ALCOHOL and

FAMILY

A FAMILY consists of a GROUP of persons tied by

• AFFECTION • LOVE • UNDERSTANDING • INTERESTS • FAMILY TIES

If a FAMILY starts having

ALCOHOL RELATED PROBLEMS

its BALANCE is upset,

its HARMONY is altered,

ROLES and

FUNCTIONS

are MODIFIED

•They start to ARGUE

•They BLAME each other

•They don’t DIALOGUE anymore

Up to:

• PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

• QUITTING home

• SELF-ISOLATION from family, from the COMMUNITY, TO HIDE the PROBLEM

SEXUALINTERCOURSES LESS FREQUENT and WITHOUT RESPECT

PROBLEMS of the COUPLE

OFTEN we see the so-called “CHRONIC JEALOUSY”

In REALITY the PROBLEM is CAUSED by ALCOHOLwhich PROVOKES LACK of SEXUAL STIMULI and IMPOTENCE

The drinker believes the partner is refusing sexual activity because he or she is NOT FAITHFULto him/her.

• Family EXPENSES increase tobuy ALCOHOL BEVERAGES

• Family INCOME decreases on accountproblems at the WORKPLACE

• Family budget is WORSENING

• The partners ARGUE also for FINANCIAL REASONS

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

ALL the RESPONSIBILITIES fall on

the shoulders of the one

who DOES NOT DRINK

The one who DOES NOT DRINK

becomes PROTECTIVE

towards the other family members,

but in reality extending to

them

ANXIETY and WORRIES, and

trying to form a COALITION

AGAINST THE DRINKER

The Family members:

• reduce DIALOGUE and mutual UNDERSTANDING

• Reduce PROTECTION and SOLIDARITY

The Family is no more a placeof AFFECTION and EDUCATION

Family is no longer UNITED facing the COMMUNITY

no dialogue

no communication

NO FUNNO AFFECTION

The one WHO DRINKS is OFTEN ABSENT or QUARRELING

Family then becomes a place where there is:

• Relationship between the Family and the

COMMUNITY is WORSENING• No more keeping in touch with FRIENDS• No more PLANNING• LIVING STANDARD is worsening

FAMILY SLOWLY GETS ISOLATED

BALANCE and HARMONY can be REINSTATE through a change IN LIFE STYLE

• Change involves the DRINKER

• ALL the FAMILY MEMBERS

• the COMMUNITY

in the CLUB

ALCOHOL and

SOCIALPROBLEMS

- PROBLEMS at the WORKPLACE (QUARRELING,

LACK OF ATTENTION, UNRELIABILITY) - DRIVING and DRINKING- VIOLENCE at HOME- CRIMINAL OFFENCES

SOCIAL HARM:ACUTE

CHRONIC- SEPARATION / DIVORCE - FINANCIAL PROBLEMS - IMPOVERISHMENT - HOUSING PROBLEMS - LEGAL PROBLEMS (CRIMINAL and CIVIL LAW)

ALCOHOL does change your behaviour

INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS

ALL the PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE AFFECTED

SHUTTING ONESELF UP

ISOLATION

EXCESSIVE and FALSE FELLOWSHIP

FALSE FRIENDS: ONLY to DRINK

FIGHTING

VIOLENCE

CRIMINALITY

Nicolini

Less EFFICIENCY

PROBLEMS at the WORKPLACE

More NON ATTENDANCE

Can easily lose the JOB

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT BUREAUBUREAU

SOCIAL PROBLEMSCONTACTS with the COMMUNITY are LESS FREQUENT

FAMILY is slowly MARGINATED

• REDUCTION of VISUAL FIELD (tunnel vision)

• More SENSITIVE to DAZZLING

ALCOHOL and ROAD CRASHES with a B.A.C. as low as 0,2 gr./l.

• HAZARDS are UNDERESTIMATED

• EXCESSIVE CONFIDENCE in our own performances

• REACTION TIME slowed down

• LESS ATTENTION and CONCENTRATION

• DIPLOPIA (seeing double)

• DISTORTED PERCEPTIONS up to ALLUCINATIONI

IF B.A.C. INCREASES:

• PROBLEMS with COORDINATION of MOVEMENTS

• TROUBLES with NIGHT VISION

• REACTION TIME INCREASES FURTHER

REACTION TIME:• The AVERAGE REACTION TIME

of a sober driver is 0,75 SECONDS

• With B.A.C. at 0,5 gr./l. IT DOUBLES to 1,5 SECONDS

In ITALY the max. Alcohol Blood Content (B.A.C.) to drive was 0,8 gr./l. NOW it’s 0,5 gr./l. In OTHER COUNTRIES it’s 0 ‰ to 0,2 ‰

• 10% of HOSPITALIZATIONS

• 20.000.000 di WORKING DAYS LOST

• 5% of SOCIAL PENSIONS for invalidity

ALCOHOL – RELATEDSOCIAL BURDEN in ITALY

• Alcohol causes nearly 1 in 10 of all ILL-HEALTH AND PREMATURE DEATH

• It causes 40 to 60% of ALL DEATHS CAUSED BY INTENTIONAL OR CAUSAL WOUNDS

ALCOHOL – RELATEDSOCIAL BURDEN in the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

W.H.O. Regional Office for Europe European Action Plan on Alcohol 2000 - 2005

• ALCOHOL is N. 3 RISK FACTOR OF DEATH and DISABILITY

• ALCOHOL is the MAIN RISK FACTOR for YOUTH

ALCOHOL – RELATEDSOCIAL BURDEN in the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Health High Institute Alcohol Observatory 2006

• PHYSICAL AND PSYCHIC DESEASES

• LABOUR AND DOMESTIC ACCIDENTS

• ROAD ACCIDENTS

• MURDERS AND SUICIDES

ALCOHOL – RELATEDSOCIAL BURDEN in the the WORLD

In ITALY 30.000 - 40.000 per year

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS

In EUROPE

(15 countries)

about

200.000

per year

Death Triumph – Clusone (BG)