People with mental disorders resulting in addiction to alcohol in Poland - legal aspects of medical, social assistance.

BACKGROUNDAlcohol addiction, the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, are an ongoing problem both in Poland and around the world. Nearly 3 million Poles drink alcohol in a risky or harmful way. The OECD report from 2021 talks about 11.7 liters of pure alcohol consumed by an average Pole. Addiction disrupts a person's physical and mental functioning, leading to a number of diseases. Mental and behavioral disorders caused by alcohol use are distinguished in the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10. acute intoxication, consequences of harmful substance use, addiction syndrome, withdrawal syndrome, and psychotic disorders. Assistance provided to a person with mental disorders due to alcoholism is of a social, medical, legal and psychological nature and is provided on the basis of specific legal acts.OBJECTIVEThe aim of the work is to present the legal situation of people with mental disorders addicted to alcohol and the legal basis for treatment and assistance activities undertaken towards people with mental disorders due to alcohol addiction in Poland. The aim is also to indicate areas of support for individuals with disorders requiring legal support, as well as the opportunities and barriers that appear in this area.DISCUSSION  In Poland, the problem of treatment and social support for people with mental disorders related to alcohol addiction is regulated by several related legal acts: the Act on Mental Health Protection, the Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism, the Act on Social Assistance, the Civil Code Act, Act on health services financed from public funds. The statutory measures provided for in the above-mentioned legislation build a support system for people with alcohol-related disorders. Unfortunately, they are not always used properly in terms of adequacy, accuracy and timeliness. As practice shows, treatment and assistance with people with mental disorders due to addictions is difficult and requires the cooperation of many entities: hospitals, inpatient treatment centers, day support centers, social welfare centers, interdisciplinary knowledge and the design of assistance based on the analysis of the situation of therapeutic and therapeutic activities.CONCLUSIONSThe problems of helping an addicted person with mental disorders in the course of addiction and in his/her environment require a detailed analysis of the factual and legal status each time and an answer to the question of choosing an effective measure in the form of treatment and therapeutic procedures (including inpatient or outpatient treatment), and the appropriateness of implementing incapacitation procedures. Support must be provided also to family of addicted in terms of psychological, legal and social assistance. It requires legal awareness of applicable legal standards from those providing assistance, careful use of appropriate procedures, while respecting the rights and dignity of the supported person.