~FOOTPRINTS MINISTRY, INC.~
(BRINGING HOPE TO BEREAVED FAMILIES)
Skip & Jerry Mudge
6605 Mallard Park Dr
Charlotte, NC 28269
704 509-6603

 

 

~THE TRAGIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON FAMILIES~
Part 2: Other Consequences of Drinking
Skip & Jerry Mudge

 Proverbs 20:1 - "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise

Ephesians 5:18 - "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, 
but be filled with Spirit."

We did an article on Drinking & Driving in our July/August 2004 Newsletter.  There are a substantial number of families on our mailing list where alcohol was involved in the death of a child or loved one other than drunk driving.  Because of this, we want to focus on other destructive effects of alcohol on families 

A strong association exists between alcohol and suicide.  Several studies have shown that between 18 and 66% of suicide victims have alcohol in their blood at the time of their death.  People who drink are twice as likely as others to commit suicide in the home.  One study suggests that alcohol may be a factor in "impulsive" as opposed to "planned" suicide.  Another study found that states in which more spirits are sold per person have higher suicide rates.

A study of coroner's reports and death certificates in Pennsylvania found that 45% of adolescent suicide victims had alcohol in their blood.

A recent study of three states found that suicide rates among 18-20 year olds decreased when the minimum legal drinking age was raised to 21, representing 424 lives per year in those three states.

Teen suicide victims who were intoxicated (a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% or more) were 7 times more likely to have used a firearm than suicide victims with no alcohol in their blood.

A study in New Mexico found that reducing alcohol consuption and access to guns might help reduce the suicide rate among woman.  The impulsive nature of suicides is facilitated by drinking, which clouds judgment.  A similar study in PA found that reducing youth's access to alcohol and guns reduces the suicide rate.

A study in St. Louis of alcoholics who committed suicide revealed that they were more likely to have four or more of the following characteristics:

1) continued drinking
2) a major depressive episode
3) prior thoughts of suicide
4) poor social support
5) serious medical illness
6) unemployment
7) living alone

Another study found that:

1) People who drink have a doubled increase in risk of suicide.
2) People who have trouble at work due to drinking have a 6-fold increased risk of suicide.
3) People who have been hospitalized with drinking problems had a 10-fold increased risk of death by suicide.
4) People who do not drink and live with others who do not drink are 1.7 times more likely to die by homicide in the home.

There is a wealth of information in a report entitled Alcohol and Suicide: Facts in Brief at http://www.tf.org/tf/alcohol/ariv/facts/suicide5.html
 
 

 

~ALCOHOL & HOMICIDE~

There was a 10-year study in Australia on the relationship between alcohol and violent crime.  This is summarized in Alchol and Homicide: A Routine Activities Analysis by Carlos Carach and Rowena Conroy.  Their research suggests a strong association between alcohol consumption and violent behavior, in spite of the fact that not all drinkers are violent nor are those who are violent always under the influence of alcohol.  Some of the their key findings are:

1) Alcohol impairs a person's information processing capacity, thus increasing the potential for misunderstandings in interpersoanl interactions, leading to violence.  Alcohol impairs judgment, causing individuals to put themselves in situations at high risk of violence.  Chronic alcohol abuse may be a marker for antisocial personality, which is associated with increased rates of violence.

2)  For the United States, estimates suggest that between 50% and 80% of assaults and homicides involve alcohol.  Prison inmates detained for violent offenses have substantial alcohol problems.

3) Woman are more likely to be victimized in their own homes than are men, whereas men are more likely to be victimized in public places.  That's definately true here in Charlotte; some bars are notorious for frequent violence, with frequent murders.
 

 

 

~ALCOHOL & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE~

ARIV (Alcohol-Related Injury & Violence) also has summaries on Alcohol & Domestic Violence at http://www.tf.org/tf/alcohol/ariv/dv4.html

Some finding are:

1) Women whose partners abused alcohol were 3 to 6 times more likely than other women to be assaulted by their partners.
2) Higher drinking among male partners was associated with women's greater risk of being assaulted.
3) Other factors associated with high levels of partner violence include experiencing violence during childhood & the tendency to act impulsively.

Another study found that increasing the beer excise tax reduces domestic violence against children.  Also reducing the alcohol outlets reduces domestic violence against children. 
 

 

~WHAT TO DO?~

We could go on about the evils of alcohol, but most of these facts are well known.  Countless movies have been made about "mean drunks."  There are quite a few on our Birthday/Anniversary Prayer list who got there because of problems with alcohol.  We know of one girl who drank heavily so she could commit suicide.  Some (underage) young men were murdered at bars they had no business being at.  My own father, and uncles, could be "mean drunks."

"Going to church" unfortunately is not the answer.  Before I became a Christian, I attended dances at many Main LIne churches where liquor was served.  Not all fundamental churches have alcohol education/prevention programs and teens are falling away like crazy, especially when they hit college & someone sticks a beer in their hand.  If a young person hasn't established a scriptural conviction against drinking alcohol before then, they're gone!"  There are a multitude of educational programs from a secular point of view but very few scriptural ones.  Below is a Resource List for materials on alcohol education/prevention for young people.

IF ANY READER KNOWS OF A RELIGIOUS BASED STUDY PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, PLEASE SEND US CONTACT INFORMATION!!!!!!

http://www.health.orgtakes you to the website of the National Clearinghouse For Alcohol and Drug Prevention.  This is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) one-stop resource for hundreds of free resources.  We've received: Four Ways to Include Drug Prevention in Your Religious Program; Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug Abuse: Challenges and Responses for Faith Leaders; Ready, Set, Listen! (for kids) plus videos aimed at teenagers etc.

http://www.centurycouncil.org  offers CD-ROM educational programs for schools, parents of teens ready for college etc.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has a free booklet entitled Substance Abuse: A Handbook for Young People (Item #25793002) which can be ordered at http://www.pcusa.org

There's a free four-chapter Bible Study Course on Drinking Alcoholic Beverages, published by: Liberty Gospel Tracts, 11845 W Carson City Rd, Greenville MI 48838 or go to:  http://www.libertygospeltracts.com

The following is from Christian Book at  http://www.christian book.com

Teens-Alcohol & Tobacco Video

Retail Price $19.95
CBD Price $15.99
You save $3.96 (19%)
CBD Stock Number: WW770028
Availability: In Stock

Description: There are over 18 million problem drinkers in the US.  Many of them are students.  Increasing numbers of students are taking up smoking and many are getting cancer from smokeless tobacco.  Nearly all of us have been touched by human tragedies caused by alcohol & tobacco.  In this fast-paced and lively video, students speak for themselves on alcohol and tobacco.  Student friendly hosts point out the grim facts about alcohol and tobacco and briefly address five biblical principles to help students commit themselves to an alcohol and tobacco free lifestyle.
 
 

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST & LIVING FOR HIM IS THE BEST ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM.  I HAVE SEEN MANY ALCOHOLICS AND FEW DRUG ADDICTS GET CONVERTED AND CHANGE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

IN CHRIST
A FOUNDATION
OF 
SOLID FAITH

~TRAGIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL -PART 1~

~RESERVED~

~CHOICE PAGE INDEX~