The risk of cancer caused by alcohol is once again pointed out

Alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. Photos are used for representative purposes only. Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

In early January, announcing new Surgeon General's recommendations on alcohol and cancer risks, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said: Call for warning of cancer risks from alcohol-containing drinks.

The health risks associated with alcohol consumption are well known. The advisory states that alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its Global Status Report on Alcohol, Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, states that “The global burden of disease and injury caused by alcohol consumption is estimated at 31% based on available information. “We can quantify the health status of people.” Scientific evidence about its role in the onset, development, and consequences of alcohol use. “When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that will not affect your health.'' WHO said In a statement released in lancet public health.

However, the extent to which this message has penetrated and been understood remains a matter of debate, especially in an environment like India. The fact remains that drinking alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer: mouth, pharynx, voice box, esophagus, breast (for women), liver, colon, and rectum.

According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021), 18.8% of men and 1.3% of women above the age of 15 consume alcohol in India.

Myths about alcohol

Surendran Veeraiah, professor and director of the Psycho-Oncology and Tobacco Control Resource Center at the Cancer Institute (WIA), said misinformation about alcohol and cancer is creating confusion among people. “Some doctors say drinking alcohol in moderation and drinking red wine is good. Such myths and misconceptions only mislead people. Alcohol has been clearly proven to be carcinogenic. “Therefore, it is important that medical professionals take this issue seriously and tell people that alcohol is carcinogenic. They should refrain from drinking alcohol,” he said.

He said reducing the availability of alcohol was not a deterrent, adding: “Policymakers should understand that alcohol is not a revenue substitute.” “Tobacco companies started with cigarettes to earn revenue, and tobacco companies pay taxes,” he said.

Also read: Moderate alcohol consumption has no health benefits

R. Surendran, a senior surgical gastroenterologist and former director of the Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology at Stanley Medical College Hospital, said alcohol is the main cause of cirrhosis in India. “Almost 20% of cirrhosis cases can progress to liver cancer, meaning that alcohol is a direct cause of liver cancer. Alcohol is definitely dangerous to your health and its consumption has many risks. There are superstitions,” he said. He added that drinking alcohol has negative effects on health, and that both moderate drinking and binge drinking are a big no-no.

Treatment for alcohol use disorder remains underdeveloped

WHO observed that access to screening, brief interventions, treatment, and drugs for the treatment of alcohol use disorders for people with hazardous alcohol use and alcohol use disorders remains very low. “Overall, the proportion of people with alcohol use disorders receiving treatment services varies from less than 1 percent to less than 14 percent in all countries for which such data are available,” the report said. .

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India developed standard treatment guidelines for alcohol dependence management in 2017. Its purpose is to provide advice on the assessment, investigation, short-term and long-term medical management of individuals presenting with alcohol dependence, and to advise on psychosocial interventions for patients with alcohol dependence.

Regarding support services in Tamil Nadu, P. Poorna Chandrika, professor of psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said that the psychiatry departments of all government medical colleges and hospitals provide special dependency services, including de-addiction services for inpatients. He said that he is providing a service to resolve the disease. “In every district, district mental health programs provide addiction relief services. All psychiatrists are also trained in addiction relief,” she said.

Motivation, an important factor in eliminating addiction

Motivation is key to overcoming alcoholism, she said, adding that people come to treatment for a variety of reasons. Demands from relatives, financial constraints, impact on the workplace, and a small percentage of people coming to quit because they want to quit. “There can be multiple relapses and failures. It's a difficult journey, but regular follow-up visits, medication, motivation, and a support system can help,” she said. In addition, comorbidities associated with alcoholism, including anxiety and other mental health issues, must also be addressed. “Drug and non-drug treatments need to go hand in hand. Attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings alone without taking medication is also a risk factor for relapse,” she said.

There are many concerns. Doctors say one of the main causes of concern is early onset of drinking. They say the lack of ongoing monitoring of private de-addiction facilities is also an area of ​​concern. As a result, human rights violations occur. There have been cases where patients have been crowded together in private rooms and died from scabies. The only solution is to continuously monitor these centers and review them regularly. Doctors say it's also important to raise public awareness.