Term for an emotional state of exaggerated ecstasy or an intense feeling of happiness that lifts someone above their normal emotional state. Such a state is caused by psychotropic substances, among other things. These are active substances that influence the human psyche. Depending on the substance, this is associated with disorders of consciousness, cognitive abilities, perception, affect and behaviour.
However, this article only deals with intoxication caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. When consumed in large quantities, alcohol causes disinhibition, increased emotionality, inhibition of thought, anaesthesia and overestimation of one's own abilities. In early civilisations, excessive alcohol consumption to the point of drunkenness was a ritualised custom on certain occasions. Until the Middle Ages, excessive intoxication was considered normal. From the 16th century it was outlawed and from the 19th century it was increasingly regarded as a disease (alcoholism).
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien