patients who have crossed the red line and want to get rid of the created addiction.

Various studies, but also the WHO, refer that a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or 50 ml of alcohol per day is the permitted rate, and that is called moderate consumption. But the expert says this is a trap.

“But there is a great fear because the tolerance increases, if they drink it every day, the effect that we are looking for is a little high, we don’t get this amount, we want to increase it a little, so it is misleading..so the best thing is on the weekend to have meatballs and two more glasses, but only on the weekend because it blocks the development of addiction,” explained the doctor.

The doctor explains that alcohol is a permitted drug in itself, which stimulates the release of dopamine into the circulation and to increase pleasure always makes us want more.