The Problem Of Alcoholism - Essay Example

The Problem Of Alcoholism Introduction Escalating alcohol use among the African American youths have contributed adversely to the development process and it raised some relevant questions about the successful functioning of various healthcare programs promoted by both federal and state governments in the United States. Excessive use of alcohol generates a variety of problems related to social, economic, psychological and physiological life of a community. Excessive use of alcohol causes mortality, morbidity, disability, social and family disruption and property destruction in the nation. Statistical records and studies have proved that children of alcoholic abusing parents grow up in violent and traumatizing conditions. Therefore, one should consider the issue as a relevant one which needs immediate attention. Sufferings of a son who lived with an alcoholic parent are luminously portrayed in Scott Russell Sanders's "Under the Influence". The story explores how excessive alcohol usage by the father affects the social, physical, psychological and cultural growth of a child. Author describes how his father’s severe alcoholic influence was a daily harm to his psychological health and still haunts him, a misfortune correspondent to his father’s substance abuse. At this juncture, one can use Scott Russell Sanders's "Under the Influence" as a startling piece of information about the hazardous impacts of alcoholism on the society. Scott Russell Sander’s work discusses various healthcare issues related to excessive drinking. Alcoholism and its related consequences became a controversial issue among the media in recent years. Media representation of alcoholism often creates noteworthy discussions but their work against the above mentioned social issue often loses its authenticity. Excessive use of alcohol among the young people in Minnesota region became a social issue and it became a relevant and publicized issue among the people, as well the authorities. Studies prove producers of alcohol and other soft drinks keep a positive attitude towards the abusive drinking habit. Adverse effects of alcoholism are visible among the children from working-class families. Children from alcoholic parents often lack security and experience helplessness and shame. Scott Russell Sanders says “I am only trying to understand the corrosive mixture of helplessness, responsibility, and shame that I learned to feel as the son of an alcoholic” (Sanders 57). It is clear that abusive drinking habit of parents affects their children’s life. Study report submitted by various government and non-governmental agencies such as National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) and the National Institute on Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) underline the danger of alcoholism. At present, it became a matter for discussion among the family members, medical professionals, teachers, politicians and other welfare groups. Scope and significance of the research It is part of common knowledge that alcohol is the drug of choice among the young, often with upsetting after effects. Studies have underlined that alcohol is the most important contributor to injury death, which is the major cause of death for people. Excessive use of alcohol among the African –Americans became serious matter for discussions and debates among the media as well the public in recent years. Therefore the study requires detailed evaluation of the effects of alcoholism in various fields of public life. The scope of the study is sufficiently wide and it includes social, cultural, economic and administrative consequences of alcoholism among the African-Americans. A large number of African-Americans have spent majority of their income on drink. They destroy their health and money for temporary pleasure. Another relevant issue is that violent behavior and related crimes among the African- Americans show a significant growth in the United States. Partaking in risky behaviors like skipping school, drug abuse and participating in anti-social activities forced the authorities to take immediate action against the above mentioned social evil. Harmful effects of excessive use of alcohol and its consequences Alcoholism promotes direct and indirect consequences in the lives of common people. As a minority group in the United States, African-Americans have faced a lot of suffering related to their identity. People having abusive drinking habits often miss their jobs and spend their days in an intoxicated state. Absenteeism at work generates financial problems and the owners of those businesses are forced to hire new employees. In their collaborative work entitled African American Psychology: From Africa to America, Faye Belgrave and Kevin Allison state that “rather than restricting alcohol use to celebratory occasions, many African Americans began to use alcohol to cop up with problems of daily living brought on by poverty and racism” (390). Poverty and health problems contribute immense afflictions on the lives of African-Americans. In Minnesota region, excessive use of alcohol among the working-class people causes severe health problems and unhealthy family relations. Unhealthy family relations promote harmful effects for the development process of a child. Parent’s abusive alcoholism often paves the way for frequent violence and conflicts in family surroundings and it affects children. In his essay Under the Influence, Scott Russell Sanders speaks about his father’s abusive drinking. Author says “eventually, he wakes with a grunt, Mother slings accusations at him, he snarls back, she yells, he growls, their voices clashing” (57). One cannot consider Sanders’ observations as purely author’s personal issues. Many families in Minnesota region suffered unhealthy relations and inner conflicts. Analyzing alcohol use of various American cities, one can comprehend the fact that people from Minnesota region have been affected not less than other cities. Everyone in Minnesota region is affected indirectly by the costs such as higher healthcare costs, insurance costs, and lost productivity due to excessive drinking. The issue of alcoholism is considered as a serious problem that affected every state in America. Research professionals reported that young people in Minnesota region have spent majority of their time in alcohol shops and wine parlors. The web article published by Minnesota Department of Health Fact Sheet states that “the economic costs associated with alcohol use in Minnesota in 2007 amounted to an estimated $5.06 billion” (Minnesota Department of Health). Increased status of economic costs associated with alcohol created great financial burden and the government often failed to ensure the smooth functioning of welfare programs. Abusive alcohol habits among the young people causes significant legal problems. Alcohol related violence and accidents have killed many people and the number of alcohol related motor vehicle crashes shows an upward trend. The survey reports related to alcoholism state that “alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injure someone every two minutes” (“Alcohol involvement for drivers in fatal crashes”). It became a relevant social issue and increasingly serious as well. In the case of working people, excessive drinking causes problems in physical and work proficiency. Alcohol related vehicle crashes have increased and reached more than 30% among the people between the age group 21-34 (See Apendix-1). A large number of people from working-class community had lost their jobs because of their disproportionate drinking or failing to ensure regulated, efficient and continuous service in their workplace. Instead of attending their busy working hours, a number of working persons waste their physical and monetary earnings in wine parlors and dinner programs. Historical backgrounds of the issue The issue became most prevalent in the initial periods of 1900s, when some significant changes took place in the field s of alcohol use among the African –Americans. The reason for this change was the mass migration of black people from rural areas of South to the North. Mass migration from South to the North of the United States raised some remarkable issues such as social, economic, educational and cultural segregation among the blacks, identity crisis and increased violent behavior in African – American community. Kevin Stith rightly comments that “problems like poverty, illiteracy and declining living standards are particularly pronounced in this community” (Stith). It is significant to notice that even today many white people in America treat African Americans as outsiders and black people are constantly made to feel like outsiders, with a value system dissimilar to the accepted American one. Professionals clearly mentions that the dilemma facing those who struggle with the drinking problem within this black community is inadequate health insurance schemes and constrained social welfare politics. Consequently, majority of African-American abusive drinkers find it difficult to get sufficient healthcare. Easy availability of alcohol was another remarkable factor that contributes to abusive drinking habit. Scott Russell Sander’s work revealed how abusive drinking affects family relations, desirable growth of young generation, economic stability and social welfare of the nation. African Americas who lived in American cities spend a considerable amount of money from their income for drinking regularly. Because of the growing stress and pressures of an urban lifestyle, many African Americans practice drinking as a means to escape from their white counterparts. Statistical report given by Healthy Minnesotans: Public Health Improvement Goals 2004 mentions that “According to the 2001 Minnesota Student Survey, 30 percent of ninth graders and 52 percent of twelfth graders reported drinking in the past 30 days” (“MN Department of Health CISS Project”). Government modifications and policy makings which recognized in the field of beverages have played a momentous role in the process of spreading disproportionate consumption of alcohol. Simple availability of alcohol often acts as a catalyst which accelerated alcohol utilization in society, especially among the working-class people. How media represent the issue of alcoholism How media represent or handle the issue of alcoholism among the African Americans became a controversial issue among the public. Visual media especially, television accepted alcohol as the most consumed beverage followed by tea, coffee and soft drinks. Television programs demonstrated alcohol consumption more frequently than any other items or soft drinks. Awareness programs about alcoholism and other drugs in young people often failed to reach its final destination. As a result of this, awareness programs always have failed to keep a desirable status among the viewers. Studies prove that most of the African American oriented newspapers have marked their sincere approach in preventing abusive alcohol habits among the people. Unfortunately, main stream media representatives moderated by industrialists and multinational alcohol producers always failed to keep a strong stand against alcoholics. “The two most widely covered policy issues in mainstream newspapers were restricting the marketing/advertising of alcohol products and increasing taxes on alcohol” (Jones-Webb, Wagenaar & Finnegaan). It is a remarkable fact that mainstream media in the United States largely concentrate on representing popular advertisements related to alcohol and other soft drinks. The online article entitled Exposure of African-American Youth to Alcohol Advertising remarks that “compared to non-African-American youth, African-American youth saw 66% more beer and ale and 81% more distilled spirits magazine advertisements in 2002, and 45% more magazine advertisements for alternatives, alcohols and other "low-alcohol refreshers” (Johns Hopkins University). Consequently, a group of industrialists, alcohol producers and alcohol producers have enjoyed the benefits of keeping the issue hide. Although African Americans and Whites report similar rates of frequent heavy drinking, African Americans are more likely to die of alcohol-related illnesses and injuries, such as cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol-related car crashes (“Substance Abuse Among the African American Population”). Various national and international agencies made some relevant studies and their reports give strong messages about the harmful effects of excessive drinking among the African –American working-class people. Statistical data given by National Household Survey remembers the seriousness of the issue and the need of preventive measures. “According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 19.8% of African Americans between ages 12 and 20used alcohol in the past 30 days, compared to 31.6% of Whites” (“Substance Abuse Among the African American Population”). Alcohol consumption of African –Americans between ages 12 and 20 reached a hazardous state and it needs immediate attention. Unwarranted drinking nature among the workers in factories and large scale industries contribute to other issues such as serious health concerns, increased rate of criminal activities, anti-social activities and dilemma of child labor and economic crisis. “Heavy drinking was considered a dominant characteristic of the “black” way of life, and early socio-cultural studies characterized blacks’ attitudes toward alcohol as more permissive and liberal than those of whites” (Caetano, Clark & Tam). Extreme alcohol use among the African –Americans is widely accepted as the cultural characteristics of African-Americans. Conclusion In the final assessment, it is evident that excessive use of alcohol causes severe problems in the fields of social, healthcare, economic and administration. The study reveals various consequences of alcoholism that affect the lives of millions who live in American society. Growing alcoholism causes serious health problems like heart diseases, digestive problems, hypertension and other severe health problems. In Minnesota region, alcoholism became a social evil that contribute social and family disruptions, health problems, low enforcement problems and economic costs. A group of industrialists and alcohol producers have enjoyed the benefits of excessive drinking of people from working-class society. Effective policy making and other preventive measures are essential for preventing the evil effects of alcoholism. Available studies give evidences for the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption among the people and it forces one to raise voice against this social issue. Works cited “Alcohol involvement for drivers in fatal crashes”. Project America. 2008. Web. 18 May 2012. Belgrave, F.Z. & Allison, K.W. African American Psychology: From Africa to America. 2nd edn: SAGE, 2009. Print. Caetano, R., Clark, C.L. & Tam, T. Alcohol Consumption Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Theory and Research. 1998. Web. 18 May 2012. Johns Hopkins University. Exposure of African-American Youth to Alcohol Advertising. 2010. Web. 18 May 2012. Jones-Webb, R., Wagenaar, A. & Finnegaan, J. Designing a survey of public opinions regarding alcohol control policies among African American and white adults. Web. 18 May 2012. Minnesota Department of Health. Alcohol Use in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Health . June 2011. Web. 18 May 2012. MN Department of Health CISS Project. Category: Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. MN Department of Health CISS Project. 2000. Web. 18 May 2012. Sanders, S. R. Earth Works: Selected Essays: Under the Influence. Indiana University Press, 2012. Print. Stith, K. African-American Alcohol Abuse. 2008. Web. 18 May 2012. “Substance Abuse Among the African American Population”. Reachoflouisville.com. Web. 18 May 2012. Appendix Figure-1 The percentage of all fatal crashes that involved alcohol by age and gender. Project America. Alcohol involvement for drivers in fatal crashes. Project America. 2008. Web. 18 May 2012. http://www.project.org/info.php?recordID=138 Read More