Written By: Onyiyechi Roseline
As you read this article, there are important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones.
Would you rather lose your life? Get STDs? Get an unwanted pregnancy that may lead to an abortion? Become a drunkard and lose respect? Would you rather throw away your gifts on the platform of alcohol?
Do you have an answer yet? Now lets get into the details of Alcohol as it relates to African Youths.
Alcohol is a product of fermentation of mainly starch foods and other food classes. The main chemical component is ethanol which is an alcohol. Sugar, which is the parent constituent is what undergoes the fermentation process, so any food type which has any of the classes of sugar can be fermented to get alcohol.
In popular cultures, alcohol has been termed as a drink for the brave and bold. It is not served everywhere and depends on the occasion and location. It is often used to celebrate or used to ‘chill’ after a long stressful day among folks who take it. It is also taken leisurely, for the pleasure of taking it.
In some cultures, it is used for rites and rituals involving several ceremonies and sometimes is demanded for whenever an individual is participating in these traditions. Hence the cultural aspect has made certain individuals view alcohol as a connection to their heritage and culture.
When advertising alcohol, most of the companies depict an image of extra confident men and women who are able to do more tasks, take bolder steps and accomplish more because of the alcohol they take. They never show us the embarrassing and true picture of how alcohol truly affects lives.
Youths are the bubbling and energetic group of individuals in a society, and the African youths are one of the most energetic. From clubs, to parties, to beaches to get-together’s, anywhere, youths would make it more lively, their adrenaline pumping heavily. Also this is the age of trying to take on adventures, risks, explore and just enjoying life. The need to pump this excess energy into something may not be channeled well by every one.
Now, before we talk about the connection between youths and alcohol, we would talk a little about the common foods we eat that are alcoholic.
FOODS
- Pap: this varies from corn to millet to guinea corn. To make these, they must undergo fermentation and sometimes if they are left too long in water, can be used to make local gin
- Kunu: this is a Nigerian drink which is a more liquid form of pap. It is well known refreshing drink which is relished nationwide. It also undergoes the process of fermentation to give it a distinct taste, the sour fermented taste. This also if kept for a longer period without proper refrigeration can be used to make local gin. Once, my brother talked about a classmate who stored his drink for three days and drank it afterwards. He became intoxicated causing the rest to laugh at his strange behavior.
- Yoghurt: this is fermented dairy. It has good health benefits and not much is know about getting intoxicated from taking it.
- Garri: this is a well eaten food in eastern Nigeria. Other parts of Nigeria also eat this food. It is either made to be eaten with traditional soup or drank with water, sugar, groundnuts or any nuts or protein of choice. It is made from cassava, dried and grounded and fried. Some specific types e.g Ijebu garri from western Nigeria have more sour taste and is usually drank instead.
- Cheese: this made from fermented diary. Common in Northern Africa and Arabian countries. It is almost a daily food for Northern Africans.
- Bread: this is made from fermenting yeast and sugar with flour. It is one of the most commonly eaten food but not much is known about it causing intoxication.
We will look at certain drinks, that are made purposely as alcoholic drinks.
DRINKS
- Cider: it is made from fruit juice. Fruits contain glucose and fructose. Both which can undergo fermentation to produce alcohol
- Mead: made from honey and water
- Beer: fermented malt, wheat, maize e.c.t
- Wine: fermented grapes
Studies have shown that less than or a cup of red wine is beneficial for health. It reduces the risk of heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, stroke, atherosclerosis e.c.t
But the major question lies: How many can afford red wine?
The easily affordable and available are beer and the locally made gin or whiskey and these drinks have very high concentration of alcohol that can cause much make damage than good.
It has been said that “Alcohol can be a food, drug, or poison depending on the dose”. Every iota of truth is found in this statement. In small quantities, it relieves tension, headaches, anxiety, nausea and in large quantities? We talk about that later.
Let us go back to youths. I had mentioned earlier that this group of individuals are the most energetic age group and therefore they seek ways to explore their energy. Most take on daring tasks which sometimes are not developmental at all. They are at greater risks of drug abuse, crime, illegal social practices and other vices. They sometimes need stimulants to help boost their confidence among peers and other age group. There is also the competitive attitude of being able to dare and do what others don’t dim fit to do, this also leads to the search for eternal stimulants, of which alcohol is one.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
We will look at the manifestation of excess alcohol and the health hazards that are comes as a result.
Alcohol toxicity depends on tolerance. Some individuals have high tolerance and need more bottles to get high, while some are intoxicated by taking a small cup or we can say a newbie. Just like opioids or any other stimulants, alcohol needs higher dosing to cause the required effect of intoxication.
It causes euphoria, which is a state of excitement and intense happiness and what more is needed in parties or clubs than a little more intense excitement that alcohol provides.
Some of the signs that shows that the intake of alcohol has become a disorder includes:
- Psychological impairment
- Behavioral changes
- Inability to restrain from taking it
- It starts affecting work and relationships
- Clinical changes
- Social life is affected
A drunken man is said to be at the most truthful state but also he is also at his most foolish and vulnerable state. Due to the depressing effect of alcohol, the individual cannot make right decisions, protect themselves and are prone to accidents. The individual staggers and is in a state of stupor, cannot coordinate movement. They cannot handle machineries or do any meaningful activity.
For youths, they are prone to engaging in highly destructive activities when drunk which includes:
- Driving recklessly
- Engaging in unprotected sex
- Violent activities like fighting
- Armed robbery
- Assault and rape
There are more instances but let us go with these.
Let us look at the possible health effects of alcohol.
LIVER
Fatty liver: is reversible if alcohol intake is reduced or stopped. The body makes more fats that accumulate on the liver.
Hepatitis: alcohol intake has to be stopped for life. But this can be managed with prescription from the doctor.
Cirrhosis: this is a very serious condition of the liver and some liver functions are impaired. The most important reason is because it can lead to cancer of the liver.
Cancer: known as hepatocellular carcinoma. The only treatment, being the transplant of a new liver which is rare and difficult. This is the end stage of alcohol intake on the liver.
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Self neglect.
Vitamin deficiency: mainly vitamin B1, A and K. Leading to symptoms involving bleeding and and cardiac manifestation. Use up of Vitamin B1 presents as Beri-Beri, hypoglycemia(which is life threatening and important in diabetic patients).
Wernicke’s encephalopathy: this presents specially in alcoholics. It involves memory loss, apathy and abnormal eye movements.
GASTROINTESTINAL
Obesity, Cancer, Peptic ulcer
Pancreatitis: if not managed well can progress to cancer of pancreas which can only be treated by pancreas transplant. Life expectancy is very short and patients who develop this cancer usually live less than 6 months.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
This is a very important area to consider.
Infertility: presents as testicular and ovarian atrophy due to vitamin A deficiency. In pregnant women, it can affect the fetus with a syndrome known as Fetal Alcohol syndrome. The child affected has low IQ, facial abnormalities and other defects.
SIMPLE ADVICE
With all these stated complications and effects, a lot has to be taken into consideration before trying to take alcohol as a drink. It is already present in meals and extra is not so beneficial.
‘Drink responsibly’ is often added to commercials or even written on the bottles but then we all know that it is hard, if not impossible to do so. Just like any other intoxicating and addictive substance, alcohol intake cannot be easily controlled once intake begins.
Again we ask:Would you rather lose your life? Get STDs? Get an unwanted pregnancy that may lead to an abortion? Become a drunkard and lose respect?
Would you rather throw away your gifts on the platform of alcohol?
These questions need to be answered before trying to impress the crowd with your abilities( of being able to drink!)
If you have been taking alcohol and you start experiencing nausea, headaches, bleeding and other abnormal symptoms, it would be best to visit a doctor to get checked.
CONCLUSION
Peer pressure is a leading factor on why most youths engage in alcoholic activities. It is important to stand firm by the right decisions as this has an impact on the future. We need to understand that there are a lot of complications attached with excess alcohol intake and this has affected the African youths in ways that have not been helpful. It is important that youths in African channel their high energy and creativity to more useful and meaningful tasks, encouraging more growth in every sector.
Lastly, we recommend strongly the psychological departments of the health sector be more opened and developed to help individuals who seek therapy.
