ALCOHOLISM

Looking at the increasing trend of alcoholism in students now day. I had been thinking to write an article on alcoholism but before preaching anything to anybody I have to apply it to myself so it took a little longer than it should have taken. So after much research i am putting forward my small step hoping it might be a giant leap.

Alcoholism is a disease called alcohol dependences syndrome by WHO. Alcoholism is a public health problem and therefore it is a public responsibility. At present there is no effective proposal for preventing alcoholism except education.

Adolescence and drug/alcohol abuse-  This is the period of strife and storm in the kids of age from 10 to 15 years. This is the time when adolescent begins to self assert searching for self identity , self esteem and self respect.

Reasons for drug /Alcohol abuse among adolescent

1. Curiosity- The reference to drugs in print media ,movies ,songs  creates curiosity for having personal experience.

2. Adventure and Excitement- For the sake of adventure and excitement children indulge in drug abuse.

3. Group or Peer pressure- Friends and peer group often initiate new comers to addiction for sake of company .

4. Feeling of Independence- As a defiance of authority and feeling of independence and heroism

5. Stress  and Examination pressure- Adolescence often under stress to excel in academics fall in fro addictive substance.

6. Unsupportive family structure-  An unstable or unsupportive family structure often leads youngsters to drug /alcohol abuse.

My classifications of alcoholism are as follows

1.       Occasional drinkers

2.       Social drinkers

3.       Weekend Drinkers

4.       Excessive Drinkers

5.       Addiction

Now i would  try to explain each with different emotional, psychological and physical stages

Occasional drinkers

First of all drinking is socially motivated and a sense of adventure and excitement is added to it . So for the first time when it is tasted ,people find it not very tasty thing to taste but because of social peer  the person empties the glass. The effect is felt fifteen to twenty minutes later. Different patterns are observed in different people ,like some become loud and talk more, some begin to talk in English(specially in my region Punjab) and others sometimes begin to laugh more. The next day is a guilt feeling day with lots of headache .Some people make their final decision that it was their first and last time and other have an urge to do it again . These are the people who fall into the trap of alcoholism. This phase is around six months to two years long. During this phase many times people have a sensation to vomit while drinking. This is because brain tries to resist the consumption of alcohol .Lets try to understand the biological effect of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system . In small dose it initially depresses the higher inhibitory centres in the brain which modulates human activities . So there is an initial stage of apparent excitement and a sense of well being. Normally habitation is practically removed causing talkativeness, swaggering and aggression. This initial effect of producing a sense of well being is the chief reason for the popularity it enjoys.

Social drinkers

This is the second stage of drinking. Now the person feels that he or she is not a regular drinker and he or she drinks only to give company to other people specially their seniors, during get togethers or dinner parties . But it is just an excuse to satisfy their gut feeling  . Ultimately, attending more and more such occasions, leads the person towards the next stage.

Weekender Drinkers

In this stage the people make resolution with themselves that they will only drink during weekends. But it is in addition to the occasions or parties they were attending. So practically they are drinking regularly. Hence the alcohol consumption is on rise. Some people use this as weekend stress buster and remove the fatigue of the week. Now a person is in a stage in which he or she begins to spend more money on alcohol. Financial effects of alcohol can be felt. This stage lasts for around one to two years, and leads to the next stage of drinking?

Excessive Drinker

In this stage a person becomes dependent on alcohol and always looks forward to an occasion to where  he or she can access alcohol , either by spending money or preferably free. At this stage the person behaves normally through out the day but his or her restlessness can be easily seen during evening as this is the stage leading to addiction. Person feels restless during evening and have strong urge towards alcohol as brain has become used to the effects of alcohol and is in constant need of alcohol. And this stage leads to final stage of addiction or alcoholism.

Addiction or alcoholism

In this stage people usually needs a drink in morning and party stretches from morning to night . Such people cannot live without drinking. The biological effects are as follows

1. Central Nervous System- Excessive intake of alcohol the depressant spreads to more centres of brain leading to impairing the faculties of judgement , discrimination and ability to think and reason clearly. This can lead to accidents, the elimination of humanity and elevation of brutality. It may indirectly lead to violation of laws such as murder, rape assault and cause crime wave.

2.Liver- Alcohol stimulates the synthesis of fatty acids by liver, producing fat accumulation in liver cells and a fatty liver. Prolonged excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells renders the liver susceptible to get damage by infections and toxins leading to scarring of life , an irreversible stage called cirrhosis of liver.

3. Cardiovascular System- Alcohol increases heart rate and output of blood in circulation. So blood pressure increases slightly which can lead to blockage of circulation in the capillaries. Cardiac muscles get weakened due to consumption of alcohol

4. Other effects- Alcohol can cause loss of inhibition and restraint and blunting of moral senses . So some one can take wrong advantage of this situation specially in case of young kids .Alcohol can cause damage to foetus in case of pregnant women .

 According to psychologist alcoholism is consequences of personality maladjustments in sociocultural  texture . Some childhood experiences produce feelings of insecurity ,which together with difficulties in interpersonal  relationships of adult life, produce tensions and anxiety. Because the use of alcohol reduces anxiety and tension related to personal problems like broken heart make people dependent on alcohol specially in case of youngsters. Excessive intake of alcohol the depressant spreads to more centres of brain leading to impairing the faculties of judgemental , facilitates discrimination and ability to think and reason clearly.

This increasing trend of alcohol among youngsters ( students) is an alarm for parents , teachers educators , policy makers and governments. Alcoholism is a public health problem and therefore it is a public responsibility. At present there is no effective proposal for preventing alcoholism except education. So I am hoping  my article can enlighten a few or some defaulters. And they can finally say      I QUIT

Efforts  by                                                               SARVIR SINGH

                                                                       PGT PHYSICS(D.P.S AMRITSAR)