Free Essay Example: Global Public Health

Topic: Critically examine one key global public health issue, the key factors influencing it, the role of global institutions, and the global health policies and programs developed to tackle them.

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Submission Date: 29/05/2020

Global Public Health Issue: Alcohol

Introduction

This essay will seek to critically examine the effects of alcohol consumption, as a global public health issue. In doing so, global health will be defined, along with a discussion of key themes, negative health effects, determinants, global statistics, and key trends of alcohol consumption. Theories, global drivers, policy, and stakeholders involved in this global health issue will also be discussed. Current prevention strategies and evaluations of their outcomes will also be examined to ascertain their effectiveness in reducing excessive alcohol consumption. Recommendations will be made as to the future direction of policies regarding alcohol consumption and will conclude that an effective global awareness campaign based on compelling evidence of both the detrimental impact of alcohol consumption and the policies that are likely to combat the alcohol-related harm is needed. There are however limited chances of conducting a global campaign, as it requires huge funding. The key recommendation includes the direction on the mandatory screening of all alcoholic beverages for the presence of contents of methanol and mercury contents, that are harmful when consumed by humans.

Alcohol consumption, and the problem it engenders, has been a familiar fixture in human society since the start of recorded history(World Health Organization (WHO), 2020). Overall, 5.1% percent of the global burden of disease is attributable to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, accounting for a significant number of disabilities and deaths globally (World Health Organization (WHO), 2020).

Background

Excessive alcohol consumption is a serious issue affecting almost every age group and is a range of negative outcomes, from adverse health effects. Alcohol consumption in excess results in a disease known as alcoholism. It is synonymous with addiction, which affects the behavioral cycle of the addicted person. Addicted people are likely to develop liver cirrhosis, a deadly liver disease. It also leads to injuries and death as a result of automobile accidents (Babor et al., 2017). Alcohol also has a substantial economic, social, and health burden in various nations. This has resulted in the shift on international public health priorities to enhance the control of alcohol consumption and its effects. The adverse effects of alcohol consumption have depicted it as a crucial public health issue that requires the international community to come up with effective measures and policies to reduce its burden (WHO, 2018).

Koplan (2009) stated that global health “is an area for study research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide”. The discussion focuses on the education of both the healthcare workers and the people of the community on the importance of health. It emphasizes the provision of a holistic healthcare service, regardless of race and social status.

Global public health is one of the critical aspects of humanity. In the age of globalization, it entails putting appropriate measures in place to protect human life, improve quality of life, and enhance the well-being of future generations (Patel et al. 2014). However, global health is threatened by several factors including, the economic status, policies regarding how to acquire healthcare services, and other factors many of which can be controlled by the combined efforts of people in communities as well as the creation and implementation of effective policies. The health workers offering healthcare service needs to be educated especially on how to handle victims of drug abuse and alcoholics, who are constantly seeking not only physical but mental help. The community member is directly affected by drunk-driving and cases of truancy among children, abusing alcohol. They should be involved in the formulation of policies guiding sales of alcoholic beverages and other essential public health policies. Government agencies, advocates, volunteers, and public health professionals have a responsibility to combat these threats. Excessive use of alcohol has resulted in extensive cases of morbidity and mortality in the vast majority of the human population. The global burden of alcohol consumption has major detrimental impacts on the quality of life (WHO, 2018).

While the consumption of alcohol is deeply embedded in several societies, drinking patterns have changed significantly over recent years (Allen et al., 2014). There are reported cases of excessive drinking; as compared to the past. The heavy drinkers are younger people who are expected to be leading in the fields of development and innovation. The increased drinking activity is related to the change in the overall lifestyle in the 21st century.

This evidence is a justification to recommend the avoidance of any alcohol consumption. Despite being responsible for 4.6% of disability cases across the world and 3.8% of global deaths in 2004, alcohol consumption has been rising rapidly across the world (WHO, 2014). Alcohol consumption was responsible for 3 million deaths with 6 deaths every minute from harmful use of alcohol each year globally (WHO, 2020). Harmful use of alcohol is liable for 7.1% and 2.2% of the global burden of disease for males and females respectively and again causes 27% of traffic injuries, 20% of tuberculosis, 48% of liver cirrhosis, and 100% of alcohol use disorders (WHO, 2020). Global Health Observatory (GHO) (2016) is WHO's gateway to health-related statistics data repository denoted that under Alcohol-attributable Years of Life Lost (YLL) score in 2016 for Canada (developed country) was 2 as compared with 5 for South Africa (developing country) (WHO, 2019). According to the report from these statistical monitors, health issues attributable to alcohol consumption have so far reached alarming levels. Notably, the consumption of alcohol contributes to a wide range of health conditions, diseases, and high behaviors, from unsafe sexual behavior and liver diseases to road traffic injuries and mental disorders (Babor et al., 2017). Alcohol use is also related to emotional anguish that affects society. For instance, children brought up by individuals with serious alcohol consumption are at high risk for health and educational problems. Moreover, heavy alcohol consumption contributes to poverty, criminal activity, homelessness, and unemployment.

Regarding these detrimental effects, effective policies such as banning alcohol promotion and advertisement as well as increasing taxation should be put in place by the international community. Such policies are to be supported by government law enforcement agencies.

Alcohol abuse has had such a negative impact on individuals and communities across the world, to the extent of attracting global attention by both the general public and governments. However, policymakers are yet to develop effective strategies necessary to combat high rates of alcohol consumption. Notably, the existing measures such as the monopolization of sales through state agencies and restricting the alcohol market to regulate substance availability have not been effective at curbing the issue (Yakovlev, 2018). Although, these measures help minimize the rate of exposure they are quite costly (Kappas.etal, 2012).

Main Body

Alcoholic drinks cannot be considered ordinary beverages or consumer commodities since they consist of a drug that causes substantial social, psychological, and medical harm using dependence, intoxication, and physical toxicity (Babor et al., 2017). Growing scientific evidence has highlighted the detrimental effects of alcohol use on the cognitive, mental, and social functioning of young people and the increased likelihood of alcohol dependence in later adult life (Taylor, 2018). Addiction is a result of the alcoholic content causing the release of dopamine, causing excitement and the good feeling associated with being drunk. The release of this hormone is related to impaired judgments ultimate destruction of the sensory system. Binge drinking and regular alcohol use in adolescents can adversely impact sexual performance and behavior, increase crime rates, and negatively impact school performance (Babor et al., 2017). According to many addiction theories, craving plays a critical role in acquiring and maintaining drug dependence. The theories depict craving as the motivational state's subjective experience directly responsible for alcohol consumption. Paying attention to the cognitive model, it is apparent that the cognitive processes control a multitude of activities that people engage daily. Although it may appear essay to play, work, drive, read, talk, walk, eat, cook, dress, and groom, none of these activities is a simple skill (Neenan, 2017). Most of the human beings' activities are automatized are in this way so they may not easily remember their performance level when they started acquiring these skills. Notably, at the start, people's executions of these activities seem to be awkward, hesitant, and cognitively challenging. Therefore, it required a significant effort, focused attention, and vigilance as they practice regularly, people's performance changes, and what was once clumsy and demanding becomes effortless and highly coordinated (Neenan, 2017). As provided in the cognitive model, this transformation of performance due to regular practice is a representation of the transition from non-automatic to automatic modes of functioning.

A powerful trend in the alcoholic beverages industry is the revelation that people have begun to drink less and particularly young drinkers have chosen to consume less alcohol due to the detrimental effects on health (Sornpaisarn et al., 2017).

In contemporary society, it is apparent that alcohol consumption has a wide array of critical health issues like liver cirrhosis (Farmer et al., 2013). Alternatively, liver cirrhosis is not the only health issue related to alcohol consumption. Alcohol use accounts for diseases-causing factors in humans. For instance, excess drinking has been related to various illnesses such as dementia cardiovascular, anemia, and cirrhosis (Babor et al., 2017). Alcohol abuse has also been related to a decrease in red blood cells that are responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body and also leads to addiction. This decrease leads to a condition known as anemia and is characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness (Mäkelä et al., 2015). It is the leading cause of Pancreatitis, which results in pancreatic cancer among many alcohol consumers. Pancreatic cancer develops when the molecules in the alcohol interfere with the cellular development of pancreatic sales. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a wide range of mental issues such as depression, self-harm, and suicides (Yakovlev,2018). Contrary to the misguided conception that anxiety and stress can be reduced by consuming alcohol, extensive research by Sinha (2016) shows that alcohol is associated with high-stress levels. Continuous alcohol abuse alters neurotransmitters in a person's brain hindering it from dealing with stressful situations (Babor et al., 2017). Alcohol abuse leads to a decrease in serotonin levels in a person’s brain which is responsible for mood regulation. People who are prone to anxiety and depression are likely to develop a drinking problem while heavy drinkers have a higher risk of developing depression (Babor et al., 2017).