Alcoholism as a Social Problem - Assignment Example

Alcoholism as a Social Problem Alcohol is a common drink used all over the world but is misused and abused. The abuse of alcohol brings deleterious effects to a person, family and the society. Alcoholism is a social problem because it affects the social order of the society. A dependent alcoholic damages his or her personality and relationship with his or her family. Alcoholism is one of the causes of domestic violence. The menace accounts for 40% of the cases of abuse and harm caused in the family (Gifford, 2009). A person develops poor judgment, reasoning, and irritability when they are drunk and persuades them to use physical or verbal abuse to their family members. Marriages have been broken because of alcohol in the American society while children register poor performance in school (BBC News, 2004). An alcoholic renders his or her family socially isolated from the larger society. The social ills of alcohol in the society confirm why the menace is a social problem. People who are not connected to the alcoholic are affected by an alcoholic’s actions. The problem increases the rate of workplace absenteeism and impairs productivity. Risky sexual activity, violence, crime, and automobile accidents happen due to alcoholism. Facts And Figures of Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2015) indicates that the prevalence of drinking in United States in 2013 reached 86.8percent for persons aged 18 years and older. Binge and heavy drinking are the common forms of alcohol drinking that people of 18 years or older prefer. Heavy drinking leads to alcohol dependence and abuse and is responsible for 6.8 percent in United States. National Institute of Health reveals that alcohol use disorders affect adults and youth who seek treatment and rehabilitation from the problem in specialized facilities. At least 16.6 million adolescents have reported or found to have alcohol problems. Not only does alcohol lead to health disorders but also leads to deaths in the American society. It is estimated that 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year. Alcoholism has become a third preventable cause of death in United States. NIAAA argues that misuse of alcohol has cost U.S at least $223 billion since 2006 despite being a problem that can be prevented. The global burden increases daily with alcoholism becoming responsible for 200 diseases and health conditions. Gifford (2009) argues that cancers, injuries, and liver cirrhosis have become prevalent in the society. Origins of Alcohol Problems in Our Family Alcohol was a common component of social gatherings in our home. We did not know that our brother would get hooked on alcohol for twenty years. We would watch the advertisements for the latest alcohol brands such as whiskeys and beers. Having a glass of wine was a common practice in our family. Notably, my mother used to insist that it was good for digestion, but hardly did she know that it would become the greatest undoing for my brother for a long period. Peer pressure was also a leading cause of alcoholism in our family (Orcutt & Rudy 2003). Friends increased the availability of alcohol every time we would go out. The predisposition to peer pressure was more prevalent when in college because we had the freedom and reduced parental monitoring. The college years, peer pressure, availability of money from parents and the social appreciation because the factors of influence for my brother’s drinking problem. His health and immediate family were at risk. The glamorous time we would chat as a family was used to coming up with solutions to help my brother with his alcoholism. However, the inevitable damage had been done, and there were consequences for his drinking problem. Consequences in Our Family The health of my brother was at risk because he had lost the appetite for food. The loss weight became of concern from his wife and mother. The change of mood and behavior was frequent, and he would become physically abuse to anyone in our family who would persuade him from drinking. A family that was bound together by love came together to fight a threat that had taken a toll of our brother. Doctors had also indicated increased high blood pressure when he would drink to stupor. He was lucky to have a family that did not fall out when he was facing the biggest challenge in his life. There was a point we would blame each other for the problem. Maybe my parents lost touch with his behavior when he went to college or his wife denied him attention as a partner. The mistake we did as his brothers is to accompany him in the drinking joints without knowing that it would become a grave family problem. However, we did not let the potential discord to take place in our family. We combined efforts to fight the menace together. Solutions for Alcoholism Counseling sessions are critical for persons with alcoholism problem (Orcutt & Rudy 2003). Counselors prefer to use treatment and tackling psychological issues affect the alcoholic person. My brother was a listener and listened to our father when he was sober. He was also concerned about his health, and that became one of the ways to persuade him to seek counseling help. My brother wanted to reinstate his position in the family and become a responsible person in his family. Constructive and active family participation and the engagement became a good solution for alcoholism. According to NIAAA (2015), families that join on the awareness and education of a person with alcohol problem achieve greater results than an alcohol addict who goes through the problem alone. His greatest tool was the support and family volunteering. Berghuis (2010) suggests that alcohol addicts should avoid the temptations of drinking during early stages of treatment. A person is supposed to opt out of drinking or going to pubs and any other place where they will be exposed to alcohol. Additionally, the time used for drinking should be filled with something else such as going to the cinema. My brother opted to pursue working exercises to reduce the temptation of drinking. Medication offers fast solutions to alcoholism. Doctors prescribe medicine that helps an addict withdraw from drinking alcohol. The medicines help a person to stay sober and develop good judgment. Doctors’ prescription to fight alcohol problem and restore health was helpful. Medication also increases the ability to do work. My brother tried medication, using social activities and family engagement. He managed to seek counseling sessions through the help of our father. References Alcohol facts and statistics | national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism (NIAAA). (2015). Retrieved from http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics BBC news | health | why alcohol is addictive. (2004). Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3537387.stm Berghuis, D. J. (2010). The family therapy progress notes planner. , : John Wiley & Sons. Gifford, M. L. (2009). Alcoholism. , : Abc-clio. Orcutt, J. D., & Rudy, D. R. (2003). Drugs, alcohol, and social problems. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Read More