Alcohol has been a problem for many Kenyan youths who run to it expecting to find solace and happiness but on the contrary, it has cost some of them their lives.
Doctors say that over consumption of alcohol causes a large number of deaths in the world and Kenya is no exception, adding that it also causes various health problems to the victim.
Experts say that alcoholics start small and grow into heavy drinkers due to addiction where it becomes a problem to stop. Counselors and medics agree that alcoholism is a sickness like any other disease and an alcoholic will go to any length to get the drink, even if it means selling their belongings, in total disregard on the effect on their health and lives.
Alcohol has also been a cause of families’ break-ups sometimes due to the male inability to meet his family obligations. Scientists say that alcohol over-consumption leads to damage of the central nervous system hence leading to lack of sexual desires and impotence in men.
According to a review done in 2009, the net effect of alcohol consumption on health is detrimental, with an estimated 3.8 percent of all global deaths and 4.6 per cent of global disability.
Nonetheless, alcohol has also been blamed as a big cause of the rise in the spread of HIV and AIDs and other social evils in the society where researchers say that a drunk person is sometimes not in the right frame of mind to make a sound decision.
Doctors say alcohol abuse is associated with widespread and significant brain lesions (injuries). They say alcohol-related brain damage is not only due to the direct toxic effects of alcohol but also alcohol withdrawal, nutritional deficiency, electrolyte disturbances, and liver damage.
This could be the reason as to why the people who are heavy drinkers forget things easily and also one of the reasons a drunkard can be involved in bestiality since the brain is not functioning as normally. Researchers have said that it is wrong for a person to take alcohol to boost their confidence in the public as it has its side effects in case of a long-term misuse.
It is said this could worsen social phobia symptoms and could also cause panic disorder. Excessive alcohol intake is associated with impaired prospective memory. This problem makes one to procrastinate (to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness, or, to postpone or delay needlessly) and that is why you will find that a person forgets to do a simple duty such as zipping their trouser.
The government efforts to fight alcohol abuse should be lauded by all as a society whose people are affected negatively by alcohol cannot move forward. People affected by this problem need our empathy and support to recover. These patients need understanding and support of the whole family as they undergo rehabilitation to recover from the problem.
Doctors too should be extensively involved to restore their health and also help them deal with withdrawal symptoms which often kill the victim if not dealt with.