I read these quotes in the Independent
Doctors warn that conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver are now starting to appear in people who are still in their teens
British children were more at risk from alcohol, drugs and unsafe sex than any other wealthy country in the world.
UN Report
alcohol abuse accounted for more than 8,600 hospital admissions of under-16s last year - the highest ever and a 37 per cent rise on five years ago
The IoS investigation
"Hospital statistics grossly underestimate the number of young people drinking alcohol in ways that will damage their health. We are in danger of creating a generation permanently scarred by alcohol."
Professor Mark Bellis, the Government's leading public health adviser on alcohol.
(Me)
This is SO depressing. There is SO much work to do in the UK in terms of addiction. If I had no reason to work or have an income, (which I don't) and had limitless amounts of cash to start some kind of project, (which I don't) I would be sorely tempted to TRY doing something that might have an impact on these depressing statistics. ?? I have no idea if anything like that would work, at all. The only thing I have learned is how to help people on a one to one basis, so I have a feeling that may be the limit of what I can do, but wouldn't it be nice to TRY to reduce the numbers of people drinking themselves to death? As it happens, I am pretty sure that I will NOT be doing that, as I think I have enough work of my own to TRY to get done in this lifetime, but these statistics do make you want to go full-tilt and try and do something about this problem. I'm just glad that my Sponsees know the importance of trying to help others, because that means there are a few more people out there looking out for the newcomer. Dear god, this country is an addiction MESS. You HAVE to view these things as OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE, otherwise you would go mad!
Personally I would like to see warnings on alcohol JUST LIKE YOU SEE ON CIGARETTES. Perhaps trying to encourage legislation along those lines might help. Its the same battle with the alcohol corporate giants that we saw happening with the cigarette manufacturers. I should lobby my MP!! Or send a petition to Parliament or something.. Well it would be a nice thing to look in to, even if realistically I do not have any free time..
Here's some ideas off the top of my head.. (I've just made up the percentages as I have no idea what the real ones are)
Medical ones
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN LEAD TO INCONTINENCE
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF BOWEL CONTROL
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN MAKE YOU LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR BLADDER
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY LEADS TO BIRTH DEFECTS
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL ACCOUNTS FOR 66% OF ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS IN THE UK
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE NIGHT SWEATS
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE OBESITY
Mental health ones
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION AND IRRITIBILITY
WARNING: ALCOHOL IS A DEPRESSANT
WARNING: ALCOHOL IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
Behavioral and crime ones
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES PERSONAL RISK OF ROBBERY AND ASSAULT
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES YOUR RISK OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF A CRIME
WARNING: 70% OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME WERE FOUND TO BE INTOXICATED
WARNING: 70% OF ASSAULT VICTIMS WERE FOUND TO BE INTOXICATED
WARNING: 55% OF MUGGING VICTIMS WERE FOUND TO BE INTOXICATED
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CREATES SLURRING OF SPEECH AND LOSS OF MEMORY
Sexual ones
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES RISK OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
WARNING: ALCOHOL IS USED IN 82% OF REPORTED DATE RAPES
WARNING: 80% OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS WERE FOUND TO BE INTOXICATED
WARNING: OVER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL CAN LEAD TO DATE RAPE
WARNING: THE MOST WIDELY REPORTED DATE RAPE DRUG IS ALCOHOL
WARNING: THE DRUG MOST WIDELY USED IN DATE RAPE IS ALCOHOL
I think it would destroy the 'coolness' the alcohol branding over here, which I happen to think is INCREDIBLY sophisticated.
If these statistics are anything to go by, we have a HUGE responsibility in UK AA to carry a message THAT WORKS. Otherwise all these addicts will die of alcoholism when they come to AA looking for a solution. We have to be on top of our game, so that we STAY sober. So if you live in the UK, PLEASE STAY SOBER!! There are a LOT of 'future fellows of alcoholics anonymous' who will be relying on YOU in years to come. But seriously, I find that I become MUCH more effective (at just about everything), if I do it for UNSELFISH reasons. (That's my MOTIVE 'trick', but that's another post)
Anyway. I had better be off to the gym and library and such.
Anyway hope you are all having a FABULOUS Sunday!!
About Me
- An Irish Friend of Bill
- I have recovered from the disease of Alcoholism. I believe there is only one person really,.. everybody. And that peace of mind is everything. -So treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself, because your neighbor IS yourself. I think most of recovery is what I would call common sense, but that learning to be ordinary is a true gift very few people acquire. My ambition is to accept everything unflinchingly, with compassion, and therefore be intrinsically comfortable in my own skin, no matter what. I am comfortable being uncomfortable and am willing to go to any lengths to improve my life. I believe the Big Book was divinely inspired, and is extraordinarily powerful. Unfortunately AA's best kept secret a lot of the time. (In my opinion). I just try to do what works, no matter what it is.
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2 comments:
I like the idea of warnings on alcohol :) Very good idea.
However, I have a few comments about the warnings labeled 'sexual'. First, and this is a small point but I feel important in our understanding of sexual assault, they should be labeled under crime rather than sexual don't you think? :)
As well, I worry about the ones about sexual assault because they could be perceived as blaming the victim for the crime (you shouldn't have been drinking).
I live in Canada and we have similar challenges with addictions services, prevention, and so forth. The community I live in (which is a big city) has some pretty awesome programs, but other communities are not as lucky.
On a side note, I commend you for your activism and speaking out. If we wait for government to do something, we will be waiting a long time... We have to impact individuals and families one person at a time, through personal support and education (i.e. sponsoring), as well as through advocating for increased government services.
Monika
youre right monika. they WOULD have to be stated in ways that did not imply blame on the victim. Perhaps 'being under the influence of alcohol makes you an easier target for the criminal actions of sexual predators' ?? Gawd knows. Its a fine line between using strong language to put people off, and the recognition that there STILL is often a blurred and misplaced allocation of blame for sexual assault on the victim. Tricky! I'd like to think about it though, and see if there are any proposals in the pipeline for this kind of thing. For all i know, people have been lobbying the idea for YEARS...
Sounds like you have some good provisions in canada though...Thanks for the ideas monika!
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