Alcohol Abuse and Dangers to Society - Essay Example

Alcohol Abuse Introduction In this essay, I have decided to focus on the public health issue concerning the risk of alcohol abuse in relation to a certain population group who are young adults. A situation where young adults drink alcohol is referred to as underage drinking. As youths grow old, their rate of alcohol consumption increases significantly (Powers 2007, p.353). Whenever young adults take alcohol, they fail to realize the adverse effects drinking can have on their health, lives, families and social relationships. In the United Kingdom, the popular word used by many to refer to the act of drinking to get drunk is binge drinking. This is harmful to health especially for underage drinkers. Alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and tobacco use are some of the leading cause of death in many nations today (Shumaker, Ockene and Riekert 2008, p.5). Drinking alcohol significantly affect young individuals in terms of their academic performance, social lives and relationships as well as their general health. Some of the negative consequences resulting from excessive drinking include death, assault, sexual abuse, injury and accidents, academic problems, suicide attempts, and health problems among others. Today, underage drinking is a widespread public health problem which needs attention and should be dealt with or addressed accordingly. There is need to advise young adults, support them and create awareness on the damaging effects of alcohol abuse. There are many diseases and conditions related to alcohol drinking including heart and liver diseases. Alcohol abuse also leads to deterred brain development. Alcohol abuse negatively influences the lives and social relationships of many adolescents and teens. In most cases, drinking adolescents have academic and behavioural problems, slurred speech and coordination problems, and difficulty in establishing lasting relationships with their peers among others. Alcohol abuse has negative impacts on young adults. Studies confirm that many under age lose their lives daily as a result of alcohol related car or motorcycle crashes, suicides, and other serious injuries including falls, drowning and burns among others. More so, drinking alcohol forces young adults to make wrong decisions which may in turn result to risky behaviours such as driving while drunk, engaging in violence and irresponsible sexual behaviours among others. In addition, youths who are drinking excess alcohol are more likely to engage in or fall the victim of physical or sexual assault. Moreover, alcohol abuse has been noted as a common cause of brain development problems. Research findings indicate that alcohol can affect brain development process and contribute to many other health complications. Excessive use of alcohol can also be associated with alcohol dependence which is characterized by increased tolerance and unsuccessful efforts to reduce or quit alcohol use. Therefore, the need for living a healthy lifestyle calls for health promotion programs and interventions. Health promotion is a process that incorporates various health professionals and different practices necessary in changing health behaviour and all other aspects affecting health behaviour (Diclemente, Salazar and Crosby 2013, p.25). After reviewing various researches on public health and alcoholism, I find young adults to be the most appropriate population target for my intervention. Typical health intervention addressing alcohol abuse Typical interventions to address the issue of alcoholism include periodic mass media campaigns. Through mass media such as radio, television adverts and newspapers is the best way of reaching the targeted group. Mass media campaigns help in highlighting and creating awareness on the dangers of excessive drinking and possible adverse effects associated with alcohol abuse. Mass media campaign can be very effective if visual effects are used to illustrate the behaviour and movement of someone who is drunk. Obviously, a drunkard does not have a stable and speaks anyhow. In most cases, they are violent, abusive and do not associate with peers in a more friendly way. Such advertisement aimed at those young adults who wished to just take few sips of alcohol and show them some of the behaviour change of individuals as a result of alcohol abuse. More so, mass media campaigns help in creating awareness on health complications that result from alcohol abuse. A vivid picture of how alcohol affects liver, heart and other vital organs in individuals’ body which may even cause death. In addition, scenes showing fatal car or motorcycle crashes involving drinking young adults can as well be used to pass information about risky and irresponsible behaviour caused by excessive drinking. In these adverts, adolescents and teens were encouraged to avoid substance abuse or drink responsibly. In some cases, these risky and compromising adolescents’ behaviours affect them in their adulthood and largely contributed to various health complications and mortality (Olson et al., 2008, p.359). They should not drive while drinking or engage in other risky behaviours such as irresponsible sexual acts which they may regret later. One advantage of mass media adverts is that they convey public health information to many individuals at a faster rate. Therefore, global anti-alcoholism media campaigns are very successful and effective in introducing various adverts that attract and engage different types of alcoholics. Effectiveness of mass media campaigns can be enhanced to continue reinforcing anti-alcohol abuse message to different societal members including young adults. Healthy behaviour can be defined as individuals’ actions, improved coping skills and enhanced life quality (Glanz, Rimerand Viswanath,2008). It includes all those forces that influence physical and psychological selves (Hayden 2013, p.5). There is need to maintain strong media presence for long periods to continuously remind young adults to avoid alcohol and quit drinking alcohol excessively and remain alcohol free. However, mass media campaigns against alcoholism can be very costly which can affect the financial status of the nation. Theories and models Some of the models that have been used to promote health include The Behaviour Change Approach which is concerned with encouraging people to adopt healthy behaviours and shun away from drinking alcohol. Scholars have suggested change theories to be important in guiding the development of effective interventions to address issues like alcoholism. Health Belief Model (HBM) is another approach and according to this approach, cues to action can stimulate health related change in behaviour (Valente 2002, p.44). HBM recognizes various beliefs necessary in health behaviour change including perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits and perceived barriers (Brownson 2011, p.215; Fair 2011, p.304). This model emphasizes more on the cognitive factors that makes individuals to adopt a healthy behaviour. It argues that individuals’ experiences, attitudes and thoughts are part of health beliefs which guide individuals’ decisions about their health. It tries to give an account of and predict behaviours related to health in terms of some belief patterns (Fennis 2003, p.93). More so, this model acknowledges the role played by peers and family, education, income, and environment in influencing individuals’ drinking behaviour. In addition, The Theory of Reasoned Action focuses on the how socio-economic and environmental factors influence individuals’ drinking behaviour. According to this theory, it is possible to predict individuals’ behaviour by their behavioural intention, as reflected in their attitudes and the perceived norms by others (Abraham, Norman and Conner, 2013). Determinants of Health Model is also another effective approach which reveals how individuals’ behaviours and lifestyle choices like drinking alcohol are influenced by socio-economic and environmental forces. Studies reveal that higher drinking rates are found among low socio-economic groups. Socio-economic status significantly contributes to health because it involves various aspects such as education, income and occupation (Hayden 2013, p.5). In addition, adolescents and teens whose parents, guidance or siblings drink are more likely to engage in alcohol abuse as compared to their counterparts from alcohol-free households. This model can be applied in mass media campaigns to highlight the impact of other societal forces including family and economic background on individuals’ health. Therefore, all interventions have to acknowledge the fact that individuals live in socio-economic systems which shape behaviours and have an access to resources necessarily in maintaining positive health. Mass media campaign against alcohol abuse is one way through which societal social norms are shaped and this will in turn influence and effect behavioural change among alcoholics in the society. Adopted from http://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/BehaviorChange_e.htm Conceptual model to address alcohol abuse among youths Since there are many negative consequences associated with alcohol abuse among adolescents and teenagers, my major focus is on health promotion interventions that are useful in reducing or eliminating alcohol abuse. I will study and analyse health promotion interventions and behaviour change theories and models based on their application public health campaigns and health promotion strategies among individuals. Health protective behaviour helps in improving personal health behaviour and environmental conditions that influence individuals’ health behaviour (Simons-Morton 2012, p.8). Health promotion involves providing individuals and populations with necessary education concerning their health and how to live a healthy lifestyle. In most cases, health promotion programs aim at providing opportunity that improve individuals’ health and behaviour, strengthening the environment that enhance health behaviour, and facilitating healthy behaviours among societal members (Simons-Morton, Mcleroy and Wendel 2012, p.24). Health promotion is a very useful strategy that stimulates holistic health and wellbeing and prevents unnecessary mortality in the society (Corcoran 2007, p.1). I am planning to distribute leaflets addressing alcohol abuse in various colleges, high schools and homes where most young adults are found. This intervention manly aims at making this group become aware of the risk of excessive drinking and this for sure will have a positive impact in advising and encouraging them to change their drinking behaviour and adopt a healthy lifestyle. This conceptual model encompasses various assumptions from different theories and models such as the Health Belief Model, Determinants of Health Model, and the Theory of Reasoned Action. These include demographic variables and economic status; action such as mass media anti-alcohol campaigns; and societal social norms regarding drinking and young adolescents among others. These models views individuals’ behaviour and drinking attitude to be closely related to socio-economic status and influences from family members and peers. Health inequities result from societal conditions including education, economic status, and environment among others (Edberg 2013, p.6). Mass media campaigns against alcohol abuse among young adults and societal members at large are very effective. Such anti-alcohol campaigns are very important as they persistently revealing the negative consequences of drinking excess alcohol and by providing health education and creating awareness on health promotion and the risk of alcohol abuse. One way through which individuals’ health and well-being can be promoted is by eliminating excess alcohol consumption (Siegel and Lotenberg 2008, p.9). My health campaign with accompanying rationale for my decisions  Arguably, there are many health promotion strategies that can put in place to ensure that societal members live a healthy lifestyle that will not put their health at risk. Some of these strategies include health education, social marketing, community capacity building, and advocacy among others. To start with, health education helps in conveying information and imparting skills to members of the society on how to avoid engaging in behaviours that put their health at risk. Health education aims at bringing about behavioural changes in individuals and ensures that people avoid behaviours that are detrimental to health and adopt behaviours that promote health (Glanz, Rimer and Viswanath, 2008). The process of health education overlaps with health promotion and it all about individuals’ ability to have control over the determinants of health so as to live a healthy lifestyle (Simons-Morton 2012, p.7). Social marketing also helps in raising awareness of healthy behaviours and encourage societal members to change their drinking behaviour. Social marketing is the application of different marketing principles to be able achieves behavioural goals for a social good (Simons-Morton, Mcleroy and Wendel 2012, p.26). It involves conveying information and media advocacy to change the environment and ensure that individuals live healthy lives (French 2010, p.9). In addition, community capacity building is the best way through which health promotion efforts can be sustained. It involves informing individuals on what to do in order to promote and sustain their health and well-being. Furthermore, advocacy helps in gaining policy support and acceptance for certain health promotion program and it can be conducted through lobbying and social marketing (Diclemente, Salazar and Crosby 2013, p.22). Adopted from http://www.justbewell.com/acatalog/problems_Alcohol.html Many studies have emphasized on the role played social determinants including social capital in influencing and shaping health behaviour (DiClemente, Crosby and Kegler2009, p.6). More so, health behaviour is significantly influenced the observations made by individuals on certain aspects such as illness or death patterns in their own surrounding (Senior and Chenhall 2013, p.164). Effective health promotion intervention programs should focus on all forces influencing individuals’ health behaviour including cultural context and social skills among others (Powers 2007, p.353). Research findings indicate that individuals associated regular exercise, a healthy diet and moderate alcohol use with health behaviours (Lucas and Lloyd 2005, p.9). According to models such as Health Belief Model and Determinants of Health Model, demographic variables play a leading role in influencing individuals’ drinking behaviours. The knowledge generated from these models which are very important include social norms, cue to action, individuals’ attitudes and beliefs, learning experiences, and individuals’ views of susceptibility, opportunity and readiness for behavioural change (Graham and Martin 2012, p.451). These models suggest higher drinking rated among individuals from low-socio-economic status. In addition, these models noted that those young adults whose parents and siblings consume excess alcohol are at higher risk of abusing alcohol and other illicit drugs. Another health campaign program is cue to action which involves mass media campaign against alcohol abuse which mainly aims at persuading, motivating and encouraging people to change their drinking behaviour. Television campaigns play a significant role in providing necessary health education and creating awareness on the dangers of excessive drinking of alcohol. In addition, social norms and their role in influencing behaviour is also another important aspect. According to the Reasoned Action Theory, there are certain social forces that adversely affect the health of individuals. Health campaigns displayed on the mass media advertisements clearly highlight how social factors negatively impacts on the health of young adults. More so, mass media anti-alcohol campaigns have raised awareness on the risk of alcohol abuse to large population and different groups and this has really helped in shaping the beliefs of both alcoholics and non-alcoholics. Another important aspect is based on individuals’ feelings and attitudes. My health campaign used emotional appeal and stressed on the damaging consequences of alcohol abuse so as to influence individuals’ feelings and attitudes towards drinking alcohol. Individuals are motivated to change their behavior based on their perceptions of what they consider good and acceptable by other societal members. Personal choices and social environment shape individuals’ behaviours and this include their health behaviours (Edberg 2010, p.9). More so, the health campaign centred its focus on the risk of alcoholism and severity in order to create and increase awareness on the harm and this really motivate many young adults to take precautions and quit drinking. Furthermore, health education and campaign provided some benefits associated with being alcohol-free including health promotion and living a healthy lifestyle, reduced risk of various health complications, increased performance in academics, and the ability to form lasting relationships with peers, family members and others. Therefore, the perceived benefits of not drinking excess alcohol were enhanced by these campaigns. Lastly, the campaigns clearly conveyed the possible risks and consequences associated with alcohol abuse so as to motivate youths to shun away from drinking and change their drinking habits. How my health promotion material may change behaviour Distributing leaflet containing information that addresses the negative consequences associated with drinking alcohol is the most effective way to reach as many youths as possible and bring about behaviour change. This health promotion material aims at encouraging young adults to change their drinking behaviour for the better. Individuals are able to get health information through social marketing which incorporates identifying the targeted group, tailor messages and various mediums of communication to reach out this group of people and pass the intended information in a more effective manner. Social marketing campaign is the most effective since it uses various communication formats and media including advertising, public relations, television, and billboards among others (Cheng, Kotler and Lee 2011, p.10).Television advertisements are an effective health promotion tool that is preferred by many heath educators and professionals (Vandiver 2009, p.320).My cue to action campaign which involves the use mass media advertisement enabled me to come up with appropriate health promotion message that my intended target group which was young adults would read and comprehend according. The information was more convincing to persuade these individuals to destroy their association with alcohol and completely change their drinking behaviour. More so, I found my health promotion leaflet to be more flexible and appropriate as my targeted population could easily spread the leaflets to their fellow peers and keep them informed about the damaging effects of excessive consumption of alcohol. In most cases, these adolescents and teens tend to be very busy and so my health promotion campaign leaflet had clear, precise information that can be read quickly and easily. This will grab their attention and save much of their time once they get the intended meaning of the information in the leaflet. Normally, campaign leaflets need the use of simple languages and short sentences that will easily attract the attention of many people. More so, obtaining the views of different alcoholics and those who have quit drinking alcohol and incorporating all these opinions on the campaign leaflet is an added advantage. The knowledge about drinking is based on the relationship between drinking and various health complications including liver disease, heart disease, and arthritis among others (Mocanand Altindag 2014, p.271). Having detailed information about alcohol abuse is the key to a successful and effective campaign as this will provide adequate information needed by alcoholics to avoid taking alcohol and change their drinking behaviour hence promoting their health and wellbeing. My health campaign leaflets conveyed how excessive consumption of alcohol put the lives and health of individuals at risk. It stated the severity of the risks associated with alcohol including possible diseases such as heart, liver and lung diseases among others. This approach was of my best interest because it is successful in motivating young adults to change their drinking behaviour so as to protect and promote their health. Revealing deadly diseases caused by excessive consumption of alcohol had an emotional impact on individuals and this attracted their attention to understand the risk of alcoholism and turn to a healthy lifestyle. Conclusion Alcohol abuse is one of the problems that affect our society today with many youths drinking alcohol risk their lives, health, social ties and academic performance. Studies state that alcohol causes harm to the users and contributes towards health disparities and that excessive consumption of alcohol mainly affects young people because they are not able to easily cope up with the adverse effects of alcohol. Dangers associated with alcohol abuse call for urgent action in order to convince individuals not to drink and promoting their health and well-being. Through various health campaigns, young adults and other societal members are continuously reminded about the damaging effects of drinking alcohol so as to motivate them to change their drinking behaviours. Most health and anti-alcohol campaigns aim at creating awareness on the risks of drinking excess alcohol in order to bring about behaviour change. Indeed, persistently conveying information that discourages alcoholics to shun away from drinking and making them aware of the dangers of alcohol and negatives impacts associated with it is the most effective way to ensure that young adults remain alcohol free. More so, some youth positively responded to these messages and informed their colleagues about the same issue. My health campaign played a significant role in increasing awareness about alcohol abuse and its harmful effects and affecting behaviour change among many youths who drink thereby promoting their health. 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