Public Health Issue: Alcohol Misuse

Public Health Issue: Alcohol Misuse Alcohol misuse as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) is the alcohol use that places people at risk for problems, including at-risk use, clinical alcohol abuse, and dependence. Although the use of alcohol brings with it a number of pleasures, alcohol increases the risk of a wide range of social harms, generally in a dose dependent manner (WHO 2011). Alcohol misuse is one of the most devastating non-communicable deceases that contributes, or directly causes chronic ill-health, high mortality, violent crime, and anti-social behaviour (Alcohol Concern, 1997). According to the global status report on alcohol and health published in 2011 by World Health Organisation (WHO), the harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year globally (WHO 2011). According to the same report, by 2011, alcohol misuse is the worlds third largest risk factor for disease burden, and it is the leading risk factor in the Western Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe. Alcohol is associated with many serious social and developmental issues, including violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace (Harvey, 2000). Excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of different types of diseases and conditions, including injuries, mental and behavioural disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, immunological disorders, lung diseases, skeletal and muscular diseases, reproductive disorders and pre-natal harm, including an increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight (Moore and, Pearson, 1986). For most conditions, alcohol increases the risk in a dose dependent manner, with the higher the alcohol consumption, the greater the risk. For some conditions, such as cardiomyopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome and muscle damage, harm appears only to result from a sustained level of high alcohol consumption, but even at high levels, alcohol increases the risk and severity of these conditions in a dose dependent manner. The frequency and volume of episodic heavy drinking are of particular importance for increasing the risk of injuries and certain cardiovascular dise ases (Moore and Pearson 1986). The causes of alcohol misuse can be traced to many factors including family history, psychological factors such as anxiety or depression, the addictive pharmacology of alcohol, and the environment in which people live. Some research works show that genes could influence people drinking habits and their susceptibility to alcohol addiction. For others who drink alcohol above the guidelines, at hazardous and harmful levels, alcohol misuse may be due to habit, lifestyle, lack of awareness of the health effects and an absence of obvious symptoms. This assignment seeks to discuss the problems associated with alcohol misuse, and the collective efforts currently being put in place in term of research and government policies to address it. The understanding of local, national and global trends of alcohol misuse and the associated deceases will be demonstrated using the available statistical data from the Public Health Observatory. Following the introductory section, where background of alcohol misuse, the justification for chosen it, and the importance of alcohol misuse as a public health concern are provided, Section 2 will discuss the epidemiology and trends of alcohol misuse. In Section 3, the social determinants of alcohol misuse will be explored, while Section 4 will address how the issues and problems of alcohol misuses are tackled at both national and global level. Section 5 will be devoted to the local public health. Specifically, the problems associated with alcohol misuse in Bradford will be discussed. The last section will provide some recommendations and strategies to address the issue of alcohol misuse. Methodology The research methods used for this assignment included reviewing poster, televisions adverts, internet research on alcoholism and journals. The main website was the national institute of alcohol abuse, but others included healthy living, NHS Stockport. These research methods were very useful as they provided a wealth of information which resulted in a through investigation in to alcoholism and the effects on an individuals lifestyle 2. Epidemiology of Alcohol Misuse The alcohol misuse is a global phenomenon, which hinders both individual and social development. On a global level, World Health Organization (WHO 2011) reported that: The harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year. 320 000 young people between the age of 15 and 29 die from alcohol-related causes, resulting in 9% of all deaths in that age group. Alcohol is the worlds third largest risk factor for disease burden; it is the leading risk factor in the Western Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe. Researchers in numerous countries have conducted analyses of alcohol consumption and general population surveys to ascertain the level and consequences of alcohol use. In recent years, investigators also have made attempts to compare drinking rates and other drinking variables across different countries. One reason for researching across national borders is the need for descriptive epidemiology (Room and Makela1988). The total economic cost of alcohol to the EU was estimated to be à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬125 billion (WHO Europe, 2009), while the government of United Kingdom estimated the cost of alcohol related harms to the National Health Service (NHS) to be  £2.7 billion in 2006/07 prices (NHS 2012). Alcohol consumption is a major cause of ill-health in England. More than 10 million people (31 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women) are now regularly drinking above the guidelines set by Government (NAO, 2008), and many of these are likely to suffer ill-health or injury as a result. In England, it is estimated that 18 per cent of the adult population (7.6 million) are drinking at hazardous levels; another seven per cent (2.9 million) are showing evidence of harm to their own physical and mental health, including approximately 1.1 million people who have a level of alcohol addiction (NAO, 2008). Social Determinant on Health Alcohol use and abuse is a major preventable public health problem. To be able to do this, we must be able to understand the social determinant of alcohol misuse and abuse. Different factors such as gender difference, race, culture, ethnicity, social class, poverty levels are among the most important factors that have been found to influence the level of alcohol consumption. According to the research findings reported in the Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project (ANARP), 2004, about 38% of men and 16% of women (age 16-64) have an alcohol use disorder , which is equivalent to approximately 8.2 million people in England. It has also been reported in the literature that alcohol use disorders generally decline with age. In relation to ethnicity, black and minority ethnic groups have a considerably lower prevalence of hazardous/harmful alcohol use but a similar prevalence of alcohol dependence compared with the white population (ANARP, 2004). Another important social determinant of alcohol misuse is the family background. The family plays a central role in the use of alcohol by children and adolescents. Early drinking and much subsequent use of alcohol by children and adolescents is sanctioned and sometimes encouraged by their families. Unlike experimentation with alcohol, problem drinking is associated with low levels of family social support and with dysfunctional coping strategies of families that may lead children to use drinking as an adaptive behavior. Addressing Alcohol Misuse Issues The harmful use of alcohol is a serious health burden, and it affects virtually all individuals on an international scale. Both the government policy (NHS) and the scientific literature have recognized the necessity to control the general populations alcohol consumption. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global strategy to control the misuse of alcohol will focuses on ten key areas of policy options and interventions at the national level and four priority areas for global action. The ten areas for national action are summarized as follows: Leadership, awareness and commitment; Health services response; Community action; Drink-driving policies and countermeasures; Availability of alcohol; Marketing of alcoholic beverages; Pricing policies; Reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication; Reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcohol; Monitoring and surveillance. The four priority areas for global action are: public health advocacy and partnership; technical support and capacity building; production and dissemination of knowledge; resource mobilization At national level, Government policy continues to place emphasis on the primary care setting to undertake health promotion. Prior to 1995, the sensible drinking policy in the UK was that men should drink no more than 21 units (168 g) and women 14 units (112 g) per week (Department of Health 1992). However, by 1995, the Department of Health in UK has put in place guidelines for the responsible consumption of alcohol (UK Department of Health 1995). The comparison of UK units/day and grams of pure alcohol/day in light/moderate/heavy drinking is summarized in Table 1. Table 1: comparison of UK units/day and grams of pure alcohol/day in light/moderate/heavy drinking Local Public Health Of most concern to public health is the number of local people drinking excessively. In this work, the public health of Bradford will be discussed. National data suggests around 20,000 residents of the Bradford district are dependent drinkers. According to the Bradford and Airedale Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007-2008, the national average consumption in Bradford district is significantly greater than the national average. In all adult, the mean units alcohol consumed by drinkers in a typical week in Bradford is 23% for men and 14.5% for woman as compared to national average of 21% for men and 11% for woman (BJSNA 2010). The Bradford and Airedale Healthy Lifestyle Survey (BJSNA 2010) shows that 9% of men and 7% of women are drinking at a harmful (higher risk) level. For men, this finding is in line with the national average; for women, the finding as nearly double (England 4%). Amongst men, this problem is concentrated in the 35-64 age groups; amongst women, the under 24s and 45-54s exceed the district average. Recommendations and Strategies Current Strategies There have been various current strategies currently being put in place both by the local and national government. Some of the current strategies are aimed to: reduce the number of people who drink alcohol above recommended limits, thus reducing the adverse health impact of alcohol. reduce alcohol-related crime, disorder, intimidation, nuisance and anti-social behaviour. develop a comprehensive range of effective treatment, support, rehabilitation and reintegration services for alcohol victims, with easy access and clear care pathways. reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse within families and relationships, including domestic abuse and the hidden harms caused to the children of alcohol- misusing parents. reduce the number of babies born with a disorder in the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder range, and to decrease the risk of related problems experienced by children born with one of these disorders. reduce alcohol-related accidents and fires, thus reducing avoidable premature death, disability and less serious injuries. reduce the economic costs of alcohol misuse. ensure that information and services are accessible and welcoming to all sections of Bradfords diverse population. Recommendations In other to address the problem of alcohol misuse at local, national, and global level, the following recommendations are provided: Education is on of the general way to address the issue of alcohol misuse. Government can make sure that all local schools have programs in place to educate children about the risks posed by alcohol misuse. It is important to arm young people in community with knowledge about the consequences of abusing drink and drugs. Government at both local and national level should fund youth clubs, art facilities and other activities to give young people alternative things to do instead of spending time on the streets drinking. The general practitioners as well as nursing practitioners should continue to provide better support/consultancy services to the victims of alcohol. Provision of support group at different localities to provide improved counselling services and treatment programs for those with substance abuse problems in the community. Discussion should be established with schools, colleges, local employers, government and policy makers to see if they have any facilities in place to identify and help those struggling with alcohol misuse. Conclusion The public health issues on alcohol misuse are discussed in this work. Alcohol misuse is found to be one of the most devastating non-communicable deceases that contributes, or directly causes chronic ill-health, high mortality, violent crime, and anti-social behavior. The epidemiology and trends of alcohol misuse was discussed, while the social determinants of alcohol misuse based on gender difference, age, ethnicity, and family background was addressed. The policies put in place by both the local and national government to address the issues and problems of alcohol misuses are assessed. The last section provided some recommendations and strategies to address the issue of alcohol misuse.

Analysis Kite Runner

The Kite Runner was written by Khaled Hosseini who tells a story of a boy who lived in Kabul, and eventually moved to America. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini explains that every action you take in life has a consequence, he shows us through the examples of turmoil in Amir’s life. Amir had two major decisions to make that determined the outcome of his life along with the ones surrounding him. The first was Amir’s decision to keep his silence and his refusal to share a hideous act that he saw and hid from.The second was his decision to go back to his homeland in Kabul, and try and make right what he did. Khaled shows us that each decision we make in life has a consequence, he shows an example of this with Amir’s decision to keep silent and not tell his father or anyone that he had seen Hassan get raped. Hassan eventually tells Ali that he had gotten raped. After an incident in the house Ali tells Baba (Amir’s Father) â€Å"Life here is impossible for u s now, Agha sahib. We’re leaving† (106).At this time Amir could choose to tell his father everything that he saw, and everything that Assef did. He chooses to let Hassan and Ali leave thinking it will make life easier for him. The consequence of this action leads to Hassan living a separate life from Amir, which in turn leads to Hassan’s murder. Each choice that Amir made had a consequence whether good or bad, there was a consequence. The second decision Amir made, was to return back to Kabul. Amir’s choice would have many life altering consequences.Amir’s decision to return to Kabul helped him learn that Hassan was his half-brother and that he had a nephew. When Amir decided to go rescue Sohrab from Assef, for the first time in years Amir’s pain and turmoil would finally be healed. This healing came from the pain he should have received from standing up to Assef in the alley way when they had cornered Hassan. When Assef and Amir fought and A mir was getting beat badly he thought â€Å"I felt healed. Healed at last† (289). The last time Amir had felt this way right before he saw Hassan get raped.Amir’s decision to return to Kabul gave Amir the opportunity to be healed and rescue his half-brother’s son. In the human life people are faced with many decisions, a very good example of this is within Amir’s life. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini explains that every action you take in life has a consequence, through the examples of turmoil in Amir’s life. With every decision and every action we make there is a consequence. The biggest decision in Amir’s life was to keep his silence and his refusal to share hat he saw happen to Hassan. He chose not to tell his father or anyone in his childhood life, because of this Hassan and Ali leave Amir and Baba. They go on a separate path from Baba and Ahmir. The second was Amir’s choice to return to Kabul to search for Sohrab and rescue h im from an orphanage. This led to Amir’s healing and ability to be truly happy again. The story The Kite Runner shows us that each choice we make has a consequence whether it is good or bad there is always a consequence.

Tuesdays with Morrie Book review

Memoir is an Inspirational memoir, by Mitch Album. It is a well- written novel which is mainly concerned with the rejection of the popular culture. If you enjoy nonfiction. And life-lesson giving themes, then you should read this book. Album included himself into the story as Mitch, Morris's old student. The novel is expressed from Album's own point of view of his character In the novel. This has many influences on the novel, and is more controllable for him. Eve chosen this novel due to the fact that I read it for summer reading, and this novel really gave me arioso thoughts and tons of inspiration, Album frequently used symbolism throughout his novel. Album uses a pink hibiscus life representing Morris's life. Since the first day, the plant's life started fading and so did Morris's. Memoir stated throughout the book â€Å"when you're in bed you're dead,† (131) so he always preferred to stay in his chair. When Morris's last days come closer he decides to stay in his bed due t o Immobility and other ALLS causes.Memoir eventually lived his last day on his bed on the Last Tuesday. Another example of symbolism used by Album is the media. The media was referred to as an evil dictator throughout the book. It also caused Match's state of mind before he met Memoir; Mitch was so much of a workaholic that the only thing on his mind was the money. The novel is basically emphasizing that the society. Media, and pop-culture do not contribute anything to the people. The novel had a very sentimental meaning to Album.Album, who is â€Å"Mitch† in the novel, visits his old professor Memoir, who suffers from ALLS (Metamorphic Lateral Sclerosis). They meet every Tuesday as his disease starts and continues to progress. Album, as I mentioned earlier, included himself as a character in his novel with his first name, Mitch. Memoir was Match's old sociology professor at his time In college. Mitch just supported and helped Memoir with everything and anything. Morris's goa l was to make Mitch cry and inspire him at some point, which he eventually did.Memoir wanted to attach Mitch to the world again, due to Match's detachment blaming it to society. Mitch and Memoir were both my favorite characters, there Is no In-between. They both inspired me in some type of way. The antagonist was the ALLS disease, which in real life Memoir had to go through. I have participated In a camp experience located in Counterpoint, Texas. At this amazing place, kids/adults of all ages and sizes come and go. This Is the place where they have the mum of their lives, not a drop of sadness is present.I took care of an 8-year old who suffered from Ret Syndrome. I was her companion for a week and my life changed the instant I met her. I do not and will not ever take anything in life for granted. This book has now become #1 on my list of favorites. My favorite scene was every single Tuesday. Mitch and Memoir always had did something that lights up every reader. There are no least f avorite parts in this memoir, I admire Album. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who asks me a recommendation.Any type of person would like his book, no matter the genre the reader personally reads. Album basically wrote what I feel, and how I changed after my experience. I t Off change my perspective, he can change anyone's. Album couldn't have done better when writing this momentous material. Memoir has changed many hearts, and has inspired numerous amounts of people. Society today is best described in the book, as evil. Mitch and Memoir are my inspiration, and I hope they continue to grow more love under everyone's hearts'.

Women Who Helped During The War - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 848 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/05/13 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Civil War Essay War Essay Did you like this example? The Civil War presented many unprecedented opportunities for women to expand their roles in society and prove that they were capable and equal in a world where men were held higher. Indiana women organized benefits to raise funds and soldiers aid societies to make clothing and collect supplies for the camps, conducted bazaars, helped needy families of soldiers, carried out family businesses, and took the jobs that were previously reserved only for men to help with the war cause and finances. When reports of widespread disease in the military hospitals and camps reached the women in Indiana, they saw it as an opportunity to prove themselves capable and equal in what was a mans world, and they began looking for ways to help the affected soldiers. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Women Who Helped During The War" essay for you Create order In March of 1862, Governor Oliver P. Morton created the Indiana Sanitary Commission which encouraged women to take on the adventure of war and work as nurses in the military hospitals caring for Indiana soldiers. At the end of the war, it was reported that the sanitary commission sent about two hundred and fifty women to serve as nurses. Despite the womens efforts, historians have largely excluded them from the published reports of the conflict. These Indiana women who served as nurses used independent routes to their experiences. Eventually, there were so many women working that an order was issued for those not serving as matrons or laundresses to leave, and those serving as nurses had to be approved and were only allowed to serve at base hospitals. Many other women were eager to help, but the responses to their offers varied. Many women found it difficult to serve as nurses, but those who were relatives of afflicted soldiers were granted passes to travel to the hospitals and serve as temporary nurses. Because nursing schools had not yet been established, nurses were chosen based on age, appearance, and reputation. She Went to War: Indiana Women Nurses in the Civil War gives many names of the women who went to serve as nurses in the war without any preparation for the hardships they faced. In the end, these women had shown heroism equal to that of the soldiers. For many, their experiences were stepping stones to new opport unities. She went to war: Indiana Women Nurses in the Civil War focuses on the roles women played during the Civil War. particularly women from Indiana who served as nurses during the Civil War. The author, Peggy Brase Seigel, focuses her article particularly on the women from Indiana who served as nurses during the four years. Although we have not yet discussed the Civil War in this class, it is a very important part of American history that we will be discussing at a later date. Even though this article only talks about a certain group of people who played a role in the Civil War, it is very beneficial to the course because it provides some background knowledge about the subject and details about a specific group that played a vital role in the war. I enjoyed reading this article because I felt it had a lot of information that is important when it comes to the history of nursing. Ive never been one who was very interested in history, but with my desire to be a nurse, I think it is interesting to know a little bit about what nursing was like before nursing schools were established and technology was developed. She Went to War: Indiana Women Nurses in the Civil War is a very good article for nursing students or current nurses to read. Someone not going into the nursing field probably would not find it very interesting; however, if it is someone who enjoys history and wants to know more details about the Civil War, this would be a very good article to read. Until I read this article, I never knew that the impact these nurses had on the war was so large. I never realized how much women were looked down on because the men thought they were not capable of the same things they were. In todays society, men and women are looked at as equ al. For these women to have to enter the war field without any previous preparation for what was to come, it shows how brave they must have been. Without these women, many soldiers may have died from diseases and other things. Peggy Brase Seigel wrote this article to show how big of an impact women in Indiana, but also women in general, had on the Civil War. Because so many historians have largely excluded these women, they have not been recognized for the hardships they endured and the risks they faced entering the war zone. Seigel includes many names of the women who helped in the war efforts as nurses to give them the recognition they deserve. Seigel did an excellent job in accomplishing her goals for writing this article with all of the descriptions and details she provides about these women nurses and the thing they endured throughout their time serving in the war.