AN INSIGHT INTO FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY AMONG PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL DEPENDENT SYNDROME (ADS) – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Alcohol consumption has been steadily increasing in developing countries including India since 1980s. Recently among various strata of society there is increasing social acceptance of alcohol intake. In India, no reliable data about the extent of the public health problems due to alcoholism and various socio-demographic factors responsible are available.
AIM: To study the Socio-demographic factors among people with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) undergoing treatment at large tertiary Hospital of India
METHODS: A cross-sectional hospital based descriptive study was carried out for duration of 6 months and all the admitted patients with ADS were taken into the study. A total of 75 people with ADS consented to be part of the study and were included in the study. Data was collected by means of personal interview method with the help of pre-tested questionnaire.
RESULTS:
30.6% of persons with ADS were of age group 35-39 years, while 29% were of 30-34 Years. 86.6% had family income of <20,000/- while 12 % had between 20,000-30,000/- and only 1.3% had family income above 30,000/-.As per education status is considered 34.6% had primary education, 36% secondary education, 17.3% had higher secondary and 11.9% had undergone graduation.82.6% belong to rural areas.
28 % had upto 3 siblings, 29% had 4-5 siblings and 42% had more than 6 siblings.15.6 % had history of alcohol intake in their family. 30 % say that they started drinking when away from family. 57.3% said that they started drinking at the age of 20-24 years while 25% told that they started at 25-29 years. The main reasons for starting alcohol were to be social (66.6%), to relieve stress (30.6%) and to improve work (2.6%). 76 % said that they usually drink outside i.e.., hotels while 24% drink at home.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study clearly shows the effects of family history, age of onset, loneliness, socialism, low income, education and effect of family size on the severity of alcoholism. Intensive educational programs for school children and campaign for general public through most common mass-media technology would be most effective. An proactive approach by motivating alcohol addicted parents to join drug de-addiction center for de-addiction will go a long way to save their children from becoming alcohol dependent.