ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

Alcoholism can take on a variety of definitions, depending on the context in which it is discussed. In common and historical usage, alcoholism typically constitutes any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite negative personal and social consequences(Adelekan,2013). Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease influenced by genetic, psychological, and social factors any of which may precipitate on-going difficulty in controlling overall alcohol consumption. More generally, alcoholism may also point to concerns such as a preoccupation with or compulsion toward the consumption of alcohol, and/or an impaired ability to recognize the overall negative  effects of excessive alcohol consumption (Adewuya, 2006). Although not all of these definitions specify current and on- going use of alcohol as a qualifier, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistently heavy alcohol use, includingdependence and symptoms of withdrawal.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2004), alcoholism is a chronic behavioural disorder manifested by a dependence on alcohol and byconsumption or drinking of alcoholic beverages in excess of the dietary and social uses to the extent that interferes  with the drinker‘s health, social and economic functions. Anderson, (2006), defines alcoholism as the repetitive intake of alcoholic beverages to such an extent that repeated ly or continually  harm the drinker.Babor (2008),  further defined alcoholism as  ―drunkenness plus serious life problem and the inability to stop drinking without  help.  Such persons  usually have both physiological and psychological dependence on alcohol.

Babor  (2010),  further  defined  alcoholism as  ―drinking  more  than is  good  for  one over an extended period  of time‖. While  Endal,  (2010)  defined  alcoholism as  ―a disease  which  is characterized, by a compulsive drinking of alcohol in some form‖. Alcoholism is an illness characterized by significant impairment that is directly associated with persistent  and excessive use of alcohol. Impairment may involve physiological, psychological and social dysfunction (Borland, 2009).

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