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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Alcohol has many usage and contrasting connotations. A glass of wine with a meal can symbolize Love, friendship, relaxation and enjoyment of a special occasion. It can represent romance, coming of age, success, beginnings and endings, good news and good company. At a Christian Eucharist or Jewish Passover, where wine is also shared, thanks are given to God for divine salvation from all that were enslaved, restricted and condemned. In drinking the wine, Christians participate with the first disciples in their Last Supper with Christ, and Jews participate with the ancient Hebrews in their exodus from enslavement in Egypt.
In African tradition, wine is used to portray a relationship and communion between the living human and ancestors, deities and other supernatural entities. This is evidence in covenant establishment, oath taking, daily ritual of libation, burial and institution of shrines and altars. Also in marriage ceremonies, the usage of alcoholic wine is indispensible even against the vehement opposition of Pentecostal churches in Africa with Nigeria as typical example. Ekwe (2000) stated that apart from water and wind, wine is another integral and indispensible part of African life and living. The presence is felt in almost all the activities of African customs and traditions ranging from burials, rituals, marriages, oath takings, covenant establishments, meetings, hospitalities, evening relaxation to all forms of their daily activities.
Unfortunately, the sacredness and redemption of these occasions contrast with the association of alcohol with drunken violence in our towns and cities, cirrhosis of the liver on our medical wards, debts in families, death on our roads and numbers of fights in families. It contrasts more especially with the enslavement, which is alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction. This contrasting nature of alcoholic drink is clearly revealed in different chapters and verses of the Hebrew Scripture, the Old Testament. Serious warnings were placed on the need to avoid addiction and lust towards alcoholic wine. At some instances, some people were strictly warned not to taste alcoholic wine or partake in meals that have connection with alcohol. For instance, Nazarites like Samson in Judges 13:7, Princes in Proverbs 31:4 and the Rechabite family in Jeremiah 35 were in this category. The book of Proverbs 23:29-35 which is the case study of this research work pointed out and analyze the state, condition and ordeals of an alcoholic drinker and the problem of addiction even in this contemporary era.
In more purely statistical and objective terms, alcohol misuse is a contemporary social problem of enormous economic significance, which exacts a high toll of human suffering as a result of the social, psychological and medical harms to which it gives rise. Alcohol related morbidity and mortality are high in most parts of the world, and in many developing nations like Nigeria, alcohol consumption and its concomitant harms are on the increase. Yet, moderate alcohol consumption is tolerated, enjoyed and encouraged, with the majority of the adult population being drinkers of alcohol in almost all countries other than those with an Islamic culture.
What are we to make of these observations? It is easy to project blame to a safe distance by arguing that they are the responsibility of other people’s plights or forces beyond our control.
Government, industries and moderate drinkers can blame a majority of irresponsible citizens for their excesses. The beverage alcohol industry can easily be blamed for promoting a product which causes so much harm. Or else, the product itself can be blamed and made subject of prohibition, on the basis that everyone would be better if it were not consumed at all in civilized society.
Perhaps no one needs to be to blame at all. Rather than blaming people for being irresponsible whether either as drinkers or promoters of alcoholic beverage, Cook (2003) argued that maybe the problem is better understood more in terms of disease. Perhaps some people are exceptionally vulnerable because of a disease of some kind, in such a way that alcohol causes them harm, and through them harms other people too. The nature of this disease is complex. It might be understood as a disease affecting the moral and spiritual nature of human beings in such a way as to impair their judgment, self control and integrity in a far more fundamental way. And, at risk of over-simplifying things and jumping ahead of the argument, this disease might be called alcohol abuse or addiction.
Therefore, viewing alcohol abuse or addiction as a disease or rather cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the teenagers lives and society at large, one has to provide medication that will give permanent cure to this disease or reduce it to the bearest minimum in our society. One obvious fact which is glaring is the application of diverse curative methods to halt the pandemic nature of alcohol addiction which many have failed. For instance, laws have been made in different societies against alcoholic drinking, like in many Islamic states, which proved abortive because people devise diverse means to fall back to the pit of addiction. Again different alcoholic producing companies have been banned from production and advertising alcoholic drinks, but local production of alcohol serve as alternative means, therefore making the former ineffective.
However, the Hebrew Scripture offers principles, precepts and admonitions which strict observation, adherence and application of these, will bring the menace of alcohol abuse in the society to a halt. The reason remains that the Scripture touches the heart of man and answers diverse questions in the inner man. Edward (2000) observed that while human laws address immediate issues and challenges of man which solutions are temporal, the Scripture touches the remote (the root) of the same issues, offering a permanent solution. So the problem of alcohol abuse is not different from other issues which the Scripture has offered permanent solution.
This study analyzes the incidence of alcohol abuse among teenagers in Rumuogba community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nigeria, using the Scriptural tool presented in Proverbs 23:29-35. Among all the books in the Bible that talked about alcohol, the book of Proverbs in different chapters and verses (Proverbs 23:20-21, 20:1) made many comments on the issue of wine and alcohol. But among these chapters, Proverbs 23:29-35 has the longest context, therefore stands as the most appropriate exegetical tool to treat the issue of alcohol abuse. Lessons drawn from this text will be applied to the Nigeria society with regards to alcohol abuse. Placing the Bible text on the Nigeria situation, solution will be offered.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
There is no issue of greater concern in our society today, whether it is to health, industry, state or church, national or family life, than that of alcohol and its effects. The knowledge that scientific research, history and human observation revealed has proved clearly that alcohol abuse is a problem which must be undertaken from different approaches. No one attitude or objective field of service can operate independently with complete success.
The level of alcohol addiction in Nigeria is growing in a geometric speed and the consumption percentage is very alarming. Amadi (2010) observed that every street in Onitsha, Anambra State, has about three to five bars and drinking centers. The number of crates of beer consumed in a day, especially on Sunday, calls for higher supply to alcoholic producing companies and on the other side of the coin, calls for a social rethink.
Wondering on the increasing craves for alcoholic drink, one will foresee the corresponding health, psychological, social and economical dangers it poses to our nation Nigeria. This case is similar to the problem of HIV/AIDs because it is either one is infected or affected. Therefore, everyone is involved in this issue and thereby requires general attention. Besides, the woes that betide victims of alcohol abuse like cases of family separation, psychological trauma, serious health issue, financial bankruptcy, several road accidents and deaths have never served as a deterrent to up coming alcoholic drinker. The more people are affected, the more the quest for “mixed wine”.
Also the taste and nature of many alcoholic drinks in Nigeria awake the mind to critical questions. It is has been observed that different brands of beer in Nigeria are very bitter and gins are very hot, yet the rate of consumption is too high and unbearable. The evidence is quiet glaring in different bars and joints where a single individual consumes a crate of beer or even more, staggering home without counting the cost both financially and healthwise.
Therefore critical questions arise: what are the principal factors responsible for the high consumption of alcohol in our society? Are there measures taken to curb this social menace and what result have they yielded? If those measures or steps taken to checkmate this ill proved abortive, what is the cause? Who bears causative responsibility for alcoholic problems, the producers or the promoters or the consumers? If previous measures to arrest alcohol abuse have failed, are there new measures that can be applied or added to the failed one in order to achieve a solid and lasting result? What is the role of the church to combat this evil betiding our society if other institutions have failed in their attempts?
The researcher saw these existing states of affairs as societal hurdles that require a tactical approach. These questions are great challenges and mathematical puzzles if left unsolved will foster the increase of this social ill. This research work to a reasonable extent analyzes these issues and offers solutions.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the incidence of alcohol abuse among teenagers in Rumuogba community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nigeria.
In other words, the problem of alcohol has been known for decades starting from the time of Noah, down to the time of Solomon who gave this instruction concerning alcohol, so the Nigerian situation is not new. If the Scripture offered solution, then, this work will apply it to the contemporary Nigerian situation with the intention to bring solutions also.
The following are the specific objectives of the study:
- To assess the prevalence of alcohol use among the teenagers.
- To identify the types of alcohol consumed by the teenagers.
- To determine the perceived effects of alcohol use among the teenagers.
- To determine the factors that influence alcohol use among the teenagers.
1.4 Research questions
- What is the prevalence of alcohol use among students in the selected senior high schools?
- What types of alcohol does students in the senior high school use?
- What are the perceived effects of alcohol use among the teenagers?
- What are the factors that influence alcohol use among the teenagers?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This work is first important to the addicted in the sense that it will give revelation of his situation, the harm it has caused him and the possible way out. There is a high amount of difficulty to quit from addiction to any substance and alcoholic addiction is not exceptional. But this work will serve as a hammer that will break the stumbling block of alcoholic addiction.
Furthermore, this study is significant to the church in the sense that it will challenge and spur them on to action in order to combat alcohol abuse and its dooming effect to the Nigerian society. The clergy will be motivated to herald the gospel of deliverance from alcohol abuse while the laity will move to the grassroots of bars, joints and drinking centers to take the message home.
To psychologist, health and social workers the study is a compass to navigate into the life and situation of their client in this situation. This will inject fresh hope and energy in them in their fight against alcoholic addiction and other related challenges. Proper application of the principle this work will enshrine with respect to alcoholic addiction together with their principle will bring a social change.
The families of the drunk, individuals and organizations that are affected are not left out. This will serve as aid for the development of proper approach to the one under this condition. It will be a manual that will foster their ability to instruct, counsel, treat an alcoholic addict.