European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS ILL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM AMONG MASONS WORKING AT SELECTED PLACES AT CHENNAI.

P. Sheela, Resmy V. and S. Jose Amala Anilda

ABSTRACT

Alcohol abuse is a major health problem in India and world at large. For the past 30 to 40 years alcohol consumption has increased tremendously. The problem of alcoholism until a few decades was considered a moral problem and a sign of social irresponsibility. Approximately 65% of Americans of age 18 and older consume alcohol and approximately 5.2% are alcohol dependent 8% are problem drinkers, and 9.4% are at risk drinkers. Alcohol abuse contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death in the United States, the life expectancy of a person with alcoholism is reduced by 26 years. Alcohol is known to shorten an individual‟s life span by 12 to 15 years unless treatment is received. Like other chronic illnesses, it has certain observable symptoms. For example, tolerance occurs as the individual drinks more with less effect. Withdrawal occurs when an individual abruptly stops drinking after alcohol has become a necessity of life to maintain functioning. Finally, alcoholism can be fatal.

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