Alcohol - a look at the real problem

I feel the need to address this issue, as I have been feeling very frustrated and sometimes even hopeless about what I see going on here. I am a retired alcohol and drug counsellor from the United States. I have a master’s degree in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Sciences. I have worked both in a rehab center and in private agencies. I’m saying this so the reader knows I do have the qualifications to say what I’m going to say.

In addition, my husband and I have been coming to the Cayman Islands for over twenty years. We have been involved in the alcohol and drug community doing volunteer work since that time. We have seen the downward progression of the use of drugs that has occurred during these twenty years. We also are aware of what has occurred and what has not occurred in the area of treatment of alcohol and drug abusers. However, I intend to focus this letter on alcohol, not drugs.

It is my opinion that the Cayman Islands are at least twenty years behind the United States in their treatment of alcohol and drug abusers. My first position as a counsellor was in a rehab center. The philosophy of that treatment center was entirely different than what I see happening here – and that was well over twenty years ago.

That said, I want to say that it is obvious that alcohol abuse has become a major issue here in the Cayman Islands. What needs to be done? How do we address this issue? How come drinking by our youth continues to escalate? How come people continue to drink and drive although they have been warned of the danger and the consequences of driving intoxicated?

My opinion of where we are falling down is by not discussing the real issue here – the issue is alcohol. It is a primary problem. We blame the reason our kids are dying in traffic accidents on speed. We fail to acknowledge how often drinking plays a role in these unnecessary deaths. We think not opening a liquor store in Savannah is one solution to the problem. This reminds me of a clinical psychologist I once knew who had no experience in dealing with alcohol and drugs. She suggested the drinker drive down another street so he wouldn’t go past his usual pub. Like there’s not another pub on the next street?

Drinking seems to be a way of life here in the Cayman Islands. It is culturally accepted. Why should our kids be any different? They, too, are growing up in this culture. The other issue is most people do not seem to understand the difference between social drinking, alcohol abuse, and the disease of alcoholism.

There doesn’t seem to be continuity when a person is arrested for drinking and driving. Some people seem to be fined and lose their license. It seems that occasionally a person is mandated to get some counselling and/or education. My opinion is that an alcohol assessment needs to be done on every individual who is arrested for drinking and driving and he/she should be attending educational classes that focus on alcohol use.

How come drinking problems aren’t addressed before individuals are given the option of prison or treatment? Many of the people who end up in treatment here would be on what we call “skid row” (homeless) in the US. Families often take care of these individuals here in Cayman and they do not end up having to be responsible for their behaviour. Consequently, the cycle goes on and on.

Another major issue is that family members do not understand the role they play in the drinking pattern. Family members become anxious and begin to worry, make excuses, pour liquor down the drain, go out and look for their loved one, or sometimes even believe it is their fault the person drinks.

What does all of this mean for the community?

This doesn’t involve just looking at the problem of youth/teen drinking. It means looking at the cultural issues that have led to the issue we are faced with today. It means adults looking at their own drinking patterns. It means addressing alcohol problems before individuals have major losses in their lives (e.g. marriage, family, employment, driver’s license, prison, etc.). It means family members looking at the role they play in the drinking scenario. It means educating people on alcohol abuse, the disease of alcoholism, and the effects on the family. It means family members may need to be the first to reach out for help for themselves, not only focus on the drinker and say he/she needs help; it’s not my problem. It’s everyone’s problem and until this is acknowledged and action is taken, nothing will change.

This has been on my heart for a long time and I need to get this out in the open – to “rock the boat” so to speak. It’s not that I haven’t tried to have some influence in the past. I have been told I am “too old” to work for the government. If my observations and opinions are not accepted or addressed, so be it. However, my hope for the future is that we can begin to educate the people here on the island about alcohol use, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and the effects on families.

Cayman Net News