Alcoholism is a curable disease: Psychiatrist
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 29
Mumbai-based Psychiatrist Dr Ashish Deshpande has said that alcoholism is a disease like any other disease and is curable through the treatment strategy worked out by Alcoholic Anonymous.
Deshpande is on a tour of the Konkan region and Goa to spread awareness amongst people and make families understand that alcoholism is completely curable.
Saying that India has earned the dubious distinction of the world’s highest whisky consumption nation, next only to America, Deshpande said he is not in favour of imposing a ban on alcohol.
“A ban on alcohol will not solve the problem. Wherever alcohol is banned, illegal and impure alcohol has increased tremendously. The only thing that can help overcome the problem is educating the people about the menace, besides early diagnosis, early detection, good supportive care in terms of treatment and rehabilitation”, he said, adding that nearly 40 per cent of job absenteeism, one third of accident and nearly 40 per cent of wife abuse is because of alcoholism.
Deshpande said that alcohol does not affect only the rich, but all sections of society, adding that nearly 80 per cent of the admissions in government-run hospitals are somehow related to alcohol.
Saying that alcohol is a disease, which is absolutely similar in many ways such as diabetes, he said the fact that people find a relapse shows that it is a symptom of the disease itself.
“No individual starts his life that he wants to become an alcoholic. Alcoholism is never an ambition of any human being. It is a disease. People should know that family members are suffering from a disease”, he added.
Desphande said the lakhs of people world wide have stayed away from drinking because of Alcohol Anonymous, he said the AA offers a scientific treatment study and a practical approach to therapy.
Saying that AA’s 10-point program is a structured therapy, he said that unless that is utilized simultaneously, the relapse rate is going to be higher.
“The AA treatment strategy is absolutely free. There is no registration charge, no follow up charge”, he said, and underlined the need to reach out to the people to convey the message that cure from alcoholism is possible.
Meanwhile, to commemorate the completion of 21 years of its existence and as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of AA worldwide, the AA Intergroup (Goa), Margao will hold a function on May 1 at Grace Church hall, Margao from 10 am to 4 pm.
An awareness program will be held on the ill effects of acute alcoholism and how Alcoholics Anonymous can help.
MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho will be the Chief guest, while the Parish Priest of Grace Church, Fr Cleoto Pereira will be the guest of honour
Meanwhile, the Chairman General service office, India Bhalla S K has announced that the Goa Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous will host the 2010 AA International Convention in Goa on 12, 13 and 14 November at the Ravindra bhavan.
