STATE OF KNOWLEDGE (CONCERNING THE ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE) OF THE PATIENTS UNDERGOING A THERAPY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR ADDICTION TREATMENT IN LUKOW

The aim of research was to determine the effects of therapy and its influence on the way people addicted to alcohol perceive alcoholism. This work contains the basic knowledge concerning the core of alcoholism, its stages and symptoms of addiction. There are also characteristic features of addicted person which resulted from the analysis of defense mechanisms supporting alcoholism. The research was carried out from November 2012 to January 2013 in the Department of Twenty-four- hour Addiction Treatment in Independent Public Health Care Institution in Łuków. The study comprised of 50 patients who were in the final stage of therapy [seventh week of therapy). The research tool was the interview questionnaire, prepared by the researchers, which consisted of questions concerning demographic-social data of patients, their knowledge, concerning dependence syndrome, and the level of preparedness for living with disease after the end of therapy. The research showed that men participated in the therapy four times more often than women. Half of the investigated patients completed only the primary education and had a status of an unemployed person. Basing on the conversations with patients, it was proved that the main reason for participation in the therapy was the desire to overcome their addiction. It has been stated that after 7 weeks of therapy more than 1/z of patients gained knowledge concerning alcoholism and evaluated their own knowledge as sufficient. Thanks to the therapy, patients gained knowledge concerning the destructive influence of alcohol on the functioning of family. More than V1 of patients claimed that they are able to use assertive behaviours and prevent the recurrence of disease. According to patients, the instructor of therapy plays an important role in shaping some necessary skills at "building" a sober life.