In: Biology
A description of alcohol problem in the public health of the community.
public health concern about alcohol consumption and abuse. The discussion on the effects of alcohol on health and social well being is organized into two parts. The first part focuses on the dseases and injuries associated with alcohol use, and the ways its impact primarily falls on the individual. The second part focuses on the effects that extend beyond the individual to the family and community, through violence and the risk behaviors associated with alcohol.
Effects of Alcohol on Disease and Injury
The World Health Organization (WHO, 1999) has identified alcohol use as one of the major causes of the global disease burden, alcohol consumption as a continuum from abstinence to addiction, WHO recopzes two main patterns of drinking that have the greatest adverse effects on health: sustained moderate or heavy drinking over an extended period of time, and single or repeated episodc intoxication. An episode of intoxication resulting from a single dnnkmg occasion can impair an individual's health, as well as the social well being, through accidents, assaults, and injuries. Steady heavy drinking is associated with numerous chronic physical and mental health problems
Effect of Alcohol Use on Families and Communities
alcohol use has played a sipficant and integral role in many cultural and religious events and has also facilitated social interactions throughout human history, Physical abuse during chddhood has also been found to be the risk factor for becoming alcohol dependent as an adult. Ths highlights the intergenerational effect and the complex relationship between violence and alcohol abuse. alcohol plays an important role in instigating unsafe sex practices and violent behaviors, particularly within the family. A primary example is domestic violence, much of whch is du-ected against women and children.