Hello Harriet, my initial adventure of stealing a bottle of beer in the fridge is gradually becoming a habit which I don’t like. Please explain my situation to me better may be it will, aid me to put an end to it. Basil O. (16 year) Port Harcourt.
It starts of course with experimentation. A preteen or teen discovers a bottle of beer/wine in the refrigerator or is induced to sample beer/ wine at a friend’s house. Many teenagers after such experimentation find their curiosity satisfied and thereafter abstain from alcohol. Others however, continue to drink; sharing a few bottles when they are out on events or sneaking a few swigs from the bottle of wine/champagne in the refrigerator. Some of those become problem drinkers, occasionally drinking to get drunk, perhaps even driving while intoxicated. Still others succumb to alcoholism. However it is very important to know the causes of alcohol use and abuse; complex problems rarely have simple causes and alcoholism is a complex problem. Mental health and health care professional differ as to the primary causes of alcoholism, but the following are generally acknowledged as factors; Physiology; Many studies support the view that alcoholism springs from a physiological source. That is some people possess an inborn predisposition towards alcoholism. This predisposition may never be discovered in people who never experiment with alcohol; but for physiological reasons, those who do will experience a different reaction to alcohol than many of their friends. Another aspect is background; Gary Collins a psychologist points to three factors that can affect the likelihood of alcoholism: Parental models, parental attitudes and cultural expectations. Parent models; children look up to their parents so how parents behave often influences the subsequent attitude of children. When parents drink excessively or abuse drugs, children sometimes vow to completely abstain. More often, however, they follow the parental example. It has been estimated that “without intervention, 40 to 60 percent of children of alcoholic parents become alcoholic themselves.” Parental attitude: parental permissive and parental rejection can both stimulate chemical use and abuse. When parents don’t care whether or not the children drink, there is no concern about the dangers of drugs or alcohol and misuse often follows. Culture expectations: if a culture or subcultural group has clear guidelines about the use of alcohol or drugs, abuse is less likely. In some culture young people are allowed to drink not to get drunk, while to some getting” high” is the in thing to do, conditions are set up which led many to alcohol) abuse. Outside influences;among other factors to alcoholism is the influence of outside forces such as a dysfunctional family environment, peer pressure and stress without becoming alcoholics, but these are among the factors that can influence a young person’s abuse of alcohol.Furthermore, the effects of alcohol use and abuse are also very vital, that we cannot overlook. Many people assume they know the effects of alcoholism so they really don’t need somebody telling them, drunkenness and debauchery. Such an assumption, however, is not only incomplete, it is incorrect. A drunken person is not always an alcoholic and some alcoholics are seldom visibly drunk. There are, however, some effects of alcoholism that can generally apply. Anguish; alcoholics frequently experience a combination of physical and mental pain that can only be characterize as anguish. The alcoholic wonders if he or she is going crazy, fearing that he or she has lost control- or will soon. The alcoholic becomes intensely frustrated about his life. Some have all sort of stuff going through their mind and they say different things as well. Some cut across bitter with life as if they are been punish by God. It is a whole lot. Steve Arterburn, the author of “Growing up Addicted” says “it is as if a big black cloud of everything negative and unpleasant about life is hovering over the alcoholic” Another effect is confusion and disorientation; the alcoholic will experience a variety of mental effects. An intelligent student for example may find it difficult or impossible to focus her mind. She may routinely forget names, dates, details, and appointments. He/she may even experience occasional blackouts. A blackout is not to be confused with passing out, is a state in which a person who appears to be functioning consciously and normally cannot later recall anything that happened during the blackout period. The blackout is considered by many experts to be a primary indicator of alcoholism. More so is the issue of losing control; according to author Steve Arterburn, he regards loss of control as a classical indicator for alcoholism. He stated that “loss of control is characterized by the ability to predict the drinking behaviour once drinking has begun. It doesn’t mean that a person can’t stop drinking for two or three weeks. When the drinking does begin, the desired two drinks become the uncontrollable twenty…….( It) also refers to the inability to control emotions …………..the alcoholic may find himself or herself breaking into tears or uproarious laughter at inappropriate times”
To be continued.
