THE DRUG THAT’S ALCOHOL

Tanaka: Hey Siri, please play ‘Swimming Pool (drank)’ by Kendrick Lamar from Apple Music!

Siri: Ok now playing, ‘Swimming Pool (drank)’ by Kendrick Lamar from Apple Music.

Pour up (drank), headshot (drank)
Sit down (drank), stand up (drank)
Pass out (drank), wake up (drank)
Faded (drank), faded (drank).

Alcohol is everywhere and comes in many different forms! I mean there is a song, ‘Wine, beer, whiskey’ by Little Big Town, which says;

The wine, the beer, the whiskey
Are the only things that fix me
I’m not saying it’s a problem
I can stop it if I wanna
But the wine, the beer, the whiskey
They always get me.

If you have been following my blog since its inception, it should be no surprise that I am Zimbabwean. In my country, there is a famous song, ‘Handina Mufaro’ by Killer T;

Nhasi ndohudhudhutsa kuita sendicharutsa
Vhura chibhodhoro, haikona kutya doro

Iwe beer, handina mufaro kana iwe usipo (usipo)
Mumwe wangu unondibata zviribho (zviribho)
Handina mufaro kana iwe usipo (usipo)
Hwahwa yeah

Chimbouya nechimwe, zvakapisa ini handimwe
Rova kudhudhudza ndinouya nechimwe
Vhura maCider, dillution tasimbisa
Maice toisa (malagger akawandisa).

During my uni days in Saint Petersburg, one of my favorite songs was, ‘Розовое вино’ by Элджей & FEDUK;

Я похож на птицу!

На принца?

На принца или на орла, эй

Я беру вторую бутылку розового вина

All of this serves to demonstrate that there is undoubtedly a song about drinking in your language regardless of what it might be.

By definition, a drug is any chemical substance that, when taken, induces a change in the physiology or psychology of an organism.

Alcohol, also known as Ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is an intoxicating component in beer, wine, and liquor. The fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches produces alcohol. Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed into the circulation from the stomach and small intestine. Enzymes in the liver metabolize alcohol. However, because the liver can only absorb a tiny quantity of alcohol at a time, excess alcohol circulates throughout the body. The severity of alcohol’s effect on the body is proportional to the amount consumed.

According to a recent survey, alcohol is the number 1 most abused drug worldwide. Globally, an estimated 406,5 million people consume alcohol, but 258 million are abusers, including binge, underage, and heavy drinking.

Despite being widely accessible and legal in most countries, alcohol continues to be one of the most destructive drugs. Every year, alcohol consumption kills three million people and causes more than 200 illnesses and injuries.

I myself am among those 406,5 million. I love my wine! I love it red, dry, and aged! On the other hand, that 258 million, I am not a part of. Friends of mine are undoubtedly among that number. They prefer to refer to themselves as “functional alcoholics.” To them, alcohol, specifically beer, helps them deal with life and all its complications.

We were all introduced to our first sip by different figures in our lives. For some, it was a grandparent, a father, an uncle, an aunt, an older cousin, etc. My love for wine was influenced by Olivia Pope. Those of you who have watched Scandal, (the American version) would know her. Olivia would unwind every night with a bottle of wine and a bag of popcorn, whether she was watching a show, watching a movie, or sobbing over her whirlwind relationship with Fitz. Olivia, though a fictional character was well-educated, sophisticated, poised, and the president’s mistress. My mind instinctively connected wine with sophistication. The older I got, the more refined my palate became and so did my wine choice. I transitioned from red, sweet, wine to red, dry, wine then my uncle, Uncle Derek, introduced me to the world of red, dry, aged wines, popularly known as vintage wines. Boy oh boy, once you go vintage red, you never go back!!

I am not implying that drinking in its entirety is bad. Let me reiterate that, alcohol is not dangerous in moderation. Medically, a glass of wine is recommended because it contains high levels of polyphenols (antioxidants) that have been linked to improved cardiac and gut health. Some experts even argue that whiskey is healthier than wine as a double whisky contains around 105 calories, compared to a standard glass of red wine containing around 160 calories. Hello, Calorie Watchers, how y’all doing? The enzymes found in the spirit even help to stimulate the stomach enzymes, which help to break down food. Amazingly, whisky can even kill infection-causing bacteria – which no other spirit does.

What then is ”moderation”? Defining moderate, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines state that moderate alcohol use for healthy adults generally means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. Examples of one drink include Beer: 355 milliliters, and Wine:148 milliliters.

It goes on further to define binge drinking as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women.

For men, heavy drinking is generally defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.

Alcohol abuse has become the new standard in my region of the globe, particularly among young people. Some attribute it to high unemployment rates, others to peer pressure, and others to bad/evil spirits. The issue has come to be a major source of concern since it is linked to an increase in crime rates, including robberies and sexual assault. The availability of high-proof alcohol (alcoholic content of 60-80%) at low rates, as low as one dollar per 100 ml bottle, makes it easier for these abusers to fuel their addiction. In my country, many grown men deemed father figures and breadwinners in their family settings have fallen victim to these alcoholic spirits like Kambwa, Twabam, Kachasu, Saint, and the famous cough syrup Bronco. Just like any other drug, once you taste it, you become hooked.

Today’s blog post is short, let us quickly look at the health problems associated with excessive alcohol use.

Excessive drinking especially of spirits with high alcoholic content both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, including:

• Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and esophagus; hypertension (high blood pressure); and psychological disorders.
• Unintentional injuries eg., road-traffic accidents, falls, drowning, burns, and firearm injuries.
• Violence, eg., child maltreatment, homicide, and suicide.
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant.
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Alcohol use disorder (previously known as alcohol dependence or alcoholism, is a chronic disease). Some of the signs and symptoms of a severe alcohol use disorder could include:

1. Inability to limit drinking.
2. Continuing to drink despite personal or professional problems.
3. Needing to drink more to get the same effect.
4. Wanting a drink so badly you cannot think of anything else.

There is strong scientific evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk for these seven cancers, mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, breast (in women), colon and rectum. The evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks, the higher his or her risk of developing alcohol-associated cancer. The risk varies by many factors, such as the quantity of alcohol consumed and the type of cancer.

Now, you might be wondering, how do I know if I have a drinking problem?

Based on what I have written so far, we have all had an alcohol problem in the past. The professional thing for me to say would be drinking is a problem if it causes trouble in your relationships, in school, in social activities, or in how you think and feel.

If you are concerned that either you or someone in your family might have a drinking problem, consult your family doctor.

That is all for now, my fellow earth inhabitants. Remember to drink responsibly and in moderation. But if something must kill a man, it should be red, dry, and aged!

Cheers! Till next time!!