In Focus : Preventing glass mates from tipping over in life

Alcohol, a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties, is perhaps the most abhorrent material willingly used in today’s materialistic societies. Given the pervasive grip of alcoholic beverages over sizeable sections of population, who believe erroneously that socializing is not complete without those harmful drinks, it is easy to overlook or discount the health and social damage caused or aggravated by drinking.

The Pioneer’s AMARTYA SMARAN looks at the ramifications of alcoholism that hard drinkers face, how people get sucked into the vortex of drinking, inspiring ways in which celebrity addicts have successfully given up the habit, and the psychological inputs as well as support structures and organisations like the Alcoholics Anonymous that help an individual addict get over the pernicious habit even if its deeply ingrained.

Alcohol is the most widely used substance on planet earth. The World Health Organization says every year three million deaths are recorded across the globe due to the harmful consumption of alcohol. In several reports, drug experts have placed alcohol at the top spot considering its impact on crime and socio-economic effects, in comparison to drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and LSD. Yet, it is easily accessible to every individual above the legal age.

Every time the text “Alcohol consumption is injurious to health” scrolls across the screen, teetotalers can only sympathize with the hard drinkers sitting next to them when they burst out laughing in derision.  If only we knew the severity of these substances, we’d be a tad sensitive. Alcoholism is considered a serious problem in India with over 2.5 million people suffering from alcohol dependence.

The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) declared in its report that 18.6% of men and 24.5% of women consume alcohol almost every day. This is inclusive of the men and women living in urban and rural areas. Going by the consumption volume, India is the 9th largest consumer of alcohol in the world. Over the last 30 years, the country’s consumption rate has increased by 38 percent.

Addiction doesn’t pick sides like us humans; it could take over us in a heartbeat. When one thinks of a celebrity, all that comes to our mind is a great life with no issues whatsoever. Who wouldn’t want to trade lives with Robert Downey Jr? Did you know he struggled with addiction? Javed Akthar, Mahesh Bhatt, Guru Dutt, Sunjay Dutt, Ben Affleck, Matthew Perry, Elton John, Tony Bennett, Robin Williams, and the list goes on.Even superstar Aamir Khan admitted that he quit drinking because he often found himself not being able to control his drinking whenever he partied. We must look at celebrities because their lives are out in the open and it kind of gives us an idea about the nature of the disease. Celebrities apart, how many of us have not heard of someone whom we are acquainted with struggling with addiction of some sort? Rich, poor, religion, caste, creed, color, none of these labels matter.

There are cases where someone goes without a drink for 50 years of their life and one fine day when they decide it’s finally time to sip on a nice drink, they slip into a severe addiction. Studies have proved time and again that some of us are born with a sequence of DNA that makes us more susceptible to addiction. However, this risky genetic predisposition doesn’t guarantee that one would go down the path of addiction.

In a careful study performed on early adolescent individuals who have already started drinking between ages 12 to 14 years, it was discovered that environmental factors played a crucial role in individuals gravitating toward alcohol dependence. The environmental factors turn insignificant as the individuals grow older. Around the age of 18, genetics cement their place and take over. A family history of alcohol abuse could play an important role in someone developing an alcohol use disorder. Another study done on addiction science and its genetics discovered that addiction indeed runs in family and is in part dictated by genetic factors. However, the study concluded addiction genetics is a developing science and it needs time to prove its worth in clinical studies.

Given the increasing number of addiction cases in several cities including Happening Hyderabad, The Pioneer curated discussions with experts in the field to uncover various factors that drive people into a severe addiction.

V.S. Gideon, a de-addiction therapist and Managing Director at Living sober Rehab, takes us through the neuroscience of addiction. “There are neurotransmitters in the brain system and there’s a chemical which is called dopamine which will be released when a person is happy. Addiction to any mood-altering substance is considered a disease by WHO and American Medical Association. We need to understand that there is a difference between social drinkers and addicts. Addicts lose the ability to say no to the chemicals. Whenever they drink that they want more and more. They lose the controlling capacity in the brain system. The release of dopamine chemical is normal for everyone, but in addicts, the release is four to six times more when compared to a normal person. They feel more satisfied, and their experience is more pleasurable. The brain has three normal functions also known as survival mechanisms: it teaches a person what is required, registers the action, and reminds them of a similar situation. If I’m thirsty, the brain tells me that I need water. If I don’t drink, the brain pushes me to a level where I stop everything and go have water. This is a biological functioning of the body. If a person is addicted, over a period, that connects to their emotional system. Likewise, when a person takes a drug of their choice and if they have fun with it, the brain identifies it, then registers the memory and tells the person to have more and more of it to create the same experience. There is no hundred percent proof that addiction is related to genetics, but yes, it is also connected to genetics. Down the line, if someone in the family has it, that can also be carried by the generations.”

Addiction is associated with people escaping their reality. When one can’t deal with the current situation, one might turn to mind-altering substances to overcome reality itself. The expert went on to say that addiction is an allergy to the body and an obsession with the brain. He also talks about some of the symptoms that might prove problematic down the road. “In the case of addiction, whenever the person drinks, the body says I want more. This is the abnormal reaction that happens within the system.

Symptoms like craving for a drink the day after a party, not being able to stop drinking no matter what or if the drinking affects an individual’s life, making excuses to drink, and increased frequency in the number of drinks over time, all these are the symptoms that could put people in the danger zone.”

There is an extreme amount of social stigma attached to addiction, even if one is in dire need of help; sometimes, even family members of the addict might feel ashamed to come out in the open and put someone in a good rehabilitation center. The fear of society is what stops them from seeking help.

Gideon offers advice to parents who are in a helpless state due to the judgment of society, “One should approach a de-addiction counselor. Regular counseling sessions will not help addicts. They are good at manipulating anyone in this world except de-addiction therapists. We are trained to guess their next move and we totally understand what is going on in an addict’s mind.The family members have trouble digesting the condition of their loved ones. Therefore, they will continue to cover up and tolerate the addicts’ behavior. This in no way will help the person and worsens the condition. Also, denial plays a major role because addicts will never accept that they have an issue. The family must take a firm decision to bring the addict to the center for treatment. It is better to come to the centers when the addiction is at its nascent stages for better treatment. If the family sweeps everything under the rug and admits the addict when he/she is in a severely bad state, they must understand that it will be even more difficult for them to digest the situation. If you see abnormal sleeping patterns, rebellious behavior, multiple demands for money, isolation from people, and frequent night outs, parents must understand that there might be something wrong with the child. Unfortunately, addiction is an incurable disease, but it is treatable. It is very easy to relapse into addiction.Therefore, it needs lifelong maintenance. Addiction is a bio-socio-psychological problem. If one wants to remain sober, they must work on these three areas for the rest of their life.”

If we look at real-life examples, it is clear how the fear of society can lead to irreparable damage.Rani, a houseworker from the city who’s been living with an alcoholic all her life, shares her story: “I always knew my husband had a drinking problem. It was only after a year into our marriage that his drinking problem was accentuated. He never went to work and after a point, I learned how to cope with the problem. I raised all my kids without ever having to depend on him. There were times when he used to beat me up and I couldn’t think of any other solution expect having to adjust. Even if I wanted to part ways, I was scared that society would say bad things about me. Living with an alcoholic is extremely difficult. Our social life took a beating, and nothing can ever repair that. I never knew there were rehab centers that could help treat the disease, or else we would try and help him out. Now, the situation is beyond our reach. So, we left him on his own to decide for
himself as to what he wants to do with his life.”

Namrata Rao, a research scholar, shares her thoughts on the topic of addiction. “There is a huge component of addictive behavior that is hereditary. There are a few genetic factors that predispose individuals to addictive behaviors. Studies have identified certain aspects of addictive behavior which are hereditary. However, this does not guarantee that a person can develop an addiction. There is this whole nature vs nurture aspect that contributes to it. It depends on the environment, familial factors, exposure to trauma, or negative life events that could lead someone to drug addiction.There are many reasons as to why someone takes to substances. People might experiment with drugs to experience a higher stimulus. Slowly, that experimentation might lead to addiction. What happens is that the more someone does drugs, the brain adapts to the sensation and develops a tolerance, that is when an individual experiences withdrawals. The best way to deal with someone with this issue is to help them check into a rehabilitation center where proper treatment is at their disposal. Taking the help of a professional is the best way to deal with any kind of addiction.”

No one can predict who can slip into addiction at any given point in time. We would be cheating ourselves if we don’t help our loved ones who fall into the trap of mind-altering substances. Society will always have a thing or two to say about everything. After all, what makes a society is a group of individuals, like you and me. If each of us leaves our inhibitions at bay and picks the courage to help those suffering from addiction, we’d be creating a better society. We all go through some form of addiction, be it an obsession with mindless scrolling, coffee, cigarettes, or sugar. Whatever it is, we are lucky to be in a place where we can say, “Oh! I am so addicted to sugar” and go about our lives. We could be in the same spot very soon. There are people who can’t function at their best without the drug of their choice. To shun them for being unlucky, to say demeaning things to them for what they’ve become instead of trying to put them in a better place, is unacceptable. It doesn’t mean we all have to go and help everyone, but if we can identify those who are close to us, and ask them firmly if they need help, tell them they are not outcasts, make them feel like they still have it in them to be what they want in life and show them a path which would help them take charge of their lives, that will make way for inclusiveness.

Sobering fellowship

Support structures and a congenial environment in society are essential for addicts to give up their drinking habit completely. For instance, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international fellowship of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics throughout the world. In India, there are about 40,000 members. They meet in over 1,500 local meetings spread around the country.

In AA, alcoholics seek to get sober and remain sober through self-help and the help of other recovered alcoholics. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. is headquartered in New York City. All AA groups are essentially local and autonomous. To counteract self-indulgence and promote the group’s welfare, members usually identify themselves only by first name and surname initial. Much of the program has a social and spiritual, but nonsectarian, basis.

AA began in May 1935 at a meeting of two alcoholics attempting to overcome their drinking problems: a New York stockbroker, “Bill W”. (William Griffith Wilson [1895-1971]), and a surgeon from Akron, Ohio, “Dr. Bob S”. (Robert Holbrook Smith [1879-1950]).

Drawing upon their own experiences, they set out to help fellow alcoholics and first recorded their program in Alcoholics Anonymous (1939; 3rd ed., 1976). By the early 21st century, Alcoholics Anonymous had some 2,000,000 members forming more than 110,000 groups in about 180 countries and territories.