Alcohol Use, Abuse and its Psychosocial and Economic Impact in India

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, pp. 139-146

Date: July 2017

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract Analyses of the economic impact of alcohol use, abuse, and dependence can provide important information to policymakers and program planners charged with making decisions about resource allocation. Such studies can be a useful indicator for the magnitude of a health care problem and how that problem compares with others. The study was conducted in Nemam, which is one of the field practice area of Sri Ramachandra Medical University. Males of 18 years and above in each panchayat were given unique numbers. From these unique numbers, the required numbers of males calculated as per Probability Proportion to sampling method. The individuals who were randomly selected by the above method were contacted in person and the study was explained to them. This study gave an opportunity to assess the various levels of drinking prevailing in a rural community and portray the psycho-social and economic burden faced by the drinker. The current alcohol intervention programs mainly concentrate on the alcohol dependents and abusers. There is very little or no alcohol policy which focuses on the normal drinkers or the transition stage drinkers, intervention policies in the primary care level which will diagnose the alcoholics at the earliest stage and make way for effective management

Keywords: Prevalence of Alcoholism; Psychological Menace; Social Consequences; Economic Burden.