SHILLONG, MAY 3: Seventy percent out of hundred people living in Meghalaya have alcoholic problem, sixty percent in Assam and fifty-five percent in mainland India revealed a study conducted on random basis. The revelation was made by renowned Mumbai based psychiatrist Dr. AL Deshpande, who is on the expert panel of Aamir Khan popular TV programme “Satyamev Jayate.”
What is shocking is that the report also revealed that women are more vulnerable to alcohol related problem.
Deshpande, who is also an ex-class trustee of Alcohol Anonymous (AA) of India, revealed this shocking statistic during the one-day seminar on “Presentation on alcoholism and AA as a Resource for Help” held at Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) on Friday. He was the chief resource person.
The seminar was organized by the Alcoholic Anonymous Foundation Group, Shillong and saw active participation from students and people from different walks of life during the interactive session.
Deshpande said, “Alcohol related problems are also much higher in women compared to men as they are more vulnerable and the tendency of becoming alcoholic is high due to what is called ‘hidden-drinking’ habits.”
Deshpande also felt that the uncheck and increasing sale of illegal liquor pose a great challenge to come to the correct figure of the actual liquor consumption percentage in the region. He said, “The illegal sell of liquor in the region is four or five times higher than that of the legal alcohol sold in the open market compared to all India which is only 3 times.”
According to statistic in 2002, India sold around 50 million liters of beers while the quantity increases in 2005 to more than 120 million litres.”
Deshpande also said that one of the reason for high consumption of liquor in north eastern region is because “alcohol consumption is part of the customary practices of the tribal.”
Deshpande said that the alcoholism is responsible for one-third of suicide cases, sixty per cent head injuries, eighty percent of emergencies related cases and forty percent job absentees are associated with this problem that serious affects the society.
With 15 years of experience of working in the field of alcoholism Dr Deshpande said alcoholism is a ‘disease’ and not a disgrace or bad habit but requires adequate treatment and support system.
Saying that it is best to avoid alcohol, Despande described alcoholism as a slow poison that kills gradually, affects the alcoholic relationship with his relatives and society.
Despandee said that more than 30 lakhs people across the world have given up and recovered from the problems of alcoholism He said of the 40,000 people who have recovered from the alcohol problem in India, 80 people are from Shillong and only 15 are from Guwahati .-
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