Alcoholism

You drink a glass of milk every day before going to bed. You won’t increase to 5 liter of milk after few years. And one day if you don’t get milk, you aren't going to suffocate because of not having it. It’s not the same with alcohol. Your dose/amount of drinking alcohol goes on increasing day by day. And if you don’t get a drink one day, you’re going to get mad for it. You would do anything to get it. Drinking a glass of milk every day before going to bed is a habit. Doing the same with alcohol is a DISEASE. You or one of your family member drinks regularly. Don’t think it’s a bad habit it’s a bad disease called ‘alcoholism’ or ‘alcohol dependence syndrome’.

Alcoholism, which means uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, has become the single biggest medical and social problem in our society today. Most of us deny and hide about our (sometimes family member’s) alcohol consumption. We hide it because of the shame or stigma or may be any other thing. But in reality, it’s a disease which needs help.

Why do we drink?
Common answers to this question is to enjoy, to socialize, to relax, to forget pain, it tastes good, its cultural etc. mostly people drink hazardously to escape from a situation. We have to understand that alcohol is not a solution for any fear, trouble, loneliness, break ups, failures, divorces or anything. After being drunk, one can sing, dance, purpose his gf, look cool and glamorous only in movies. In reality the repeating words, wobbling and shaking walk, slobbering saliva makes you look more terrible than anything else. Accidents by drunk drivers have injured and killed themselves as well as many innocent pedestrian. Thanks to Drunk-Driving (मा.प.से.) campaign in Kathmandu which has decreased accidents hugely. Cases related to accidents by alcohol abuser have decreased by about 80% in Patan Hospital Emergency department (this is an expert opinion not a result of systematic research).

Do you really drink (or alcohol drinks you) ? Think.
It’s best if you don’t. If you do, drink responsibly. Your health, economic status, family is always of greater importance than drinking. Do consider, are you drinking alcohol or alcohol is drinking you. The permitted amount of drinking is two pegs (30ml each) of whisky or one glass of wine or a bottle of beer in maximum. Drinking this amount over two hours or more can be considered social drinking and non-hazardous. Remember: you are still not fit for driving. Never cross this limit. If you have crossed these limits, you might now need help. How?? I will explain.

There are no laboratory investigations to diagnose if you are an alcoholic. To know, if you are an alcohol dependent, here is an easy way. Ask yourself following 4 questions. (Remember acronym CAGE)

1. Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking ['रक्सी-खान काम गर्नुपर्छ' भनेर सोच्नु भएको छ?]
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? [पिउने बानीको कसैले आलोचना गर्दा रिस उठ्छ?]
3. Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking? [ बढी पिउछु भनेर ग्लानी महसूस हुन्छ?]
4. Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener)? [बिहान उठ्ने बितिकै दिन सुरु गर्न रक्सी चाहिन्छ?]

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘Yes’ than your drinking has already crossed the limits. Now you need to stop drinking. Take actions immediately. Throw all the bottles in your house. You can welcome your guests with juice or coffee. Stop staying alone which create environment of drinking. Develop habit of saying ‘No’ to an offer/plan of drinking. A problem with alcoholics is, one can quit drinking but cannot stay quitted. They restart. Thus they need help. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings helps alcoholics to achieve sobriety. The AA meeting held -

• every Tuesday and Friday for males  and 
• every Wednesday for females.

It is held from 4 pm to 6 pm at Patan Hospital. You can directly join them in front of room number 26 inside hospital building. Other option at Patan Hospital is ‘Alcohol Clinic’ run by Professor Katrina every Wednesday from 12 to 1 pm at Chronic Care Clinic room inside hospital building. You can join this clinic by contacting at counter number 1 of Patan Hospital. There are many other places in Kathmandu where AA meetings take place. You can join any of them.

In the end, recently we were given a project work to increase awareness about hazardous drinking. We gave lecture, played games, distributed leaflet etc. for that. Let me share that leaflet. If you know someone who needs help, Come on for a noble job. Print this leaflet and give him. 

Page:5                                                                                                                                  Page:6                                                                                                                                  Page:1

 Page:2                                                                                                                                 Page:3                                                                                                                               Page:4   

Leaflet prepared by: Sudhan Devkota

There are many many charms and excitement of life. To enjoy those you need to be alive. Don’t let alcohol kill you. Put the bottle down now and forever.