Latest update January 13th, 2025 3:10 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Substance abuse is increasing and has always been a major contributor to domestic violence

May 28, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
I would like to share some Help & Shelter statistics which are in the public domain and accessible on Help & Shelter website to show the inter-link between domestic violence and substance abuse of which alcohol is by far most prevalent.
Between August 2010 and April 2011 a total of 32%, or 1 in 3 of all domestic violence survivors who accessed Help & Shelter services said the domestic abuse they suffered was alcohol or drug related.
Further, in the months of December 2010 and February and March 2011, more alcohol and or drug related violence was experienced by clients, than physical spousal abuse, which for the past 15 years are the most reported form of abuse. What these figures reveal is that substance abuse is increasing and has always been a major contributor to domestic violence. A check of women murdered by their partners or spouses usually show alcohol consumption by the perpetrators.
A visit to any coastal community will reveal the misery, violence and degradation which alcohol produces. Most alarming is that alcohol consumption among women appears to be increasing and is often hidden because most women do not drink in public places or rum shops, but privately in the home. The huge cost that Guyana pays in increasing and rampant alcoholism is an immense drain to the economy. There are numerous school-aged children who never or do not attend school regularly and much of this is due to neglect fuelled by alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
There is also the huge cost of subsidizing health care for all those people infected or affected by diseases, health conditions, violence and accidents which are alcohol related. Much more people die from alcohol related diseases in Guyana than from contracting HIV.
Why is it that Guyana continues to place immense emphasis on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS when prevention and treatment of alcoholism, which continues to be one of Guyana’s biggest social/economic problem, is grossly under-funded and deliberately marginalised and unrecognised. Just as community health centres in Guyana have free counseling, testing and treatment for HIV so should every community health centre also have free and trained professional and health care services for counseling and treatment of alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse. As we all know HIV alcohol and drug abuse is also interlinked.
Let us remove our heads from the sand or mud and start to take serious action against Guyana’s number 1 addiction problem – alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Let us promote and support a culture in which celebration of achievement of the positive in our society takes place in the absence of alcohol for all the reasons stated.
Finally, I want to ask all Guyanese, and members of the Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities why are their voices not sufficiently raised loudly against this cancer which is eating away at the fabric of Guyanese society and contributing to the death, maiming, physical, mental and psychological abuse and ill health of children, women and men. Is it not time to challenge and defeat the “rum till I die” and “I am a womanizer”culture.
Danuta Radzik

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Kennard Memorial Turf Club releases Race dates for 2025

Kennard Memorial Turf Club releases Race dates for 2025

Jan 13, 2025

Kaieteur Sports – The prestigious Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) situated at Bush Lot Farm Corentyne Berbice has released its racing dates for the year 2025. The club which is one of the...
Read More
Region Six Education Department Renews Golf Initiative with Guyana Golf Association

Region Six Education Department Renews Golf...

Jan 13, 2025

Savory, Persaud show class ahead of Regional C/ships with fifties

Savory, Persaud show class ahead of Regional...

Jan 12, 2025

Spectators experience and playing standards high on the agenda says Minister Ramson

Spectators experience and playing standards high...

Jan 12, 2025

Archery Guyana’s 2024 Senior Barebow Open Officially Declared Open

Archery Guyana’s 2024 Senior Barebow Open...

Jan 12, 2025

Body of Chinese national who fell from new Demerara River bridge recovered

Body of Chinese national who fell from new...

Jan 11, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]