In December, more alcohol is consumed than in any other month of the year. And every Christmas season, men, women and children suffer or die as a direct result of alcohol consumption. It is a high price to pay, especially when one considers the disruption of family life, motor vehicle accidents, crime, decreased productivity, and mental and physical diseases that result from intoxication.
Of course, it happens throughout the year as well, but it gets really bad during the 'silly season' - Christmas.
ALCOHOL IS A POISON
Chemically, alcohol is a toxic substance - a poison. People who consume alcohol are known to have increased risk of many diseases. These include cirrhosis of the liver, gastritis, stomach ulcers and pancreatitis. Even worse, alcohol makes you prone to several painful and often deadly cancers, such as stomach, throat, oesophagus and liver cancer.
Alcohol is particularly poisonous to the nervous system and causes disorders such as blackouts, seizures, tremors and neuritis. It is estimated that a single drink of alcohol results in the death of some 10,000 brain cells. Psychological and psychiatric disturbances are common. Finally, the foetal alcohol syndrome, now thought to be the most common cause of mental retardation, occurs only in the children of alcohol consumers. While it is true that some of these health problems occur primarily in heavy drinkers, any amount of alcohol may be hazardous to your health.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Albert B. Lowenfels, professor of surgery at New York Medical College, states that there is only one so-called 'health benefit' of alcohol consumption. He explains that drinking small amounts of alcohol may seem to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. But is this single questionable gain enough to balance the long list of alcohol-associated health problems? And, how small is small?
Recently, the medical profession and the media have been emphasising the 'health benefits' of red wine. Let us be very clear on this matter: The benefits of red wine are derived from a red pigment found in the skin of the red grape - Resveratrol. It does not come from the alcohol in the wine. To get the benefits suggested, it would be necessary to consume such vast quantities of red wine, that while you improve your heart and circulation, you may well be damaging your liver and brain. That said, red wine could be considered, (dare I say) - a healthier poison.
Remember also that alcohol is a carbohydrate full of 'empty calories'. A few drinks can easily sabotage your efforts to lose weight, especially since drinking alcohol often encourages excessive eating.
ADDICTIVE POISON
But not only is it a poison, it is also an addictive poison. The fact is, few drinkers consume small amounts of alcohol. The overall economic and social impact of alcohol addiction is much bigger than the other common social addictions.
According to a report prepared by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the cost of alcohol addiction for the year 1990 in the United States amounted to almost US$100 billion - higher than the estimated US$67 billion spent on illicit drugs and the US$72 billion spent on tobacco addicts. It would be very interesting to do an analysis of the cost of alcoholism to Jamaica.
Each year the cost increases as an unpredictable number of new alcohol consumers will eventually turn into heavy drinkers or become addicted to alcohol. Most disturbing is the increased levels of alcohol abuse among young people,
LADIES, WATCH OUT!
From statistics available, we know that there are more male than female drinkers. But as with smoking, more women are acquiring the habit. We also know that women are more likely to develop complications as a result of alcohol. These include cirrhosis of the liver, even if they consume smaller amounts of alcohol than their male counterparts.
MEN, BE WARNED!
Regular alcohol use is bad for your sex life. It can increase your levels of female sex hormones, shrink your testicles, enlarge your breasts, and negatively affect your sexual performance. As Shakespeare explained, 'Alcohol may increase the desire, but it detracts from the performance!'
THE REAL ANSWER
Alcoholism is classified as a disease and treated by conventional medicine by a variety of physical and psychological interventions. In my opinion, like other addictions, alcoholism is primarily a spiritual disorder and the solution is essentially spiritual. There is a world of difference between the religious and spiritual.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an organisation founded over 65 years ago with millions of members around the world with the greatest success in helping people recover from alcoholism. Their approach is essentially spiritual, but as stated in their preamble, they are "not allied with any sect, denomination, politics or organisation" and "have no opinion on outside matters". It has no dues or fees, no ceremonies, no trappings or laws. All members are equal, and all AA says is, "If you practise these principles in all your affairs, you will recover from this grave disease."
These principles are referred to as the Twelve Steps.
So successful has this approach been that at last count, there were about 300 other anonymous Twelve Steps self-help organisations dealing with every form of human suffering around the world.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism or other addictions, I strongly recommend that you contact one of these groups. This could be your greatest Christmas gift ever. They are listed in your phone book and are very confidential.
I take this opportunity to thank you, my readers, for the opportunity of serving you during 2006 and send you much love and blessings for Christmas and the New Year.
Email Dr. Anthony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com, visit the website www.anounceofprevention.org, or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on Power 106 FM on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
