▋NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION. According to a 2008 survey in South Africa by the National Center for Biotechnology Information:
“Current alcohol use was reported by 41.5% of the men and 17.1% of women. White men (69.8%) were most likely and Indian/Asian women (15.2%) least likely to be current drinkers. Urban residents (33.4%) were more likely than rural dwellers (18.3%) to report current drinking. Risky or hazardous or harmful drinking was reported by 9%: 17% among men and 2.9% among women. In men, risky drinking was associated with: the 20-54 year age group; the Coloured population group; lower economic status; and lower education. Among women, risky drinking was associated with: urban residence; the Coloured population group; lower education; and higher income.
“Conclusion: An increase in current, binge drinking and hazardous or harmful drinking prevalence rates was observed from 2005 to 2008 in South Africa. Multilevel interventions are required to target high-risk drinkers and to create awareness in the general population of the problems associated with harmful drinking. Future prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of problem drinking.”
[Peltzer K, Davids A, Njuho P Alcohol Use and Problem Drinking in South Africa: Findings from a National Population-based Survey. National Center for Biotechnology Information/NIH National Library of Medicine (2008 Survey). Online 2011.
“Current alcohol use was reported by 41.5% of the men and 17.1% of women. White men (69.8%) were most likely and Indian/Asian women (15.2%) least likely to be current drinkers. Urban residents (33.4%) were more likely than rural dwellers (18.3%) to report current drinking. Risky or hazardous or harmful drinking was reported by 9%: 17% among men and 2.9% among women. In men, risky drinking was associated with: the 20-54 year age group; the Coloured population group; lower economic status; and lower education. Among women, risky drinking was associated with: urban residence; the Coloured population group; lower education; and higher income.
“Conclusion: An increase in current, binge drinking and hazardous or harmful drinking prevalence rates was observed from 2005 to 2008 in South Africa. Multilevel interventions are required to target high-risk drinkers and to create awareness in the general population of the problems associated with harmful drinking. Future prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of problem drinking.”
[Peltzer K, Davids A, Njuho P Alcohol Use and Problem Drinking in South Africa: Findings from a National Population-based Survey. National Center for Biotechnology Information/NIH National Library of Medicine (2008 Survey). Online 2011.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21509408/].
▋ALCOHOL USE & DISORDERS. According to the American Psychological Association:
“People with alcohol use disorders drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains alcohol problems and how psychologists can help people recover.
“While some research suggests that small amounts of alcohol may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, there is widespread agreement that heavier drinking can lead to health problems. Shortterm effects include memory loss, hangovers, and blackouts. Longterm problems associated with heavy drinking include stomach ailments, heart problems, cancer, brain damage, serious memory loss and liver cirrhosis.
“Heavy drinkers also markedly increase their chances of dying from automobile accidents, homicide, and suicide. Although men are much more likely than women to develop alcoholism, women's health suffers more, even at lower levels of consumption.
“Drinking problems also have a very negative impact on mental health. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can worsen existing conditions such as depression or induce new problems such as serious memory loss, depression or anxiety.
“Alcohol problems don't just hurt the drinker. Spouses and children of heavy drinkers may face family violence; children may suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and develop psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults.”
[Peter E. Nathan, PhD, John Wallace, PhD, Joan Zweben, PhD, and A. Thomas Horvath, PhD, Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment. American Psychological Association. Online 2012. https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction/alcohol-disorders].
“While some research suggests that small amounts of alcohol may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, there is widespread agreement that heavier drinking can lead to health problems. Shortterm effects include memory loss, hangovers, and blackouts. Longterm problems associated with heavy drinking include stomach ailments, heart problems, cancer, brain damage, serious memory loss and liver cirrhosis.
“Heavy drinkers also markedly increase their chances of dying from automobile accidents, homicide, and suicide. Although men are much more likely than women to develop alcoholism, women's health suffers more, even at lower levels of consumption.
“Drinking problems also have a very negative impact on mental health. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can worsen existing conditions such as depression or induce new problems such as serious memory loss, depression or anxiety.
“Alcohol problems don't just hurt the drinker. Spouses and children of heavy drinkers may face family violence; children may suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and develop psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults.”
[Peter E. Nathan, PhD, John Wallace, PhD, Joan Zweben, PhD, and A. Thomas Horvath, PhD, Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment. American Psychological Association. Online 2012. https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction/alcohol-disorders].
▋FORBES STATiSTA & DRUNK DRIVING. According to a 2016 survey by Forbes the world’s worst countries for drunk driving are as follows:
South Africa (58%); Canada (34%); United States (31%); Australia (30%); France (29%); Italy (25%); Northern Ireland* (17%); United Kingdom (16%); South Korea (14%); Germany (9%); Russia (9%); India (5%); China (4%).
*Northern Ireland: Global Status Report on Road Safety.
*Northern Ireland: Global Status Report on Road Safety.
▋ALCOHOL DRIVEN DEPRESSION. My personal (anecdotal) observations of and involvement in alcoholism in the family circle have led me to believe that side-effects of chronic alcohol-abuse & alcoholism (and the related assault on the liver and health in general ) associated with e.g., chronic beer-drinking also may cause the dehydration of the body and the depletion of precious anti-depression vitamins and minerals (Vitamin B complex, magnesium etc.) which (in turn) may cause the viscious cycle of:
Drinking > Depression > Drinking > Depression > REHAB!
Some say that alcohol is a great ‘stain remover’. It also may remove dad into rehab, mom back to mother, children into foster care and the refrigerator into pawn (or back to the dealer). DROP THE DEPRESSO!
Some say that alcohol is a great ‘stain remover’. It also may remove dad into rehab, mom back to mother, children into foster care and the refrigerator into pawn (or back to the dealer). DROP THE DEPRESSO!
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