Adverse Consequences of Alcohol Consumption: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Alcohol is a depressant drug which slows down the activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and cause health related problems associated with various positive and negative social experiences. It has both pharmacological and toxic effects on mind and other organs of the human body. In spite of the fact that alcohol is addictive and injurious to health, more than 2 billion chronic alcoholics prevail throughout the world and the number is alarmingly increasing with the addition of new drinkers including teenagers every year. At the same time, young women are found to be more vulnerable towards the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption due to their intrinsic physical differences than men. In recent years, a drinking culture has been socially accepted among the women and it is a matter of great concern among the health scientists. Alcoholism sees as the world’s highly prevalent public health problem and therefore it is a serious issue, not confined to any group, culture or country. In view of increasing incidences of alcohol consumption in India and other countries associated with health related and social problems, the present study is carried out to assess the consumption pattern of alcohol in a selected population and try to understand the ill-effects of this social malice on the drinker’s social behavior.