A STUDY ON ALCOHOLISM, IT’S EFFECTS AND REMEDIAL MEASURES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PEOPLE IN KANNUR AND KASARAGOD DISTRICTS OF NORTHERN KERALA

Human being is a social animal and enjoys life in the company of others. Apart from the basic needs like food, clothing and shelter there is need for pleasure, recreation and enjoyment. To cater this need he goes for other activities and alcohol drink. This attitude of human being is the reason for the emergence of alcohol drinking. Fermented drinks date back thousands of years. Although the exact nature of their original discovery remains open to speculation. Widespread use of alcohol has harmful effect on the physical and psychological health of alcoholics, their families, work place and the society at large. According to Mahatma Gandhiji, unless alcohol abuse is removed from our society, peace and happiness cannot be maintained among people. Abuse of alcohol in India has reached to majority of the population in many areas. Alcohol affects the body, mind, character, knowledge and economic status of the abuser. It is the cause of crimes, theft, murder, robbery, rape, road accidents and deadly diseases like cancer. In ancient times rishis also used intoxicated drinks for their happiness. Some writers, critics and poets cannot write without consuming alcohol Majority of the religions are against the consumption of alcohol. Famous Tamil poet Sri Thiruvallur and Kerala spiritual leader Sri Narayana Guru opined that alcohol is poison. Even science has established this fact. Communist thinkers have said that alcohol is the enemy of working class. Medical science has established that alcoholism is an illness which requires holistic treatment. But the administrators of the nations sidelined the genuine fact and considered the alcohol as a good source of income for the Government. They are directing the mankind to the wrong direction and alcoholism is spreading like an epidemic. At this juncture each individual, families and the society as a whole is in a state of dilemma. Recent trends in alcohol demand suggest that alcohol consumption is rising fast amongst developing countries in the Asian sub-continent, Latin America and the former Soviet Union. In India there has been a significant growth in recorded sales in the last two decades especially after trade liberalization. Analytical studies indicate that there is a strong link between alcohol consumption, crime, violence and alcohol related illness. Alcohol is harmful to the individual, his family and society at large. One’s body, mind, brain and spirit are destroyed due to the addiction to the alcohol. The over indulgence of alcohol are mainly caused by the stress of poverty in both rural and urban areas or by peer pressure particularly among the youth. Other causes include illiteracy, pressure of examinations for students or the wrong presumption that alcohol is good for health. If drastic actions are not taken to eradicate abuse of alcohol it will destroy our younger generations and thereby affecting the future generations. Conventional and complimentary therapies are available to treat alcoholism. They include psychotherapy, medically supervised detoxification and systematic management of withdrawal symptoms. Meditation is also used as therapy because of its effectiveness in supporting its long term recovery. Patients are encouraged to participate in twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous with spiritual input. of its effectiveness in supporting its long term recovery. Patients are encouraged to participate in twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous with spiritual input.