Let's Work Harder To End Alcohol Addiction

Dear readers of the Independent, the community of Zuni Pueblo, and the Gallup region:

The subject of this letter is the encouragement of the abolishment of alcohol addiction. My concern is that there are some individuals in our Zuni community who abuse liquor, causing liquor to be one of the main leading causes of death, especially for young people. The efforts to abolish alcohol abuse will be made by people who abuse liquor going to seek help and guidance, in hopes of influencing others who are also in need of help. Other efforts can be made by the people of our community helping one another, and actively asking who needs help with alcohol addiction.

Alcohol addiction is something that is sadly recognizable in today’s world and even inside of our own community. I am sure that some people have had an individual in their family who is or was an alcoholic. In our Zuni community, it is my perception that the rate of alcohol addiction is higher than it was 10 years ago. Furthermore, the topic of alcoholism is usually ignored in Zuni. Alcohol has been the cause of too many deaths of the people here within our community, and I am sure I also speak for the community of Gallup.

The people who are most likely to start drinking are teenagers who are encouraged by peer pressure, people who are careless, and people who are dealing with events in their life (relationship break-ups, depression, sadness, anxiety, anger, etc.) According to bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com, “Peer pressure to drink may influence excessive alcohol consumption, which can have adverse impacts on health and wellbeing.” According to addictioncenter.com, “Individuals in their early to mid-twenties are the most likely to abuse alcohol and suffer from alcohol use disorders. The younger that an individual starts consuming alcohol, the more likely they are to develop alcoholism later in life. This is especially true of individuals who start drinking before 15.” People can be influenced to start drinking alcohol in different ways and scenarios. In most ways and scenarios, the individual is usually young when they begin drinking alcohol.

Anyone can help anyone who is addicted to drinking alcohol. People such as the local Zuni community, healthcare workers, counselors, teachers, and support groups can help people get back on their feet. According to drugrehab.com, “Counseling for alcohol addiction can change perceptions, feelings and behaviors associated with alcohol use. Through therapy, people can also learn to cope with triggers and avoid relapse during recovery.” The article also states, “Support groups provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment for people to receive encouragement while working to overcome their alcohol-related problems.” Any individual in your local community can aid anyone who is currently dealing with alcohol addiction, as long as the individual who is aiding is willing to help that person and that the alcohol-addicted individual is comfortable with receiving help.

Alcohol addiction affects individuals and society in such a negative way. It interferes with the daily life and overall well-being of the individuals who have an addiction to drinking. People who drink too often or too much are prone to develop problems within themselves which can eventually cause life-threatening issues and even death. Drinking to excess also can cause social impacts and great damage to your own mental health. According to cdc.gov, “Excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems.” On the website therecoveryvillage.com, it is stated that “Daily alcohol use can cause fibrosis or scarring of the liver tissue. It can also cause alcoholic hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver. With long-term alcohol abuse, these conditions occur together and can eventually lead to liver failure.” Also, according to drinkaware.co.uk, “In the long run alcohol has an impact on mental health and can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety, and make stress harder to deal with.” And according to racgp.org.au, “Significant social impacts of alcohol and other drug use include family, domestic and sexual violence, homicide, victimisation, risky behaviour and criminal activity.” Alcohol addiction as a whole leads to a raft of problems and issues, not only for addicted people, but also for the people around them. The longer the alcohol addiction occurs, the more problems it can develop.

We should start to address the alcohol problem as soon as possible. The quicker we address the problem, the more we can help people who are in need of help into the path of sobriety. According to americanaddictioncenters.org, “Generally speaking, at least 90 days in treatment is recommended. There is no “magic” number however, as treatment and recovery are highly individual. While one person may be ready to reenter society after three months, another may benefit from a longer stay.” The treatment for alcohol addiction varies from person to person, but it is usually recommended to receive treatment as soon as possible. Alcohol addiction treatment may also take a lot of time for some people.

It is best to act on this problem now because most people who are in need of help don’t usually get or receive help until it is too late. According to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, “People hospitalized with alcohol use disorder have an average life expectancy of 47–53 years (men) and 50–58 years (women) and die 24–28 years earlier than people in the general population.” According to pronghornpsych.com, “Alcohol impairs memory, judgment, and coordination and disrupts sleep patterns. When used long-term, alcohol may cause permanent brain damage. When an individual consumes alcohol in large amounts or over a long period of time, the effects on the body and brain can be deadly.” The outcome for people who delay getting the help and treatment that they need isn’t really good. People who delay requesting assistance tend to develop more problems and issues then they initially had.

The people of our Zuni community and the Gallup region should ask their loved ones if they need help with anything. We can never completely know what issues people are currently dealing with, and nor can we really know what actions that they might take on their own to deal with or cope with that issue. You can ask our local community, healthcare, or recovery center for more information on how you can assist people who are going through alcohol addiction. The fact is that if we do not work hard to put an end to alcohol abuse and addiction, it will soon put an end to those who are addicted. If we work together as an entire community, as one, we can help put an end to alcoholism.