Alcoholism and problems to the society?

Question

Is alcoholism linked to other social problems, such as crime, poverty, etc. If yes, which is the cause, and which is the result - e.g. does alcoholism cause poverty, or does poverty cause alcoholism?

Answer 1

I think alcoholism causes poverty in some circumstances but it can be the other way around. With regards to alcohol and crime I think this goes without saying. Go and work in an Accident and Emergency unit at a hospital on a fri or sat night and you will see what im talking about. Alcohol costs the British NHS an obscene amount of money each year due to the amount of people coming in off the streets who have been beaten up, have been fighting with someone else or many even beat up the NHS staff because they are that off their heads on booze.

Answer 2

It's all relative to the individual...

a rich ivy-league harvard grad can just as easily become dependent on alcohol as a poor section-8 struggler.  There have been scientific studies to support the theory that alcoholism is genetic and is something that most alcoholics are born with.  But I believe in both sides, I think that is genetic for a majority, and enviromental for the rest.  And there is a difference between a heavy-drinker and an alcoholic as well.

Answer 3

Alcoholism (or addiction) is an inherited trait. It really has nothing to do with how much money you have. If you are rich, you have more money to spend on your addictions.

Answer 4

Its all circumstantial.............

either one can cause either one

depression can drive you to drink,  Drinking can depress you

steal to get drinking money,  get drunk and stupid and steal something

Answer 5

I've not studied the social sciences, but it appears to me that curing poverty would not cure alcoholism. There are many wealthy people who have almost no contact with the "outside" world, who suffer from the disease. These same wealthy people may also commit crime.

On some level I'm sure all of these social problems are connected but can stand alone as well.