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60
Alcoholism
Alcohol aids digestion, is in many ways a food, is usually
pleasant to take and is accepted as a social beverage leading to convivial
association. Within this construction its use is harmless but
the regular employment of alcohol for the relief of tensions and
anxieties must be considered an abuse which may well result in
addiction.
Alcoholism is given as the fourth major cause of premature
death in the community and the cost to the nation generally and to
industry in particular, is stupendous.
As a pre-requisite to prevention planning and control, epidemiological
knowledge is again essential. The problem must be clearly
defined, its size in relation to population at risk computed and its
prevalence accurately assessed.
It must be admitted that with the exception of the Parr survey
in 1956, very little study has been undertaken in this country as to
the prevalence of alcoholism and there is a great need for research
on the problem. Our services are therefore constrained to utilise
data from other countries in order to have any basis upon which to
organise preventive work.
Accurate statistics in respect of alcoholism are difficult to come
by for these persons are not registrable by any agency although
general practitioners may well keep a list of people whom they
consider to be alcoholics. Undoubtedly cases come to light as a
result of police proceedings, recourse to hospital or G.P. treatment,
or applications to voluntary organisations or local authorities for
help, but no arrangements exist for this information to be collated
and consolidated. However, for several reasons such figures would
not necessarily be a reliable indication of the actual number of
alcoholics in the community. Statistically, the problem is complicated
by the fact that no officially recognised definition of an alcoholic
exists which would enable standardised registration to be effective.
Moreover, although the male in settled employment is compelled to
seek a medical certificate from his doctor if his addiction leads to
absence, this does not apply as effectively to the unemployed or
casual worker. Furthermore, women in particular are reticent about
this type of problem not only in connection with themselves but also
with regard to any member of their family.
To the doctor, an alcoholic is not a 'drunkard' but an individual
suffering from compulsive, obsessive drinking beyond his control, a
condition which calls for medical, psychiatric and social help.
Whilst few would quarrel with this general description, for statistical
purposes, the term 'alcoholic' needs to be more clearly defined.
The definition of an alcoholic varies but that offered by the
W.H.O. appears to be the most acceptable and is twofold. It defines