Post by jj on Mar 6, 2006 8:30:45 GMT 1
"Green Crescent (Yeþilay) Week" has begun in Turkey, a week that takes it name from a foundation started in 1920 by Hilal Ahdar to fight the effects of alcohol and drug addiction. To celebrate the nearly century-ago founding of this organization, March 1-7 is devoted to examining the harmful effects that alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse can have on families and societies.
Dr. Recep Akdur of Ankara University's medical faculty made a statement to reporters this week timed to coincide with Green Crescent Week in which he spoke about how alcohol abuse led to other bad habits in society. Speaking about the risk faced by those who are ingesting alcohol for the first time, Dr. Akdur pointed to "toxicity," a poisoning that occurs in bodies not used to foreign substances contained in alcoholic drinks. "For example, a person who drinks a double whiskey for the first time ever, never before having had a drink, may open themselves up to 'toxicity' in their body. Toxicity is not just limited to those who drink large amounts of alcohol."
Akdur also talked about cirrhosis, a serious liver disease seen in those addicted to alcohol, noting that excessive alcohol intake could also result in gastritis, liver infection, high tension, heart and arterial disease, pancreas ailments, numbing of hands and feet, and a panoply of other health complaints. "These are diseases affecting vital organs. Maybe addiction to alcohol cannot kill at once, but it can lead to death."
Akdur discussed the connection between alcohol and mental states, noting that, despite the fact that alcoholics may appear in the beginning to be fun loving and joyful people, they inevitably turn into depressed people.
Alcoholics are often unable to connect with those around them, Akdur said. "In this situation, families begin to fall apart. And because they [alcoholics] are people who often make scenes, they have a hard time holding down jobs. When they have no money left for alcohol, they will turn to illegal ways of getting money."
Akdur also turned attention to what he called one of the most negative effects of alcohol addiction on society, that of traffic accidents. "Alcohol leads the way to disaster at home and at work, but the worst is the road accidents. Alcohol addiction alone is not the reason for traffic accidents, but everyone who drinks and drives are a danger to society."
Akdur also said that alcoholism clears the way for a myriad of other addictions. "The risk of going from alcoholism to drug addiction is very high. Usually, drugs and other addictive substances are sold in places where alcohol is also being imbibed."
Alcohol consumption on the rise:
Akdur warned that figures show the rate of alcohol consumption is rising in the country. The doctor pointed to insufficient public education and information in society as one of the main factors behind this rise. Touching on why youth are turning more towards alcohol, Akdur said it had to do in part with a desire by youth to prove their independence as well as a desire to copy adults. "Another reason for rising alcohol consumption is that controls by people at the head of public organizations are not being carried out. The required people are not doing their jobs on this front."
Noting the role that both beer and low-alcohol drinks play in growing alcohol consumption, Akdur says "these drinks, which appear harmless and attractive to drink, are clearing a path towards addiction for youth and even children, as more and more of these drinks are consumed."
Akdur spoke about the urgent need to ban the sale of alcoholic drinks in places where youth congregate as well as the need to tighten laws restricting alcohol sales to people over the age of 18. He noted that the sale of alcohol in larger supermarkets was, in particular, an uncontrolled arena.
Beer:
Akdur pointed to figures from the Tobacco and Alcohol Drinks Market Control Organization (TAPKD), which show that beer consumption is on the rise in Turkey.
According to statistics from TAPKD, while Turkish consumption of alcoholic beverages like raki, wine, cognac, liqueur, vodka, and gin fluctuated between 2000 and 2005, the only beverage to show a significant increase in consumption was beer. Figures show the level of beer consumed in Turkey rose from 690 million liters in 2000 to 523 million liters in the first six months of 2005 alone, painting a statistical portrait that shows a near doubling of national beer consumption over a period of five years.
Dr. Recep Akdur of Ankara University's medical faculty made a statement to reporters this week timed to coincide with Green Crescent Week in which he spoke about how alcohol abuse led to other bad habits in society. Speaking about the risk faced by those who are ingesting alcohol for the first time, Dr. Akdur pointed to "toxicity," a poisoning that occurs in bodies not used to foreign substances contained in alcoholic drinks. "For example, a person who drinks a double whiskey for the first time ever, never before having had a drink, may open themselves up to 'toxicity' in their body. Toxicity is not just limited to those who drink large amounts of alcohol."
Akdur also talked about cirrhosis, a serious liver disease seen in those addicted to alcohol, noting that excessive alcohol intake could also result in gastritis, liver infection, high tension, heart and arterial disease, pancreas ailments, numbing of hands and feet, and a panoply of other health complaints. "These are diseases affecting vital organs. Maybe addiction to alcohol cannot kill at once, but it can lead to death."
Akdur discussed the connection between alcohol and mental states, noting that, despite the fact that alcoholics may appear in the beginning to be fun loving and joyful people, they inevitably turn into depressed people.
Alcoholics are often unable to connect with those around them, Akdur said. "In this situation, families begin to fall apart. And because they [alcoholics] are people who often make scenes, they have a hard time holding down jobs. When they have no money left for alcohol, they will turn to illegal ways of getting money."
Akdur also turned attention to what he called one of the most negative effects of alcohol addiction on society, that of traffic accidents. "Alcohol leads the way to disaster at home and at work, but the worst is the road accidents. Alcohol addiction alone is not the reason for traffic accidents, but everyone who drinks and drives are a danger to society."
Akdur also said that alcoholism clears the way for a myriad of other addictions. "The risk of going from alcoholism to drug addiction is very high. Usually, drugs and other addictive substances are sold in places where alcohol is also being imbibed."
Alcohol consumption on the rise:
Akdur warned that figures show the rate of alcohol consumption is rising in the country. The doctor pointed to insufficient public education and information in society as one of the main factors behind this rise. Touching on why youth are turning more towards alcohol, Akdur said it had to do in part with a desire by youth to prove their independence as well as a desire to copy adults. "Another reason for rising alcohol consumption is that controls by people at the head of public organizations are not being carried out. The required people are not doing their jobs on this front."
Noting the role that both beer and low-alcohol drinks play in growing alcohol consumption, Akdur says "these drinks, which appear harmless and attractive to drink, are clearing a path towards addiction for youth and even children, as more and more of these drinks are consumed."
Akdur spoke about the urgent need to ban the sale of alcoholic drinks in places where youth congregate as well as the need to tighten laws restricting alcohol sales to people over the age of 18. He noted that the sale of alcohol in larger supermarkets was, in particular, an uncontrolled arena.
Beer:
Akdur pointed to figures from the Tobacco and Alcohol Drinks Market Control Organization (TAPKD), which show that beer consumption is on the rise in Turkey.
According to statistics from TAPKD, while Turkish consumption of alcoholic beverages like raki, wine, cognac, liqueur, vodka, and gin fluctuated between 2000 and 2005, the only beverage to show a significant increase in consumption was beer. Figures show the level of beer consumed in Turkey rose from 690 million liters in 2000 to 523 million liters in the first six months of 2005 alone, painting a statistical portrait that shows a near doubling of national beer consumption over a period of five years.
