Today, most young people are no longer inhibited about drinking and have accepted alcohol as a part of their lifestyle. Globalisation, easy access and availability of alcohol, disposable incomes starting early with youth and a social acceptance value together have made young adults drink more regularly than ever. Studies also show that India has over 70 million alcohol users (excluding social drinkers) of whom more than 12 million are alcohol dependent. A majority of these alcohol dependents are in the age group of 18-28 years.
What exactly is alcoholism or alcohol dependency?
Alcoholism can be described as a chronic disease including uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. People who get under the clutches of alcoholism are unable to control drinking because of a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.
Impact of Alcoholism on youth
Alcoholism, physiologically, can potentially trigger over 60 diseases including those of the heart, liver (cirrhosis) and the brain. On a social level, it can create problems emotionally, psychologically, sexually, legally and economically for addicts. This further creates difficulty in relationships with families and others connected to those addicted to alcohol.
Alcoholism at best is not helpful to anybody. At work, alcoholism can induce hangovers, regular absenteeism, occupational injuries and accidents leading to reduced productivity, social withdrawal, and eventually job loss. On a personal relationships level, these can make an alcoholic suicidal, perpetuate household and societal violence and even commit crime.
How do you recognise you have an alcohol dependency?
For most people, alcoholism gets triggered by ‘social drinking’ (drinking alcohol only on specific occasions). While for teenagers and young adults drinking alcohol starts off mainly due to peer pressure. As time progresses, an individual may gradually lose control over the amount and frequency of drinking.
And contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol is not just for boys and men. Girls and women also engage in social drinking and could be end up being alcoholics too. Across India, women who drink irrespective of their socio-economic class are plenty.
How do you recognise if your son or daughter is alcoholic?
As a parent or a guardian, it is normal to be concerned if your son or daughter is behaving strangely in their teenage years or young adulthood.
Some warning signs to look for:
Behavioural signs of alcohol abuse
Psychological warning signs of alcohol or drug abuse
What not to do if your child is an alcohol addict?
If you recognise any of the signs above in your son and daughter, here are some things you should avoid:
Seek professional help
Alcohol addiction can lead a family to breaking point, creating instability at home, the family unit, mental health, physical health and finances. It is better to intervene and help your daughter or son recover from this debilitating disease by engaging with professionals. If you are looking for help, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact form or calling us on +91 96111 94949.
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