PROLIFERATION OF ALCOHOLISM, A NEW FOUND RELIGION-(DROWING IN THE PASSION OF ALCOHOL)

Everyone talks about culture and it seems we only talk about the positive sides of it. One of the inimical aspects of culture we’ve been nursing and nurturing for some time now is alcoholism. 

The proliferation of numerous alcoholic breverages does not help matters. There is an “Akpeteshie” joint in every corner in Ghana. There is no where you would turn to without finding such stalls, with “service Providers” briskly providing service to their “loyal” customers.

In recent times, I’ve watched with keen interest the enthusiastic and aura filled alcohol adverts on our screens. I must admit that the marketers of these products do their jobs pretty well, considering how they are easily able to capture the cream of their targets through the, humor, wit, sarcasm and perhaps comedy they portray in their adverts.

Take for instant the cargo advert, one couldn’t help but laugh at the obviously interesting scenes which were ingenuously created. A fat looking lady shaking her mountainous ass and a Chinese man who couldn’t resist such an enormous and mesmerizing figure, propelling a sudden earthquake just by jumping, not forgetting the unfettered laughter of the Chinese man. Whatever that means, it sort of attracted a lot of people.

The “Pusher” advert to an extent has the same theme as Cargo gin bitters. Other “contemporary” alcoholic gin bitters, which have enjoyed massive patronage and airtime play, include Atinka Coffee Gin bitters, Agya Appiah bitters, Kasapreko K20, Kasapreko Alomo Bitters, Barons dry gin etc.

What is worth noting however is that these adverts are pivoted around “half naked” girls and since they know that the youth are much interested in such lasciviousness, it doesn’t take long before their set objective is achieved.

Alcohol according to credible research is known to contribute significantly to acute health related problems. Upon a detailed and comprehensive research and analysis, I chanced upon what I think would be of strategic relevance to “up and coming Alcoholics” and others “already living the dream” about the dangers of alcoholism and its abuse.

• Serious liver problems (alcoholic liver disease).
• Some stomach disorders.
• Pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas).
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
• Sexual difficulties such as impotence.
• Muscle and heart muscle disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Damage to nervous tissue.
• Accidents - drinking alcohol is associated with a much increased risk of accidents. In particular, injury and death from fire and car crashes. About 1 in 7 road deaths are caused by drinking alcohol.
• Some cancers (mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast).
• Obesity (alcohol has many calories).
• Damage to an unborn baby in pregnant women.
• Alcohol dependence (addiction).

According to research, Alcohol is a toxic substance for the body’s cells. It works as a poison for the cells having a hygroscopic effect, which eventually leads to total cell destruction.

Consequently, alcohol is a stress factor for the entire body causing an increased blood pressure. High amounts of substances like sugar, lipids and cortisone are released into the bloodstream.

Also, blood tests on alcoholics or “friends of the bottle” indicates lack of Calcium, vitamin D and phosphates, which increases the propensity of “bone fractures”.

The body uses big amounts of energy to eliminate the alcohol. This energy is usually used by the body's organs to function normally. The liver uses more than 80 percent of its available oxygen to metabolize the alcohol. The alcohol becomes a "metabolic paralizer".

The cardiac and cerebral cells are seriously affected by the alcohol because these cells also use a high amount of oxygen.

According to a 2005 study by Kenneth J. Mukamal, M.D. and colleagues published in the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine," consumption of more than two drinks per day may be associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke, which is an interruption of blood flow to the brain.

 Consistent and unabated intake of alcohol increases the risk of Liver Leucosis which are usually diagnosed very late. Increased alcohol consumption propels an additional catabolic mechanism of the alcohols called (Microtonal Ethanol Oxidation System). This explains why it’s very addictive.

Pancreatic Infections eventually leads to diabetes. Furthermore, alcohol consumption increases the risk of Oesthogian Cancer, i.e. Oral Laryngeal, Intestinal Cancer and breast cancer among Women.

In females, consistent intake of alcohol could damage the fetus (Alcoholic embriopathy).

The most delicate and perhaps sensitive organ of the body, which stands a great risk of permanent destruction and total chaos, is the brain, because an incessant intake of alcohol actually mars the degeneration of the nervous cells.

Each time you drink, thousands of nervous cells are destroyed initiating another disastrous ailment namely, “Organic Phychosyatrom”.

A 2003 Meta analysis by Kristi Reynolds and colleagues in the Journal of American Association stipulates that “Heavy drinking boosts the relative risk of stroke.

Taking alcohol is that risky and can actually be a matter of buying one’s own death. I can’t help but think about the folks, (the youth and women inclusive) in my village, who have gradually turned “alcoholism” into a sought of cult, a religion they’ve become so obsessed with.

Some people can drink so much that a mere sipping of a glass of water could make them drunk. They take alcohol like water, and they think it’s funny. They are always drunk, and so their actions are not predetermined by their own thoughts and intents. The alcohol is their “lawyer”. What a pathetic malice, that one could inflict on himself!!!

Drunkards give so much reverence to alcohol, to the extent that they knock on the door of sellers as early as 5:00 am to “break the fast”.

It’s stupefying to note that alcohol could be so disastrous but people continue to abuse this drug without thinking about how inimical it would be to their health. In Ghana, we don’t even take 45% or 11%, which are very high levels of Alcoholic content in themselves. We rather take the revered “painyin de painyin”, aka spirit, bka Akpeteshie, which I consent could contain 99.9% alcohol. That’s what people wash their mouth with, party with and enjoy with.

So this is just it, if you are sipping down the “toxic spirit”, be conscious of the fact that you are just inviting afflictions and more or less incurable diseases to yourself, and when your liver, pancreas, brain, nervous system, kidney and other delicate organs in your body begin to shred like beef, then you shouldn’t forget how intentionally oblivious you were of the dangers associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse and be mindful of the adage that says “smart people learn from their mistakes and the wise ones learn from the mistake of others”