Russia’s Health Catastrophe of Epic Proportions.
By Kevin Mihakwa | September 18, 2009
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According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption and underlying problems have significantly increased over the decades.
Statistics are displaying that developing countries have the biggest alcohol consumption problems in the world today. Since third world countries lack the kinds of alcoholism prevention and treatment programs of developed countries, it becomes more of an epidemic as years pass.
Researchers claim that over 1.8 million deaths annually are caused by alcoholism. A disturbing number of those deaths take place in countries that used to be the in Soviet Union and territories of the Russian Federation. The World Health Organization reports that your health will face an extreme risk if you consume more than 8 liters of alcohol per person, per year. Russians consume a whopping 15 liters on average of alcohol per person, per year, which the WHO claims is part of the downfall of that society.
Alcohol affects more than you health in a negative manner. It can contribute indirectly to broken families, child neglect, violence, car accidents, workforce malaise and absenteeism, and even prostitution, as well as other negative acts. Russians have a long history of above average alcohol abuse. Since people who lived in that area had a reputation of a being less resistant to alcohol’s effects, making them even more addicted. Alcoholism quickly began to eat away at the fabric of Russian society, much like Native Americans or Nordic people.
During Lenin’s era a ban on production and consumption of all alcoholic beverages was initiated in the attempt to save the nation. This prohibition did not last long, and was eventually lifted by Stalin’s cabinet. Years later in 1985, M, Gorbachev tried to re-initiate such a ban. Fruit juices and soft drinks became heavily promoted, availability of alcohol on the market was lowered to the minimum and the prices on it tripled at once. On the downside, this deficit of alcoholic beverages led to a widespread consumption of other chemical substances that contained ethyl or ethanol (solvents, colognes etc) and an underground production of popular, vodka-like substance called “samogon”.
The Russians began to dislike Mr. Gorbachev due to his efforts to curtail alcohol consumption. Gorbachev’s efforts proved to be in vain when Yeltsin came to power and the USSR dissolved. It’s not necessary to remind anyone of the drunken speeches Yeltsin gave as president when he spoke to the nation on New Year’s Eve.
According to the CIA’s annual report, Russians come in 162nd in terms of life expectancy. They live, on average, 66.3 years, which is the same as people living in Bhutan and New Guinea. The reason behind the low life expectancy rate among Russians is directly linked to alcoholism, but the Russians are also known for their mistrust to health items such as resveratrol vitamins, which does not contribute to the overall health of the nation.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be found in 17% of Russian babies in modern years. Since 1998, alcohol and beer have tripled in sales numbers, contributing to the already terrible situation. Advertisement of beer through television and billboards is increasing in frequency and these campaigns are usually targeted at young people.
In the rapidly growing number of television and billboard ads, alcohol is presented as a status symbol and a way to live life to the fullest, instead of showing its negative effects on the people and the country. The Russian government must take its country and its people back from a rampant substance abuse problem by taking extreme measures on the alcohol companies and revolutionize treatment programs.
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Topics: HEALTH | No Comments »
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