This document discusses alcohol use and alcoholism in India. Some key points: - 13% of Indians aged 15-55 are habitual alcohol users, and 17.4% of total users are dependent on alcohol. Alcohol related deaths account for 3.2% and accidents 24%. - Common types of alcohol in India include whisky, brandy, rum, vodka, gin, beers, wine, arrack, toddy and illicit drinks. - Reasons for alcohol consumption include biological, psychological and social factors like genetics, stress, peer pressure and culture of drinking. - Heavy drinking can cause physical, sexual and emotional harm to others. Dependence develops within 6-10 years of continuous use

1. Alcohol
Dr.Sashidhar M.D

2. Problem
• Alcohol use in India-13% -
• 9% in 15-55 age group are habitual alcohol users
• dependence – 17.4% of total users
• Deaths – 3.2 %
• Accidents – 24 %
• 1/3 rd of users have alcohol disorders
• 20-30 % Hospital admissions due to alcohol related problems

3. Types
• Indian made foreign liquors: Whisky, Brandy, Rum, Vodka &
Gin Imported Liquor (BIO-Bottled in Place of Origin)
• Beers (different strengths)
• Wine
• Country liquor is manufactured in government-licensed
factories, commonly called arrack and toddy
• illicit drinks are illegal, but consumed widely (hooch)

4. REASONS FOR ALCOHOL
CONSUMPTION
• BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Genetic risk, physical dependence
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
Curiosity, poor stress control, boredom, escape from reality, poor
impulse control, low self-esteem, positive attitudes toward alcohol
• SOCIAL FACTORS
Peer pressure, modeling, easy availability of alcohol, culture of drinking
in family and society

5. How heavy drinking harms other persons?
• Physical harm- 25%
• Sexual harm – 6%
• Emotional harm & neglect- 50%

6. Dependence
6 years is the duration of alcohol for appearance of first criteria for
dependence
Dependence develops in 10 years of continuous use

7. The changing patterns of alcohol consumption
• Emergence of wine and beer drinking
• Increase in drinking among women
• Early experimentation and decreasing age of initiation
• Shift from urban to rural areas and transitional towns
• More “binge drinking”
• Greater acceptability of drinking as an accepted social norm
Alcohol use combined with other high-risk behaviours

8. Spectrum of alcohol use
• Harmful use
A pattern of alcohol use that is causing damage to health. The damage
may be physical (as in cases of hepatitis from prolonged use of
alcohol) or mental (e.g. episodes of depressive disorder secondary to
heavy consumption of alcohol).

9. The impact of alcoholism
• Individuals spent more than they earned
• Most people took loans to support their habit
• Average of 12.2 working days were lost
• 18.1% lost their jobs in one year
• 59.4% families were supported by income from other family
• members
• 9.7% sent children under 15 to work to supplement family
• income

10. The effects of increasing blood alcohol concentration on the
central nervous system
• 20 to 30 mg / dl- Slow motor responses and decreased thinking ability
• 30 to 80 mg /dl -Increase in motor and cognitive problems
• 80 to 200 mg / dl -Definite impairment of motor co-ordination and judgment,
fluctuations in mood and increased risk taking behaviour
• 200 to 300 mg /dl- Marked slurring of speech, inability to carry outsimple tasks
• > 300 mg /dl Loss of consciousness, convulsions and possible death

13. Adverse consequences of alcohol use
• Heartburn, nausea and gastritis
• Malabsorption syndromes
• Worsens complications of diabetes
• Anaemia
• unsafe sex leading to Sexually Transmitted Diseases most importantly
HIV
• Reduces sexual capacity
• Increases risk of seizures

14. • Addiction and alcohol dependence
• Depression, anxiety, suicide and other psychiatric symptoms
• Problems in the workplace
• Abuse of other substances including tobacco
• Problems with family members
• Fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis
• Alcoholic pancreatitis
• Cardio-vascular effects include: poor BP control, increased
cerebral haemorrhage and strokes, cardiac enlargement and
failure, and arrhythmias

15. • Reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections
• Damages to the musculo-skeletal system
• Impaired sleep and memory
• Polyneuropathy
• Delirium tremens, Wernicke’s encephalopathy and

16. • can lower the number of injuries and sick days.
• lower your blood pressure, levels of fat called triglycerides, and
chances of heart failure
• our liver can repair itself and even regenerate. So it’s always worth
drinking less or quitting
• Weight reduction
• let you focus on your relationships, work, and health. It also may ease
any depression and anxiety and elevate your self-esteem.

17. • quitting alcohol lowers your chances for cancer
• Better sleep/ quality of sleep improves
• Improves your immunity- less sickness
• Lowers Blood pressure
• Improves memory and perception

18. When a physically dependent subject stops drinking, withdrawal
syndrome appears within a day
• Severity depends on duration and quantity of alcohol consumed
Anxiety
• Sweating
• Tachycardia
• Tremor
• Impairment of sleep
• Confusion
• In spite of best efforts if you fail
don’t get disheartened seek
help of Psychiatrist @VSGH