Alcoholics Alcoholism Is a Problem

Alcoholics

Alcoholism is a problem that has been a concern for decades. It not only negatively affects the alcoholic, but their family, their employer, and indeed society in general. This paper will provide an overview of interviews that were conducted with two recovering alcoholics, Antonio Garcia and Ramon Galarza. It will then discuss how the information discovered in these personal interviews correlates with the literature review that was previously conducted on this topic. Finally, the author's personal thoughts and experiences on this topic will be given, all in an attempt to better understand this societal challenge and begin to formulate plans to overcome it.

The Interviewees:

For this paper, two people were interviewed. The first is Antonio Garcia. He currently works for Hogar Crea, located in Hartsford, Connecticut. The second is Ramon Galarza. Ramon is currently retired from employment. Both are recovering alcoholics.

Interviews Summaries:

Both men answered the questions presented to them openly and fully. It appeared to be somewhat cathartic for them to discuss their addiction and the effects it had on their lives. Interestingly, there were many similarities to the men's responses, which could be interpreted as being indicative of the disease.

As an example, both men had related losing time from work due to their drinking. Both men told strikingly similar tales of drinking binges that either because of extreme hangovers or because they simply had not awoken from their drunken stupor, they had not been able to make it to work. Other incidents of drinking during lunch breaks and not returning were reported, as was leaving early to drink. It was not uncommon for either man to call in sick and spend the day with a bottle or glass in hand instead.

This often led to remorse, for both men, when sobriety finally set in. Both Antonio and Ramon hated that they had let their addiction overcome their strong work ethics. With a clear mind, they knew each time they traded work for alcohol they were not only doing themselves an injustice, but their employer and their family an injustice as well. This feeling of self-loathing and depression often led to increased bouts of drinking.

Needless to say, this behavior also led to financial difficulties for both men. Antonio and Ramon both reported loss of employment due to drinking and the subsequently frequent absences. With each loss of employment, it became harder and harder to find a new job. Sometimes months would go by without a steady income. and, although the income had decreased, their spending on alcohol often increased, at these stressful times, compounding their problems.

Being careless with their family's financial welfare was not the only carelessness Antonio and Ramon discussed during their interviews. Both men had relayed many instances of driving, with their wives and children in the car, while under the influence of alcohol, thereby endangering their lives as well as other motorists and perhaps pedestrians. Their personal relationships with their families suffered as well.

Both men were poor role models for their children, and were often not at home. When they were home, they were often under the influence of alcohol and would often demonstrate how ineloquent a person can be while under the influence, to their children. This also included intense verbal and sometimes physical fights occurring in both homes, due to alcohol. and, one of the participants reported having multiple affairs on his wife that he blamed primarily on the disease, its release of inhibitions and the compounding problems in the home that it had caused. Both relayed stories of complete memory loss, whereby they would awaken, bleary-eyed not certain of where they were or what they had done, adding to the anxiousness of the situation, always fearful about the consequences of their unknown actions.

The primary difference in the two men's interviews was found in their description of when they craved a drink. Antonio indicated that his cravings for alcohol became stronger as the day wore on, or during particularly stressful times. Sometimes, during the lunch hour, if other co-workers were drinking it became far too much for him to deny. Ramon, on the other hand, found the craving to be more constant. He agreed with the flared need during any times of stress, but also found himself reaching for a drink during all hours of the day, almost instinctively.

As mentioned, both Antonio and Ramon described that their need for alcohol increased significantly during times of increased stress. Both related a self-medicating process whereby they utilized alcohol as a means of escape from their worries and troubles. With the accuracy of sober 20/20 hindsight, both men explained how they can now see how this process merely set into motion a vicious cycle. Drinking beget problems and stress, which beget more drinking, and more problems and stress.

In addition, both men indicated that drinking had interrupted their sleep patterns significantly. Staying up until all hours of the night drinking was not an uncommon lifestyle facet, for both men. This often led to passing out in the wee hours of the morning and not awakening until early afternoon or later. Excessive drinking often also led to spontaneous 'naps' in the middle of the day, which would lead to being unable to go to sleep at a normal hour that evening. This disruptive sleep schedule, as noted earlier had significantly negative impact on their employment, as well as their family lives.

Neither man had ever been addressed about their drinking, by their physician. Both actually indicated that they rarely visited their doctor, during that time of their life. For them, there was a feeling of invincibility, a mistaken sense of control, when there really was a complete lack. In addition, neither man had been hospitalized or institutionalized on account of their drinking. Although Antonio had been in a car accident, due to his drinking, his injuries were minor and had not warranted professional medical care. Neither men sought out rehabilitative help for their drinking problem via a hospital or institutionalized setting.

Interviews in Correlation to Literature Review:

The interviews brought to light the more personal side of alcoholism, in contrast to the research performed that was overviewed in the literature review. The interviews delved into the effects and consequences of alcoholism for not only the alcoholic, but also their family members and their employers. It brought to life the disturbingly vicious circle that alcoholism can be, causing problems and strife that leads to more and more drinking which only serve to compound the problems of before and create new ones.

One piece of literature that was reviewed indicated the positive effect that a physician discussing drinking and its ill effects can have on a patient. However, the interviews demonstrated the main challenge with this course of action. Many adults, alcoholics and non-alcoholics alike, do not regularly seek treatment from a physician. Medical treatment is often only sought when there's an underlying condition, such as illness or injury. In the case of the interviewees, they expressed a feeling of invincibility when it came to their health and their situation, which would lead to a decreased likelihood of seeking medical attention. This, of course, would make it most difficult for the physician intervention described in the research.