Alcoholism among Husbands and Its Psychological Impact on wives in Malappuram District

Abstract

Alcohol is important risk factors of ill-health and disability. The WHO estimates that one-fourth to one-third of the male population in South East Asian countries drink alcohol .In India, the estimated number of alcohol users in 2005 was 62.5 million and 17.4% (10.6 million) were dependent on alcohol. Of the hospital admissions, 20-30% were due to alcohol-related problems. Continuous alcohol abuse not only affects the individual but also family members, especially the spouse who faces many emotional problems and stressful life events. Many studies and anecdotal reports suggest that individuals who are married to persons dependent on alcohol have poor overall physical and mental health. One study found that substance use disorders among husbands is strongly associated with psychiatric illness such as depressive disorders and anxiety disorders among their wives. The purpose of the current study.