Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
Margaret J. Moschak’s My Alcoholic, My Love talks about leaving an alcoholic you love, and when there is no breakthrough, it is sometimes the best thing to do for you and your loved one.
Alcohol is the most widespread toxic and psychoactive substance in the world, with many societies including it as typical fare in social and cultural routines. Perhaps that is why some people tend to overlook the effects of alcohol in the broader community. Alcoholism is a social problem.
Still, alcoholism is a critical issue, with more than 14 million U.S. adults diagnosed with dysfunction with alcohol.
Contrary to what many non-experts say, alcoholism is not merely a personal problem; its effects are not confined to the alcoholic but encompass a wider net of interpersonal relationships. Alcohol abuse destroys friendships and families, the damages reverberating through societies and communities.
Alcohol, especially constantly consumed, dramatically diminishes a person’s mental capacity, usually dampening their ability to reason while confusing their capacity for judgment and self-restraint. This lowering of cognitive acuity impedes one’s faculties for decision-making, removes whatever inhibitions, magnifies threat-seeking behavior, and reduces risk management.
Due to certain chemicals found in alcohol, normal brain function is disrupted, and the mechanisms that regulate behavior are weakened–this creates an imbalance in the mental physiology of an individual, affecting emotional states and intensifying the chances of aggressive or reactionary outbursts.
These factors, when taken together, boost the odds of an individual engaging or initiating violence, whether emotional or physical. On a larger level, this is why alcoholism should be a social problem.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 3 million deaths that can be attributed to alcohol consumption, which is a staggering number, considering the general populace overlooks it. Harmful alcohol use dramatically contributes to violence across the board. WHO notes that alcohol consumption is linked to 35% of violent assault perpetrators.
How Alcohol is a Social Problem
There is a pattern to consuming alcohol, and whether binge drinking or dinnertime jubilees, the more frequently and compulsively one consumes alcohol, the more one invites toxicity inside their body. Alcohol is a pollutant that distorts the chemicals in the body. It leads to an imbalance that exacerbates or actuates any number of physical and mental debilitations.
Health Problems Associated with Alcoholism
The impact of these impairments and conditions is considerable and extensive, so much so that it is a significant public health concern that society must address and seriously consider.
Alcohol abuse is related to unintentional bodily harm, unexpected pregnancies, cancers in the throat, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast, a medley of illnesses in the liver, cardiovascular complications, strokes, withdrawal seizures, digestive issues, and a range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
How a Social Problem like Alcohol Affects Suicide
The risk of suicide is exponentially increased when alcohol is involved. According to a 2016 study by SAMHSA, 22% of all suicide deaths in the U.S. involve alcohol intoxication.
A 2009 CDC report explains this fact as the result of alcohol’s impact on the mental state of an individual. This aggravates and compounds feelings of depression and anxiety, furthering disinhibition and participation in negative behavior. These symptoms increase impulsiveness and hamper critical thinking skills, damaging interpersonal relationships.
Alcohol is a Social Problem and How a Community Can Fix It
The myriad problems associated with alcohol and alcoholism can all be scaled down when governments and communities attempt to address the root of the problem. Policies that local or national administrations can implement might include:
- Market regulation of alcohol and related beverages (especially with youths of non-legal age);
- restriction of alcohol to designated locations;
- better policies when it comes to drunk driving;
- increased taxation of alcoholic substances;
- encourage awareness of alcohol’s debilitating effects;
- accessible and affordable healthcare for alcoholics;
- and implementation of intervention programs.
My Alcoholic, My Love: My Love And Loss of an Alcoholic Husband
In Margaret J. Moschak’s My Alcoholic, My Love, a harrowing and heartbreaking account of leaving an alcoholic you love, she portrays how alcohol abuse can shut down contact with a broader community and blind you from a partner’s destructive tendencies. She tells readers how, sometimes, just leaving is the best decision for both yourself and the family around you.
Learning to Step Away from Alcohol
Of course, the best policy to fix alcoholism comes from the individual. Whatever is done, it is always better to improve yourself and show your willingness to change rather than slip back into destructive habits.
Remember, alcoholism is a social problem and you are not alone; the people around you want to help you.
Click this link to get professional help.
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