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What do we know about the ravages of alcohol?

Jul 04, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
My Editorial of October 1, 1986, Vo12 Number 9, in the Inner Beat, monthly magazine, York Finch General Hospital, Toronto, Canada, is reproduced below, followed by what I perceive to be two serious questions in year 2010.
Editorial “Alcoholism — How Serious is the Problem?”
A recent article in a Toronto newspaper began with the headline “Alcoholism causes devastating amounts of human suffering”. My immediate reaction was that another story on drinking and driving was being offered, and I was right. However, I got to thinking that not every driver drinks but nearly every adult consumes some form of alcohol, so, what other major consequences result from drinking?
Preliminary research has revealed some astounding facts contained in statistics issued by the United States Health and Human Services in 1983 and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1982. For example, alcohol is involved in 41% of all assault cases; 60% of sex crimes against children; 60% of child abuse; 70% of all murders; 53% of fire deaths; 50% of rapes; 70% of fights and assault in homes; 37% of suicides; 36% of all pedestrian accidents; 34% of drowning; 50% of skiing accidents; 22% of all home accidents; 55% of all arrests and more admissions to mental institutions than any other cause.
The statistics show also that alcohol is involved in 50% of all traffic accidents in which more than 25,000 people are killed and one million people seriously injured, annually. In addition, alcohol is the number one killer of people under age 25. If these facts were still true in 1986, I wonder how they relate to Toronto and does anyone know whether Alcoholism causes devastating amounts of human suffering in our community”.
You will note Editor, that the statistics do not include the numerous devastating medical consequences of alcohol consumption. Apart from causing drunkenness, what do we know about alcohol consumption, and who will educate my fellow Guyanese?
George L. Munroe
Executive Member Canadian College of Health Services Executives

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