Harmful drinking isn’t addiction, says expert

KOCHI: Harmful drinking should not be confused with addiction and any government is duty-bound to control the former with measures to reduce the demand and supply of liquor while the latter required medical treatment, opined Dr Vivek Benegal, professor of psychiatry, Nimhans, Bengaluru, on Saturday.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of Sipcon 2014, the 30th annual conference of the Kerala chapter of Indian Psychiatry Society, here, Dr Vivek, however, expressed doubts over extreme steps like prohibition in Kerala which was surrounded by states where liquor was available in plenty.
Reminding how Andhra Pradesh had to abandon prohibition following tragedies caused by illicit liquor, the doctor instead suggested a systematic plan by Kerala government in creating awareness against misuse of liquor among the people. “But I would say Kerala has no other option but take steps to reduce the per capita consumption of liquor which is the highest in the country,” he added.
According to Dr Vivek, the biggest fallout of harmful drinking is on health. “There are about 70 diseases linked to alcohol consumption,” he pointed out.
Dr Vivek added that alcohol addiction, like any other addiction, required treatment as it was a brain disorder. “In fact, signs of addiction are visible in early childhood itself. Such children are impulsive, get easily bored, have attention deficiency disorder and prone to violence. They have difficulty in learning from mistakes,” he noted.
Social circumstances like bad parenting, however, could add to the chances of getting an addiction, he said.