Alcoholism in Japan - Essay Example

Alcoholism in Japan Introduction The consumption of alcohol has depicted a gradual decrease in the developed and industrialized nations of the world. However, such consumption has shown an increasing trend in Japan. A recent study revealed that alcoholism had increased by nearly 250 percent in Japan, in comparison to the number of alcoholics three decades ago. Alcohol has become a part of the daily routine for most of the Japanese population, and this assumed a near insurmountable problem for the Japanese (Milne, 2003).

Body The Japanese laws, relating to alcohol consumption, impose stringent penalties on people who indulge in drunken driving. Most of these penalties are similar to those obtaining in Ireland. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime in Japan; and it is also a crime to permit or encourage a person who has consumed alcohol, to drive a vehicle. This applies to passengers in a vehicle, whose driver has already consumed alcohol. Thus, passengers should not allow a drunken person to drive their vehicle (Department of Foreign Affairs, 2008).

Japan has changed its Traffic Act, and the new Act was enacted with effect from June 2002. The new law reduced the statutory standard of alcohol concentration in the blood for drivers. It also imposes heavier and more stringent penalties on the drivers whose alcohol concentration level is above the legal limit. As such, this new Traffic Act imposes harsher penalties for offenses committed by drunken drivers (Road Traffic Act of Japan, 2002). In its report of June 2003, the National Police Agency of Japan reported that there was a steep decline in fatal accidents, resulting from alcohol consumption.

There was a nearly 30% decrease after the implementation of the new Traffic Act. This rate remained unchanged in the subsequent twelve month period, and there were incidents of vehicular crashes caused by drunken drivers. The total number of accidents during the period from June 2001 to May 2002 was 1187. After the implementation of the new Traffic Act this number reduced to 830. Moreover, the number of cases of drunken driving reduced by seven percent (Imai, 2008). It is common for alcoholics, who visit hospitals for treatment, to vehemently maintain that they do not suffer from a drinking problem.

Previously, there were a number of treatment methods, which were not all that effective in treating this problem. Some of them were psycho - educational therapy, Japanese Naikan therapy and self - help group meetings. It has been suggested that the BDIM or before discharge intervention method is appropriate in the treatment of such individuals. This method is to be applied a week prior to the patient's discharge from hospital. The BDIM employs the Picard's initial intervention method, in addition to attending self - help groups and follow - up therapy after discharge from hospital (ARO, 2004).

Alcoholics in Japan are no longer restricted to the adult segment of society. They are to be found, even amongst the teenagers. Moreover, Japan is replete with vending machines that purvey alcoholic drinks. Furthermore, neither the restaurants nor the bars check the ID of consumers (Yamamoto, 1999). The per - capita consumption of alcohol in Japan has remained unchanged for the past ten years. This is chiefly due to a drastic reduction in vending machines that purvey alcohol. In a related development, it was reported that Fujitsu, an electronics goods manufacturing company, had invented a vending machine that would supply alcohol, only after scanning the ID card of the consumer (Milne, December 5, 2003).

Conclusion Amongst the solutions analyzed, the imposition of harsher penalties for drunken driving proved to be the most effective solution for reducing driving accidents. In respect of teenage drinking, the drastic reduction of drunkenness can be achieved by insisting upon the ID of the consumers being checked, prior to selling alcoholic drinks. From the therapeutic perspective, the proposed BDIM solution offers hope to the alcoholic. List of References ARO, I. (2004). Alcohol dependence syndrome and Before-Discharge Intervention Method (BDIM)-Report 1.

The process to develop the constructed BDIM. Japanese Journal of Alcohol Studies & Drug Dependence , Vol. 39, No. 1, P.61-77. Department of Foreign Affairs. (2008, July 25). Consumption of Alcohol. Retrieved October 01, 2008, from http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx'id=419 Imai, H. (2008, February 01). The new traffic law and reduction of alcohol related fatal crashes in Japan . Retrieved October 01, 2008, from http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/9/4/382 Milne, D. (2003, December 05).

Japan Grapples With Alcoholism Crisis . Retrieved October 01, 2008, from American Psychiatric Foundation: Psychiatric News: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/38/23/12 Milne, D. (December 5, 2003). Japan Grapples With Alcoholism Crisis . Psychiatric News , Vol.38, No.23, P.12. Road Traffic Act of Japan. (2002). Yamamoto, F. (1999, November 14). Teen Alcohol Use. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from ISALC, Lewis and Clark College : http://www.lclark.edu/'krauss/advwrf99/causeeffect/fumikacause.html