economic impact of alcoholism
Content
Economic Impact of ‘alcoholism’
Alcoholic beverages have been in use throughout the world for millennia. Although only a
minority of consumers is adversely affected, heavy consumption can cause untold misery, such
as the disruption of the family, long tern effects in the children, wife and the burden on the
community as the drinker's working efficiency and ability to support himself and his family
decreases. "Excessive drug is liable to cause profound social disruption particularly to the family,
marital and family tension is virtually inevitable" (Oxford, 1976)'. The wives of heavy drinkers
are likely to become anxious, depressed and socially isolated (Wilkins, 19741~.In recent years,
rates of excessive alcohol use and alcohol related mortality have risen sharply in many countries.
During the same period the relaxation of alcohol control measures have made it easier for people
to obtain alcohol beverages. At the same time the production of alcoholic beverages involves the
livelihood of millions of persons and provides very substantial revenues to Government. In
looking for solutions to alcohol related problems, Government will have to face these dilemmas
(WHO, 1974). According to WHO alcoholism is the third major puller of mankind after Heart
Attack and Cancer and they pronounced it as a diseases in 1956. Though we know all these facts,
alcoholism was not considered a priority area with immense social and public health
consequences in our country. The earlier alcohol researches had referred only to prohibition.
(Encyclopaedia of Social Welfare in India, 1968). Research work in the field alcoholism started
sanctity in 1960s and most of the activities have been surveys of a specific target group, either in
terms of psychiatric morbidity or with regard to drug abuse in general, where alcohol has been
included as one of the incidental drugs.
Alcohol
The widely used and abuse drug among youth, causes services and potentially life
threatening problems for this population. Although alcohol is some time referred to as a ‘gate
way drug’ for youth because its use often precedes the use of other illicit substance, this
terminology is counterproductive. Youth drinks require significant attention, not because of what
its leads to but because of extensive human and economic impact of alcohol use by this
vulnerable population.
.
ALCOHOLIC CONSUMPTION IN KERALA
REASONS
Alcohol use is common across cultural groups and is an accepted part of adult hood. Alcohol is
widely consumed as a part of social gathering, festivals, and celebrations by many people of the
society. The socio cultural and socio economic and environmental factors also influence liquor
consumption. The alcoholic consumption of a person depends on various factors like level of
income, family background personnel problems etc….
FACTORS INFLUENCING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
A person’s consumption of alcohol are influenced by cultural, social, personnel, and
psychological factors.
CULTURAL FACTORS
Culture is the social heritage of the society. It is a set of values ideas and attitudes and other
symbols and objects created by people which shapes human behavior. According to Stanton,
Ethel and Walker “Culture is a set of symbols created by society and handed down from
generation to generation as determinants and regulators of human behavior”. Culture is the most
basic cause of a person want and behavior. Culture is restricted particular society and differs
from society to society. Culture is dynamic changing and adaptive overtime. As a result the value
and needs of the society change.
Subculture
It is a distinct cultural group having specific identification and mobilization existing within a
large culture. Sub cultures are culture within a culture. That have distinct values and life style.
SOCIAL FACTORS
Reference groups
A reference group is any set of individuals that influence another individual when he or she
makes decisions. Grope that have a direct influence on a person are called membership groups.
Some membership groups are primarily such as family, friends and coworkers with whom the
person interacts continuously and informally.
Family
A family is a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption living
together in a house. A household is a broader concept that relates to dwelling rather than a
relationship. In the modern world there are so many family problems and many of the family
members find the solution in the use of liquor or alcohol.
Status
Each role that a person plays has status , which is the relative prestige accorded by the degree
of influence an individual expects on the behavior and attitudes of these people buy and use
alcohol which reflect their status.
PERSONAL FACTORS
Occupation
People use alcohol which relates to their occupation. Very tough workers were using more
alcohol than white color job workers.
Income
Economists established a positive relationship between income and spending. When the income
of a person is increasing the use of alcohol is also gradually increasing.
Life styles
Life styles are defined as patterns in which people live as expressed by the manner in which they
spend money and time on various activities and interest’s .Life style is a function of our
motivation, attitudes and personality.
Psychological Factors
Motivation
Motivation is an inner drive to fulfill needs. A motive is a need sufficiently stimulated to
move an individual to seek satisfaction. Motives can be consciousness or unconsciousness
rational or emotional, positive or negative.
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE DRUNKARDS AND FAMILY
Alcoholism is characterized by an increased tolerance and physical dependence on
alcohol affecting an individual ability to control alcohol consumption safely. These
characteristics are believed to play a role in impending a drunkard’s ability to stop drinking.
Alcoholism can have adverse effects on mental health, causing psychiatric disorders and
increasing the risk of suicide.
Long term alcohol abuse can cause a number of symptoms including cirrhosis of the
liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, poly neuropathy, heart disease, and sexual dysfunction and can
eventually be fatal. Other physical effects include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and
cancer. Damage to the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system can occur from
sustained alcohol consumption. A wide range of immunologic defects can result and there may
be a generalized skeletal fragility, in addition to a recognized tendency to accidental injury
resulting a propensity to bone fractures.
Long term misuse of alcohol can cause a wide range of mental health problems serves
cognitive problems are common: approximating !0% of all dementia cause are related to alcohol
consumption making it the second leading cause of dementia Excessive alcohol use cause
damage to brain function , and psychological health can be increasingly affected overtime.
Social skills are significantly impaired in people suffering from alcoholism due to the
neurotoxic effects of alcohol on brain especially the prefrontal cortex area of brain. The social
skills that are impaired by alcohol abuse includes impairments in perceiving facial emotions
prosody perception the ability to understand humor is also impaired in alcohol abuse
Psychiatric disorders are common in alcoholics with as many as 25% suffering severe
psychiatric disturbances. The most prevalent disturbances is anxiety and depression disorders.
Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of committing criminal offences including
child abuse, violence, rape, burglary assault.
Alcoholism is associated with loss of employment which can lead to financial problems
drinking at inappropriate time and behavior caused by reduce judgment can lead to legal
consequences. Such as criminal charges for drunk driving or public disorder or civil penalties for
tortuous behavior and may lead to a criminal sentence.
An alcoholic’s behavior and mental impairment while drunk can profoundly affect those
surrounding and lead to isolation from family and friends this isolation lead to a marital conflict
and divorce and contribute to domestic violence. Alcoholism can also lead to child neglect with
subsequent lasting damage to the emotional development of alcoholic’s children. For this reason
children of alcoholic parents can develop number of emotional problems.The use of more and
more alcohol result to an unbalanced financial budget of every family. The drunkards also
destroy apeas able situation in their own family and problem arise in their relationship with their
wife and children.
The
paper
presents the first attempt systematically to assess the economic impacts of
alcoholism. In particular, the study could not produce actual quantitative estimates of the effects
of the alcoholism on the consumption pattern of the people for main two reasons. First, the
peoples consumption pattern and alcoholics consumptions are related in many ways. Second, for
a number of economic impacts of interest, the data available are simply not sufficient to arrive at
definitive conclusions with much certainty
REFERENCE
Deepika Publication (2002) Indian Health, Kerala Rastra Deepika. Ltd
Kothari, C.R (1999) Research Methodology: Methods and techniques; New Delhi,
M.G Gelder et.ei (2003) Oxford Text book of Psychiatry, New York, Oxford University
press
Piyush Gupta, Ghai O.P (2004), Text book of Preventive and Social Medicine, New
Delhi, CBS Publishers.
Shah, L.P, Hema Shah (1993),Hand book of Psychiatry, Bombay, Vora medicial
Publications.
Alcoholic beverages have been in use throughout the world for millennia. Although only a
minority of consumers is adversely affected, heavy consumption can cause untold misery, such
as the disruption of the family, long tern effects in the children, wife and the burden on the
community as the drinker's working efficiency and ability to support himself and his family
decreases. "Excessive drug is liable to cause profound social disruption particularly to the family,
marital and family tension is virtually inevitable" (Oxford, 1976)'. The wives of heavy drinkers
are likely to become anxious, depressed and socially isolated (Wilkins, 19741~.In recent years,
rates of excessive alcohol use and alcohol related mortality have risen sharply in many countries.
During the same period the relaxation of alcohol control measures have made it easier for people
to obtain alcohol beverages. At the same time the production of alcoholic beverages involves the
livelihood of millions of persons and provides very substantial revenues to Government. In
looking for solutions to alcohol related problems, Government will have to face these dilemmas
(WHO, 1974). According to WHO alcoholism is the third major puller of mankind after Heart
Attack and Cancer and they pronounced it as a diseases in 1956. Though we know all these facts,
alcoholism was not considered a priority area with immense social and public health
consequences in our country. The earlier alcohol researches had referred only to prohibition.
(Encyclopaedia of Social Welfare in India, 1968). Research work in the field alcoholism started
sanctity in 1960s and most of the activities have been surveys of a specific target group, either in
terms of psychiatric morbidity or with regard to drug abuse in general, where alcohol has been
included as one of the incidental drugs.
Alcohol
The widely used and abuse drug among youth, causes services and potentially life
threatening problems for this population. Although alcohol is some time referred to as a ‘gate
way drug’ for youth because its use often precedes the use of other illicit substance, this
terminology is counterproductive. Youth drinks require significant attention, not because of what
its leads to but because of extensive human and economic impact of alcohol use by this
vulnerable population.
.
ALCOHOLIC CONSUMPTION IN KERALA
REASONS
Alcohol use is common across cultural groups and is an accepted part of adult hood. Alcohol is
widely consumed as a part of social gathering, festivals, and celebrations by many people of the
society. The socio cultural and socio economic and environmental factors also influence liquor
consumption. The alcoholic consumption of a person depends on various factors like level of
income, family background personnel problems etc….
FACTORS INFLUENCING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
A person’s consumption of alcohol are influenced by cultural, social, personnel, and
psychological factors.
CULTURAL FACTORS
Culture is the social heritage of the society. It is a set of values ideas and attitudes and other
symbols and objects created by people which shapes human behavior. According to Stanton,
Ethel and Walker “Culture is a set of symbols created by society and handed down from
generation to generation as determinants and regulators of human behavior”. Culture is the most
basic cause of a person want and behavior. Culture is restricted particular society and differs
from society to society. Culture is dynamic changing and adaptive overtime. As a result the value
and needs of the society change.
Subculture
It is a distinct cultural group having specific identification and mobilization existing within a
large culture. Sub cultures are culture within a culture. That have distinct values and life style.
SOCIAL FACTORS
Reference groups
A reference group is any set of individuals that influence another individual when he or she
makes decisions. Grope that have a direct influence on a person are called membership groups.
Some membership groups are primarily such as family, friends and coworkers with whom the
person interacts continuously and informally.
Family
A family is a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption living
together in a house. A household is a broader concept that relates to dwelling rather than a
relationship. In the modern world there are so many family problems and many of the family
members find the solution in the use of liquor or alcohol.
Status
Each role that a person plays has status , which is the relative prestige accorded by the degree
of influence an individual expects on the behavior and attitudes of these people buy and use
alcohol which reflect their status.
PERSONAL FACTORS
Occupation
People use alcohol which relates to their occupation. Very tough workers were using more
alcohol than white color job workers.
Income
Economists established a positive relationship between income and spending. When the income
of a person is increasing the use of alcohol is also gradually increasing.
Life styles
Life styles are defined as patterns in which people live as expressed by the manner in which they
spend money and time on various activities and interest’s .Life style is a function of our
motivation, attitudes and personality.
Psychological Factors
Motivation
Motivation is an inner drive to fulfill needs. A motive is a need sufficiently stimulated to
move an individual to seek satisfaction. Motives can be consciousness or unconsciousness
rational or emotional, positive or negative.
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE DRUNKARDS AND FAMILY
Alcoholism is characterized by an increased tolerance and physical dependence on
alcohol affecting an individual ability to control alcohol consumption safely. These
characteristics are believed to play a role in impending a drunkard’s ability to stop drinking.
Alcoholism can have adverse effects on mental health, causing psychiatric disorders and
increasing the risk of suicide.
Long term alcohol abuse can cause a number of symptoms including cirrhosis of the
liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, poly neuropathy, heart disease, and sexual dysfunction and can
eventually be fatal. Other physical effects include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and
cancer. Damage to the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system can occur from
sustained alcohol consumption. A wide range of immunologic defects can result and there may
be a generalized skeletal fragility, in addition to a recognized tendency to accidental injury
resulting a propensity to bone fractures.
Long term misuse of alcohol can cause a wide range of mental health problems serves
cognitive problems are common: approximating !0% of all dementia cause are related to alcohol
consumption making it the second leading cause of dementia Excessive alcohol use cause
damage to brain function , and psychological health can be increasingly affected overtime.
Social skills are significantly impaired in people suffering from alcoholism due to the
neurotoxic effects of alcohol on brain especially the prefrontal cortex area of brain. The social
skills that are impaired by alcohol abuse includes impairments in perceiving facial emotions
prosody perception the ability to understand humor is also impaired in alcohol abuse
Psychiatric disorders are common in alcoholics with as many as 25% suffering severe
psychiatric disturbances. The most prevalent disturbances is anxiety and depression disorders.
Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of committing criminal offences including
child abuse, violence, rape, burglary assault.
Alcoholism is associated with loss of employment which can lead to financial problems
drinking at inappropriate time and behavior caused by reduce judgment can lead to legal
consequences. Such as criminal charges for drunk driving or public disorder or civil penalties for
tortuous behavior and may lead to a criminal sentence.
An alcoholic’s behavior and mental impairment while drunk can profoundly affect those
surrounding and lead to isolation from family and friends this isolation lead to a marital conflict
and divorce and contribute to domestic violence. Alcoholism can also lead to child neglect with
subsequent lasting damage to the emotional development of alcoholic’s children. For this reason
children of alcoholic parents can develop number of emotional problems.The use of more and
more alcohol result to an unbalanced financial budget of every family. The drunkards also
destroy apeas able situation in their own family and problem arise in their relationship with their
wife and children.
The
paper
presents the first attempt systematically to assess the economic impacts of
alcoholism. In particular, the study could not produce actual quantitative estimates of the effects
of the alcoholism on the consumption pattern of the people for main two reasons. First, the
peoples consumption pattern and alcoholics consumptions are related in many ways. Second, for
a number of economic impacts of interest, the data available are simply not sufficient to arrive at
definitive conclusions with much certainty
REFERENCE
Deepika Publication (2002) Indian Health, Kerala Rastra Deepika. Ltd
Kothari, C.R (1999) Research Methodology: Methods and techniques; New Delhi,
M.G Gelder et.ei (2003) Oxford Text book of Psychiatry, New York, Oxford University
press
Piyush Gupta, Ghai O.P (2004), Text book of Preventive and Social Medicine, New
Delhi, CBS Publishers.
Shah, L.P, Hema Shah (1993),Hand book of Psychiatry, Bombay, Vora medicial
Publications.
