The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Even elders can fall prey to alcoholism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Even elders can fall prey to alcoholism

Staff Reporter

They take to drinking due to isolation and loneliness after retirement

CHENNAI: It is not just the young who could take to alcohol and find it difficult to give up. Even the elderly could get addicted, said Anita Rao, director of medical services, TTK Hospital.

Dr. Rao, who set in motion a dialogue among senior citizens at a get-together organised by Dignity Foundation on Friday, explained that when people find themselves at a loose end after retirement, they might take to drinking.

They often find themselves alone and begin drinking first with friends and then when they are alone at home.

People drink to overcome loneliness and isolation, she said.

Drinking is a substitute for not properly planning their retirement.

Ageing starts at 30 and by 60 the body becomes more prone to toxic substances, she said.

"The body does not require alcohol at all. Ageing is a normal process and alcohol use hammers home [the ageing process]."

Biologically, women are protected because of the burden the society places on them.

Unlike in the United States of America where for every two men admitted for treatment, one is a woman, in India, for every 100 men who come to the clinic for treatment, only one is a woman. It has been found that children of alcoholics often tend to take to alcoholism.

Boys become alcoholics while girls tend to fall in love with addicts.

Dr. Rao said a form with four questions was provided to every person who comes for treatment.

If the person answers even two of the questions affirmatively, then it may be concluded that he is an alcoholic. Anyone who takes to the bottle on waking up or early in the day; resorts to cutting off alcohol consumption as a control measure; gets angry when someone talks about his drinking or feels guilty about his drinking bouts needs a review of his condition, she said.

If a person's drinking affects his physical, social, psychological, occupational or financial health, then he needs intervention, she said. Dignity Foundation, a non-government organisation for senior citizens, organises a meeting every month to discuss topics of relevance to the members and the society.

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