ALCOHOL IN OUR SOCIAL ENVIROMENT

     Alcohol consumption is a problem that we must take into consideration, especially when it’s about teenagers! Contrary to the common opinion, youngsters can become alcohol addicts much faster than adults do. The earlier they start drinking, the bigger becomes the risk of becoming alcoholics. Why? Because youngsters have much lower body weight, the quantity of alcohol in blood increases much faster, so they get intoxicated faster than adults, with less alcohol.

     The statistics are worrying. One out of 13 persons is suspected of alcoholism. A few million people drink too much and risk to become alcohol addicts. The custom to drink is a serious problem. The excessive consumption of alcohol seriously jeopardizes our health and it is responsible for 80% of suicide cases, 50% of crimes, 30% of fatal car accidents and 15% of drowning cases. It is also one of the factors in one out of three divorce cases and one out of three child abuse cases.

     Alcohol consumers have become in the last years the centre of attention, especially because of the information resulted from various analyses that say that alcohol, if it is consumed in moderate quantities, seems to have a positive effect on the human body. Most of people consume alcohol in different quantities at different times, only 10% of them never consume alcohol in most countries of the world.

     Problems concerning alcohol consumption have become to be considered mental illnesses, due to which OMS, OIM, UN, UNESSCO are more and more unanimous with the priorities of dealing with this problem.

     Alcohol consumption can develop liver failure, can affect in a negative way unborn children and is correlated with breast cancer, mouth cancer, esophagus cancer, pharynx cancer and larynx cancer. High alcohol consumption has been associated with poor sexual performance, dementia and muscular degeneration.

     There is the false idea that alcohol helps when you are depressed, when you have a problem it makes you forget about it. This opinion is totally wrong. Alcohol doesn’t help, it is actually a substance that makes a depress person feel even worse, lose control and do unwilling, violent even fatal deeds. Alcohol destroys a man personality and affects its social relationships with those around him.

     From the point of view of the relationships with other people, the alcohol consumer may isolate himself, may hide from others to drink, becomes furious, sad or irritated after he had drunk, he feels guilty or depresses of his behavior when he drinks, doesn’t participate at social activities, or is marginalized by other people. Among the teenagers, alcohol consumption is a sign of manhood and maturity. Very soon, it may become an addiction which others condemn and thus marginalize the drinker.

     Being avoided by his friends and being unhappy with himself, the young man will avoid talking about his problem and many times won’t admit that he has a problem.