Tag: alcohol

ALCOHOLISM IN INDIA

One of the most important products of global addiction demand is an alcoholic beverage. In developing countries like India, alcohol consumption tends to be a major problem because of the various socio-cultural practices across the nation, different alcohol policies and practices across the various states, lack of awareness of alcohol-related problems among the community, false mass media propaganda about alcohol use, various alcohol drinking patterns among the alcohol consumers and the emergence of social drinking as a habit because of the widespread urbanisation across the country. 

Social consequences of alcohol use

Alcohol consumption not only affects the individuals but also his family members get affected in one way or the other. The person in an intoxicated state may indulge in domestic violence with his family members; may exhaust the savings of the family, which can negatively affect the education of his children, and the children of alcoholic fathers will have strained relationship with their family members, which can affect their psychological wellbeing.

Road traffic accidents

One of the major problem of alcohol consumption are road traffic accidents which occur due to driving vehicles under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Both developing and developed countries report high rates of road traffic accidents because of alcohol consumption.

Primary care intervention for alcohol-related problems

In developing countries like India, primary care physicians are the first contact of patients with the healthcare system. primary care management of alcohol-related problems include three core steps, namely, counselling the patient on the ill-effects of alcohol and, if necessary, prescribing medications like disulfiram and connecting with the patients by organizing treatment programs and forming support groups. If necessary, they have to refer the patient to higher centres for further care and management.

BUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD THESE TREATMENT AND SUFFERES FROM ITS CONSEQUENCES

In many countries AA Meetings are held for being a support emotionally and spiritually to an alcoholic person with no financial support and most of all countries it being held have not only they have accepted this but hole heartedly supported it some for their family members or some for their friends suffering from alcoholism.

What is AA?

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

AA is nonprofessional – it doesn’t have clinics, doctors, counsellors or psychologists. All members are themselves recovering from alcoholism. There is no central authority controlling how AA groups operate. It is up to the members of each group to decide what they do. However, the AA program of recovery has proved to be so successful that almost every group follows it in very similar ways.

WHAT DOES A.A. DO?

  1. A.A. members share their experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem; they give person-to-person service or “sponsorship” to the alcoholic coming to A.A. from any source.
  2. The A.A. programme, set forth in our Twelve Steps, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol.

HISTORY OF AA IN INDIA

Here is an account of how AA came to India and it’s growth in the subsequent years. Though there are no accurate records from the early days, what is definitely clear is that Harold M., a school teacher by profession, was the first person in India, to stop drinking and gain lasting sobriety through the spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. He stopped drinking on 5th May 1957, and hence that date is nationally acknowledged as the “Founders Day” in India.

On 5th May 2021, AA completed 64 years of its service in India. Looking back, the results are heart-warming. The wide support and awareness generated by the groups in India and its members inspires immense hope for the future.

AWARENESS OF AA

In India, AA meeting is a program which mostly seen by people through foreign movies and shows not through advertisement or medical portals as its necessity seems nonsensical by people especially in India because of their traditional values about alcohol where some drinks it as a medicine and some as men for showing their authority and masculinity over others, stupid norms like that make bad habit like drinking into ADDICTION.

YOUTH AND THEIR OBSESSION WITH ALCOHOL

Today while I was attending my friend’s birthday party, I noticed something that prompted me to write about it. Alongside our group there was another group at this club. They all were easily below the age of twenty but their behavior was totally unacceptable. They were completely drunk and had no regard for the other guests. They were hogging the dance floor and when my friends and I tried to dance in the corner, they deliberately started bumping into us. One of the girls in my group even pushed him away hard but they didn’t budge from their conduct. They continued with their acts and finally we had to give up and get down the dance floor. The level of discomfort we felt during that moment can’t be accurately described. Even though two of the guys of their group came and apologized but doesn’t give them the right to behave like that in the first place. My question is Do people think that being drunk can be an excuse for everything? Why does our youth depend on alcohol to have fun? How can you make people around you uncomfortable and not even care a little?

It seems as if alcohol has become a lifestyle. Somehow consuming alcohol at a young age makes you “cool”. Surveys have shown that 75% youngsters in India consume alcohol before reaching the legal age. This normally starts with “I’ll have a few sips only” and ends up at binge drinking all weekend long. Around 80% of youth have at least tried alcohol once even if they didn’t develop a taste for it. Another factor that has ruined our youth is ‘Peer Pressure’. There are several examples where we can see a youngster following whatever the group says even though he is completely unwilling. As if peer pressure wasn’t enough, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) creeps in the minds of the youth. They feel as if they are missing out on something amazing because they see their friends having fun without realizing that their happiness is short lived. And before you know it that first drink turns into the first of many drinks to follow.

Other than the above mentioned reasons, it is a popular belief that kids take up drinking at a young age either because their parents regularly do so or because their parents introduce them to it. Children who take up drinking by following their parents never learn how to drink moderately because they generally do it secretly. On the other hands those who are introduced by their parents can learn to moderate their number of drinks. But the question still remains as to why is the youth so obsessed with drinking at an early age? The only reasons that come to mind are: because they are curious, to make themselves feel good, to relieve stress or to fit it. Do they not realize the risk they are putting themselves into? If they do, is it really worth it?

If you did not know it earlier, let me clarify you that alcohol can make you look extremely stupid especially if consumed without a check. You embarrass yourself, you embarrass the group you came with and in no way it that considered “cool”. In fact it is very disrespectful towards the people who are there for a good time. Drinking before legal age can even get you arrested. How would that be perceived among your peer group who you were trying so hard to impress? If this doesn’t persuade you to stop drinking then maybe when you grow a little older and your health starts to deteriorate, you would realize the hell you put your body through for a very short lived moments of fun.

If you don’t want to drink just say so. Don’t give into this vicious cycle. Stop drinking at every social gathering. If you problem is extreme, talk to an elder. Ask for help. One day you’ll be very thankful you stopped when you did. Don’t let alcohol ruin your youth and create problems for your adulthood. Stop before it becomes an addiction. Stop before having a drink turns into doing drugs. You will realize how your brain slowly loses its function when you feed this poison to your body. Remember, with alcohol the fun is temporary but the consequences are permanent.

Beverages from scratch…

• Wine

Wine is as old as civilization itself and it has a significant place in many ancient cultures. Many experts agree that wine probably dates to 6000 B.C., to Mesopotamia where wild vines grew in abundance. The popularity of wine eventually spread to Egypt, along the Nile Delta. Wine came to Europe with the spread of the Greek civilization around 1600 B.C. It was an important article of Greek commerce and Greek doctors including Hippocrates, were the among the first to prescribe it. The Greeks also learned to add herbs and spices to mask spoilage.

Starting about 1,000 B.C., the Romans made major contributions in classifying grape varieties and colours, observing and charting ripening characteristics, and popularizing the growing of vines and manufacturing of wines. As time progressed, the wealthy enjoyed the fruits of the vine. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe’s wine industry was saved by the church as monks planted vines to provide wine for Mass. Before long, France emerged as a leader, with some of the world’s finest wines.

Did you know that an ancient Persian fable credits a lady of the court with the discovery of wine? This princess lost favour with the king and attempted to poison herself by eating some table grapes that had ‘spoiled’ in a jar. She became intoxicated and fell asleep. When she awoke, she found that she felt much more relaxed and stress free and wine was discovered!

• Coffee

According to legend, an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon determined that it was the cherries on the shrub that were making them act this way. After trying the cherries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. These were coffee berries and monks at a local monastery started using a drink made of these berries to stay awake during extended hours of prayer. And so, coffee was born.

The ancient Ethiopians made balls of crushed coffee beans and fat to give them energy during long journeys. The coffee we are familiar with originated in Arabia, where roasted beans were first brewed around A.D. 1,000. Later, coffee was brought to the rest of Asia from where it was taken to Europe by a merchant from Venice.

Did you know that the name coffee is derived from the Arabic term ‘gahwa’ which means ‘that which prevents sleep’?

• Tea

Did you know that tea is 5000 years old? According to legend, it was discovered in 2737 B.C., by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves accidently blew into a pot of boiling water. The emperor was interested in the new liquid, drank some, found it very refreshing, and tea was created!

Tea consumption spread throughout Chinese society reaching into every strata. In time, drinking tea became part of the social and cultural life in the far East and India. Tea was introduced to India by the silk caravans travelling from the Orient to Europe. It was a Buddhist priest who brought the first tea seeds from China to Japan. In Japan, tea received almost instant imperial sponsorship, and spread rapidly from the royal court and monasteries to the other sections of Japanese society. Dutch traders and Portuguese missionaries brought tea into Europe and tea became an extremely fashionable drink in the court of Charles II of England. Tea has played a very important role in the history of England for it brought fortune to the British empire and at the same time, it was a tax levied on tea that led to the loss of her colonies in the New World.

Today, tea is grown on tea estates, and 70% of the tea we drink is grown in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Argentina and China. Amazing, we drink virtually the same tea today that the Chinese emperor drank the day he discovered it!

• Carbonated soft drinks

Do you love fizzy soft drinks? Well, even the ancient Romans loved to drink the bubbling waters of mineral springs and they believed that this water was very good for health as well. Later, scientists discovered that it was the carbon dioxide in the water that caused these bubbles and tried to find a way to introduce this gas into plain water to give the same effect. Thanks to the efforts of such scientists as Joseph Riestley and John Nooth, this feat was accomplished and carbonated water was available for sale by the end of the 1700.

The next step was to flavour this sparkling water. In 1784, citric acid was developed from lemon juice and by 1833, carbonated lemonade was on sale in England. Soon, other flavours were introduced and in 1886, Coca Cola entered the market and created soft drink history.

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day!🌼

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse is one of biggest problems the world faces today. It is not only a personal problem that dramatically affects people’s lives, but is a major social problem that affects society as whole.

Drug abuse is mainly caused by rapid social, economic and technological changes which under certain circumstances, weaken the sense of family and reduce the sense of belonging to other people, groups and places. Stability of relationships, environment and expectations is a powerful force in helping people manage their lives, especially important for children and young adults. In some societies, the classical problem of balancing discipline and control of children with nurturing support to encourage their exploration, understanding of the world and self-realization may be complicated by substance abuse problems as well as a wide range of other conditions. Alcohol abuse and other substance abuse have been studied among family members. It is well known that having biological relatives with alcoholism increases the risk in individuals for alcohol problems. Persons who are heavy users of alcohol or other drugs may show psychiatric symptoms such as depression, severe anxiety etc. 

The most widely used addictive substances include alcohol and tobacco which are harmful causing extensive damage to the individual mind and body along with other diseases. All of these substances have several important characteristics in common as alter the function of the human brain and have an impact on behavior . Despite this, they are widely used throughout the world and they burden society by increasing social and economic costs for productive enterprises .

Drug addiction is difficult to treat as it is a chronic disease and requires intense, on-going care and is a long term process. Treatments such as behavioral counselling, medication , medical devices and application used to treat withdrawal symptoms and also treatment for mental health issues like depression and anxiety are the various ways to overcome drug addiction and stay drug-free.

Concerning alcohol, it remains one of the most widely used addictive substance with alcohol abuse being considered to be an age old problem. Alcoholism is the reflection of socio-cultural factors of an individual and sometimes society as a whole. For may people, this is a part of their daily life. People who have been drinking excess amounts of alcohol for longer periods of time come under the category of alcohol abuse. These people put themselves in the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in various organs including the brain. The effect of alcohol on the organs may be direct or indirect depending upon the general health status of the person. The studies have suggested that the brain functions are affected due to the interaction of alcohol with multiple neurotransmitter systems. Alcohol abuse also leads to different nutritional deficiencies and diseases as alcoholic people suffer from vitamins and minerals deficiencies. Also alcohol has been found to be associated with diseases like tumors, cancers, numerous digestive diseases and other conditions. 

Both alcohol and drug abuse requires a global approach, given their serious consequences to the social , professional and personal environment of the individuals and the society. Hence it is necessary to educate all individuals and spread awareness among people about the realities of addiction for a better society and for improving the lives of millions worldwide.