Alcohol Abuse in Africa: The Case of Ghana
Alcohol is a commonly abused substance in most continents and Africa is no exception. Unlike the United States which has alcohol as the second most commonly used drug, in Africa it is the foremost abused substance. This could be attributed to the fact that most cultural or traditional ceremonies utilize alcohol in one way or another. In Ghana – West Africa – for example, during the naming ceremony of a newborn, the baby is given a drop of alcohol and then a drop of water with the belief that the child will recognize the difference when he grows up. It is common to find alcoholic beverages being served at functions such as birth, death, marriage and promotion on one’s job (Dordoye, 2009).
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Some of the commercial ones are the schnapps, beer and stout. The sale of the commercial alcoholic beverages is regulated and as a result, they cost more than the non-commercial ones. The non-commercial ones on the other hand, are brewed locally and not regulated which leads to them being inexpensive and more commonly abused. There are three main non-commercial alcoholic beverages namely Pito, Palm wine, and Akpeteshie.
Pito is an alcoholic beverage which is locally brewed using millet. It is traditionally associated with those from the northern region of Ghana, but its production is now common throughout the country due to migration. The brewing of this beverage is mostly controlled by women. Pito varies in taste from slightly sweet to very sour and looks golden yellow to dark brown. It contains 2% to 3% alcohol, some vitamins, proteins, lactic acid, sugars, and amino acids (Adelekan, 2008). This beverage tastes sweet when freshly brewed and has little alcohol content, however, the longer it ferments the more sour it gets and the alcohol content also increases.
Palm wine, locally call nsafufuo (white alcohol) is produced from sugary palm saps and is widely consumed among Ghanaians. The raffia palms and the oil palms are the most frequently tapped ones. Nsafufuo starts fermenting soon after the collection of the sap and within an hour or two becomes high in
The social and cultural factors influencing the initiation of tobacco, Alcohol and other substances use vary from country to country, from developed world to developing nations, region to region and culture to culture.
January 20, Erica Bushick, 18, was found dead in her dorm room at Miami University in Ohio. Erica and her friend begin drinking at 10:00 PM on January 19. The two young ladies consumed two champagne bottles and vodka. Ericka had to be carried to her room by the cab driver due to her being unable to walk because she was too intoxicated. Erica roommate took pictures of her while she was sleep and posted them on social media at 1:00 AM. The next morning Erica was found cold and still lying, so the roommate called the police. The police department then came to the scene and pronounce Erica dead at 9:00 AM. (Hammil, 2017).
Alcohol is the most abused licit psychoactive drugs that affect one 's ability to think rationally and distorts their judgement if consumed excessively. Alcohol addiction is an illness arising from prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks. An alcoholic is a person suffering from alcohol addiction. Prolonged excessive use of large quantities can eventually lead to chronic health diseases like cirrhosis of the liver, anaemia, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression seizures, gout and alcohol related accidents and crime. Statistics show that 9 million people in England drink more than the recommended daily intake while an estimated 8.697 died of alcohol-related deaths in 2014. According to the WHO worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Alcohol beverages with varied percentage content are consumed globally during religious, social, cultural events, festivals and other occasions. The use of alcoholic beverages has been an integral part of many cultures for thousands of years (McGovern, 2009). Over the centuries, there have been ongoing measures, research, interventions and policies which are aimed at promoting the moderate use of alcohol with a particular emphasis on preventing or reducing undesired outcomes. This essay will outline the key components of brief interventions in alcohol, the difference in approach with traditional methods of treatment and in conclusion, the
Drinking pattern does differ by race and ethnicity in the United States. Our book discusses the difference between Irish, Italians, French, Asia & Native Americans, Hispanics, and African American. Studies show that African Americans have higher rates of alcoholism than whites do. This conclusion is due to the lack of research on drinking pattern amongst blacks (Lex, 1985; Sterne, 1967). Evidence also show that white women has a lower rate of alcoholism than black women, yet African American women have a higher abstain rate (Harper and Saifnoorian, 1991). Most African American males don’t encounter with alcohol related problems until about their 30’s. Seen in a study by Herd’s (1990) it revealed that is was some similar patterns between white and blacks as well as differences. White were found to do more
Attempting to treat individuals that have alcohol related issues requires a depth of knowledge and skill, specifically, when providing care to individuals of differentiating ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The National on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) article discusses a multitude of resourceful information that is related to ethnicity, culture, and alcohol. Procuring detailed information that defines and discusses ethnicity, race, culture, cultural identification, ethnoculturally competence, and cultural competence provides a solid foundation for the beginner, intermediate, and expert clinician reading this material. This paper explores and offers an explanation of the author’s efforts to convey a clear, compelling and cogent message, the NIAAAs use of relevant sources to substantiate perspectives assumed, claims made and positions taken, and recommended strategies regarding suggested improvements to this article.
Alcoholism is one of our nation’s largest social issues to date, and carries with it many negative aspects, the most dire being death at the hands of this disease. Alcohol and alcoholism have been part of societies for centuries. This habit was brought over to the new world when the first settlers landed on the shores of what was to become America. Furthermore, in bringing alcohol to this new land an entire nation of Native American Indians were introduced to a product that has affected them more negatively than any other to date, and continues to suffer from today and probably well into the future.
Alcohol use has spanned history. In fact, there is speculation that alcohol use actually preceded the formation of societies (Doweiko, 2015, p. 30). Thus, alcohol has long been a part of mankind’s life. The function of alcohol has unarguably changed throughout the course of history, as it was first used for nutritional purposes and then later on for religious purposes (Doweiko, 2015, p. 32). Today, alcohol serves a social purpose. In the United States, the prevalence of use is quite high, with just over 50% of the population partaking monthly (Doweiko, 2015, p. 34). This statistic is somewhat alarming considering alcohol use comes with a number of potential adverse consequences. Case in point, even
Alcoholism is a problem experienced in many societies and covers issues associated with intake of alcohol (Schneider, 1978). In most cases, it is used to refer to addictive and uncontrolled use or abuse of alcohol such that the health, relationships and social status of a person is eroded. Due to its negative effects on users, it is considered as a bad practice in the society. Alcoholism is contributed by many social issues concerning users as well as society and is largely accepted as a social deviance behavior. However, according to Schneider (1992), deviant drinking has been
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What is Alcohol? Alcohol is a drug, it is a depressant that slows down functions of the body that are vital and when this is done, results can be unsteady movements, slurred speech, inability to react quickly, and disturbed perceptions. “Throughout every racial or ethnic group, there are some exact health concerns which are caused by a mixture of genetic, cultural, and environmental factors (AddictionBlog, 2011)”. For many years, Native American bystanders have recognized the disrupting effects of alcohol use in American Indian communities. The Native Americans have a higher rate of alcohol use compared to other ethnic groups, they are also at high risk of having fetal alcohol syndrome.
Alcohol has been the lifeblood of civilization dating thousands of years back in time, and it is clear to see the culture impact it has made throughout history. People perceive alcohol in many different ways; depending on gender, age, religious background, or social upbringing. Throughout history alcohol has affected different cultures and various demographics. It has been a source of pleasure and aesthetic in many cultures, along with being one of the oldest rites of passage, especially in modern day American society. Alcohol and drinking were also an integral part of religious observances throughout history and culture. The use of alcohol can be seen as a social lubricant, and besides being a thirst quencher, it can play a pivotal role
Young people are considered to constitute the largest number of alcohol consumers and they account for a large portion of alcohol sales. This is despite the strict drinking laws that govern many countries as regards alcohol purchase and consumption. Underage drinking, which has been on the increase, is allegedly the major cause of alcohol-related problems facing the modern
Alcoholism is a prominent substance abuse issue in Western society. The treatment method of controlled drinking as opposed to abstinence is a continuing cause of controversy in alcohol research to this day. The US is different from Europe in its acceptance of controlled drinking as a goal of treatment: “in the US alcohol dependence is typically depicted as a ‘recurring disease’ and the ‘successful abstainer’ as a ‘recovering’ though never ‘recovered’ alcoholic” (Coldwell, 2005). Depending on the alcohol abuse patient’s individual characteristics, either controlled drinking or abstinence is chosen as a treatment.
Coconut wine, or popularly known as Lambanog, is an alcoholic beverage produced in the Philippines, specifically in the Southern Tagalog provinces where coconut is abundant. It is widely consumed by residents from rural areas where it is commonly enjoyed during feasts or festivals. Lambanog processing starts with the pruning of the coconut flowers to let the sap dip from the blossoms. The sap is then collected and cooked using the fermentation process to produce coconut “tuba.” The tuba is then distilled, cooled, and filtered to produce the coconut wine. To offer variety of taste, flavors are added to the coconut wine. Flavors include berries, raisins, calamansi, mango, and even gum flavor.
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