Alcoholism and Its Dangers - Assignment Example

 Introduction: Alcoholism and its dangers. Excessive and regular intake of alcohol leads to alcoholism. Alcoholism is marked by dependence and acute withdrawal symptoms if the individual tries to stop its consumption. However, under medical supervisions, the withdrawal symptoms can be controlled. The medical community terms alcohol as a treatable but incurable condition. Alcohol abuse is a widely discussed subject due to its rampant use (some may call it abuse), its negative physical, psychological and social damages. Alcohol abuse is found in all segments of the society but the unemployed youth are easy prey. Alcohol dependence has been subject-matter of widespread studies from medical, social, and psychological angles. Traditionally, a host of stereotypes have developed around alcoholism spanning different ages, societies and cultures. There is hardly any part of the world that has not undergone the negative effects of alcohol abuse but the worst affected are the victim, his or dependant and non-dependant family members, children, colleagues and friends. Understandably, the conventional wisdom accepts alcohol but shuns alcoholism. Though ‘alcohol-intake’ is strictly forbidden in the Muslim, and to some extent in, Hindu and Buddhist societies, however, it can’t be construed that the cultures that view alcohol with permissiveness endorse alcoholism. The town drunkard is subject to ridicule, pity and despicability anywhere in the world. Definition It is pertinent to define Alcoholism from scientific point of view before we discuss its devastating personal and social circumstances National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) brochure cited at About.com defines Alcohol Dependence Syndrome as a disease characterized by craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance. Simply put an alcoholic shows a compulsion to drink, which he or she is unable to resist. In case, it is resisted there are withdrawal symptoms and amount of alcohol for getting a higher ‘high’ keeps on increasing. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking resulting violence, accidents and alcoholism is the disease that makes the patient seek alcohol continually (NIAAA, 2003, cited at Healthatoz.com). Consequences: The most common consequence of Alcoholism is self-destruction through the loss of health, wealth and social respect. “Alcoholism is a lethal illness” (AMSP, Slide 4). Often the victim doesn’t get the kind of familial, societal or governmental help to alleviate him/her from the dependence syndrome as it is regarded as self-inflicted problem. We will briefly discuss them under the Medical and Psychiatric Consequences and Social Consequences. Consequences of alcoholism can also be classified as long-term or short-term but for sake of brevity we will discuss most of them under the following heads only. The Medical and Psychological Consequences: The most prominent medical consequence of alcoholism is liver-damage culminating in cirrhosis. “Long-term heavy alcohol use is the leading cause of illness and death from liver disease in the US.”( NIAAA, 24) Increased alcohol use results in susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections leading to impairment of immune system (NIAAA, 2000). It is also one of the leading causes of cancer of alimentary canal, pancreas and blood. Chronic use of alcohol affects central nervous system, cerebellar damage, cancer, strokes, cardiac arrest, hepatitis, gastro-intestinal (GI) complications and hypertension. (AMSP, Slide 8). “Between 25-35% of children born to chronic alcoholic women have fetal alcohol syndrome.”(WHO). The syndrome is marked by facial incongruities, mental retardation, poor growth and coordinating abilities. Alcoholism also leads to sexual dysfunction in both males and females. (AMSP). Besides heavy drinking causes thiamine deficiency, increase in Red Blood Cells or Decreased White Blood cells leading to hematological complications. Alcoholism attacks the motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions of the nervous system thus impairing gait, sleeping pattern making the victim depressed and lethargic. Long-term neuro-psychiatric disorders created by alcohol abuse are deficits in abstracting ability, judgment, social behavior, perception and memory (WHO). “A more severe and manifest form of these intellectual deficits is called alcoholic dementia in which all meaningful, intellectual and social functioning is lost.” (WHO, 7) Amongst other causes are black-outs (memory-loss), difficulty in walking and paralysis of the eye. The victim starts avoiding people, stays away from work and develops recluse like behavior. WHO has categorizes the effects on alcohol on body and brain in terms of increasing alcohol intake as 1. affecting judgment time. 2. making body more sluggish 3. suppressing body functions leading to death. It has been observed that alcohol induces mood disorders, depressive symptoms, pessimistic thoughts, and the victim becomes suicidal (WHO). In cases alcohol causes bouts of emotionalism, hallucinations, and complete breakdown of cognitive abilities. Heavy bouts of drinking are often followed by dehydration, vomiting, sleeplessness. One of the biggest killers of time in the contemporary society is the hangovers and headaches that result due to excessive drinking. Alcohol-intake creates lack of concentration at work and increases irritability, irrational behavior the next day. Often people suffer more undetected ailments like diabetes, hypertension, depression, which get further compounded by alcoholism. Alcohol is also one of the causes of insomnia. The victim becomes habitual to take a drink before dozing off to sleep. Alcohol disturbs the normal sleeping pattern as mentioned above. Social Consequences The use of alcohol has become an accepted custom in partying, merry-making, celebrations. In social parlance it is euphemistically called “a drink” (Brick,2003). Then how do we draw a boundary line between an innocent ‘drink’ and monstrous alcoholic abuse. Brick (2003) describes the social use of alcohol as a cold beer after a ball game, a glass of wine with meals, or a glass of champagne at festive occasions. According to Brick (2003) it becomes abuse whenever it places the drinker’s behavior at increased risk for injury. Since alcohol intake in larger volumes loss of consciousness for a civilized life, it is described as ‘substance abuse’ in political and legal terms. To create terminologies, define, contrast and compare a particular is a very good academic exercise but reality in quite different. A person gone bankrupt, or suffering from physical ills or is in agony due to loss of some dear one and is sitting in a pub to down his sorrows will quite unknowingly cross the line of use and abuse and by the time he comes to senses; he would already be in the vice like grip of alcohol. Carrying truck loads of emotional trauma in his head, he would only ask for more the next day; and the next, and next till he is drowned in the ocean of vice itself. There is definitely nothing glorious about alcohol. It is a bane of the mankind. Alcohol abuse related social consequences have the ability to not only destabilize the individual but also his/her family thus creating a ripple of disturbance in the society as well. An alcoholic perpetually loses time, money and ability to earn. An alcoholic not only loses occupation and sense of direction but starts to pawn off house-hold items thus creating more turbulence in the family. A large number of accidents on the road are caused by drunken driving. Under such conditions an alcoholic becomes a living monster who destroys the peace of mind of all around him, thus becoming a liability for the family and society. The annual loss to United States due to alcoholism is estimated to $148 billion. In Canada it amounts to $19 billion representing 2.7% percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Thus alcohol abuse is inimical not only stable and sensible human life on an individual but its sum total adds up to be a burden on the whole society and the country. Brick (2003) estimates the total loss of addiction at more than $200 billion per year for the US economy as a whole. “Family members report experiencing guilt shame, anger, fear, and isolation due to the presence of an alcohol abuser in the family.” (WHO, 10). Spouses of alcoholics separate and it is the children who have bear the brunt of separation in the family (WHO). There are episodes of domestic violence and most vulnerable members; the women and children suffer the most. “Other complications in the family include long absences from the home, destruction of household items in rage; lack of communication between the family members and alcohol abuser (WHO, 16). Thus we see a complete destruction of the social persona of an abuser. Along with the social-status weans away his/her self-respect, individuality and confidence to face life boldly. Society as a whole rarely has a sympathetic feeling for an alcohol-making for it is generally believed that the person is suffering, and rightly so, from his/her own making. Friends readily cast aside a regular alcoholic because he/she is seen an unwanted intruder into mainstream living. Victims of alcoholism turn suicidal and end their lives in utter despondency. Alcoholism and the Young Alcoholism is one the rise amongst the youth, adolescents even school going children. By the time the family rises to check the disease the individual is already caught in the severe grip. Any attempt that is made to check alcohol consumption without medical aid creates serious withdrawal symptoms. The victim shows of symptoms of withdrawal tremors, anxiety, autonomic instability (tachycardia, hypertension), seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs). Hospitalization is advised when the patient develops withdrawal symptoms as they are treatable. Non-hospitalization could lead to serious problems like death. (AMSP). In fact, government and health authorities should ensure that the positive aspects of alcohol do not get highlighted lest they be mis-read by innocent minds. Uses of alcohol should only be known to doctors, and scientists and academics. A sane rationale adult, thinking, living and leading a responsible life can make out the thin line of difference between ‘use’ and ‘abuse’. But for the youth that are going through a tumultuous and torrid time of educations, love-flings, relationship problems and personality problems and over-secretions of hormones necessary for growth of the body any gross such misinterpretation of fact to believe that alcohol is ‘good for health’ can land a person in serious trouble thus endangering his/her own life and destroying the peace of mind of the family. Solutions to Alcoholism In contemporary times when the world offers a sea of opportunities and a person can choose and excel in the profession of choice, and get all the deserved attention from peers and others, an individual should try to practices strict abstinence from alcohol. Even ceremonial drinks should be avoided as they create a sense of craving for more. Government should take strict measures for checking drinking among adolescents and even university going students. This is the time when a lot of internal hormonal changes are taking place in the body of the individual. On the other hand, he or she is tremendous pressure to complete studies and start earning. A bout of alcoholism is enough to turn the ‘apple-cart of life upside down’. Hence as it is said that prevention is the best cure; incase of alcohol, there is nothing like total abstinence. Even with a small amount of will-power a person can overcome the peer pressure to have ‘a drink’ on the festive occasions. Nothing is more festive than a happy and cheerful life. Communities should be formed at the school, college or club-level where persons who have suffered at the hands of alcohol are allowed to outpour their feelings and experiences. This helps to alert those who are ready to throw themselves in the cesspool of alcoholism. Ill-effects of alcoholism should be made a part of the curriculum and authorities should take stringent action against those parents whose children suffer from loss of domestic peace, parental care and bear violence at home due to alcoholism of a senior member of the family. Yet, one of the most effectual for prevention of alcoholism can from the social, political and religious leadership of the world. The customary toast of alcohol is the most contradicting social act of mankind. On one hand alcohol is said to be poisonous, lethal and dangerous to human life and limb. On the other hand it is used to say ‘Cheers’ to welcome an era of well-being, peace, amicability and brotherhood on the other. How can vice welcome virtue? This is unthinkable. If we have to pass virtuous conduct to the coming generation, the vice has to be ended today and not glorified. All kinds of advertisements of alcoholic beverages should be put an end to. Such a ban already exists in some countries. Alcoholics Anonymous groups should play a more pro-active and visible role in waking the society against the ill-effects of alcohol. In this help can be sought from religious and social organizations. Bibliography: Brick, John (2003) Handbook of medical consequences of alcohol and drug abuse, The Haworth Press Inc, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, (US) Alcohol Medical Scholars Program (n.d), Medical causes of alcohol and drug drug-abuse disorders. “Alcohol Medical Scholars Program Website”, www.alcoholmedicalscholars.org, Accessed 19th July, 2008, < http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:HvcsUdeYj8AJ:www.alcoholmedicalscholars.org/medical.ppt+Medical+consequences+of+Alcohol+abuse&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=in> National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ( NIAAA), Medical Consequences of Alcoholic Abuse, Vol 24, No.1, 2000, Accessed “The NIAAA Website,” http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/ Accessed 19th July, 2008 < http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh24-1/27-31.pdf > World Health Organization, Regional office for South East Asia, Consequences of Alcohol Use, “The Who, Regional office for South East Asia Website” Accessed July 19th 2008 < http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Facts_and_Figures_ch5.pdf> NIAAA Brochure, Alcohol - Getting the Facts, Reviewed by Gans, Steven, The About.com Website” www.about.com, Accessed July 19th 2008, http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/homework/a/blgetfacts.htm Healthatoz.com (2003), Alcoholism, Healthatoz.com Website, “An Encyclopedia” Accessed July 19th 2008, http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/alcoholism.jsp Read More