Number of alcoholics has increased
Each day people drink alcohol, they don't realize that drinking can turn into chronic alcoholism. On January 1, 2011, in Armenia there were 4,605 alcoholics and that number has increased by 240 compared to the previous year. Armenian alcoholics range from the ages of 30 to 45.
"As all illnesses, chronic alcoholism is growing and rejuvenating," said Head of the Dispensary Department at the Narcological Clinic, Gayane Vardazaryan.
Currently, there are 51 regular patients at the Narcological Clinic in Yerevan, but that number changes.
As far as payments are concerned, if the patient is a RA citizen and submits a passport, the treatment is free-of-charge. Those who don't submit a passport and wish to keep their confidentiality pay the fixed amount of 60,000 drams for 10 days of regular treatment and 30,000 drams for 10 days of ambulatory treatment.
The majority of alcoholics in Armenia are men, but women are not left behind. In 2010, 42 women suffered from alcoholism.
"There are not too many women alcoholics in Armenia, but the trend is already troubling," says Gayane Vardazaryan.
