The use of alcoholism and the consequent deterioration of the society: a study based on eravur divisional secretariat in Batticoloa district

Abstract

The use of alcoholism for a long period of time has threatened the development of the world and has caused immense social deterioration. In the third world countries this has evolved as a serious social problem. Heroin which is produced for commercial reasons, which is a western product as well as cannabis (Ganja) and illicit liquor are available for use in our country. Alcoholism can be understood in the following manner. It is a chemical substance which even consumed in a little quantity can create a drastic change in an organism. The use of alcoholism varies from country to country, society to society and individual to individual. Thus within the parameters of the research a collection of villages in Eravur Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa district which are in a backward state is identified as the research area. The communities here have suffered many losses due to the internal war and natural disasters. They are also threatened with the social deterioration that sets in as a result of the use of alcoholism. This has caused social destruction and deviance. This research has the objective of searching the causes for these dangerous conditions and proposing solutions to resolve these conflicts. Many in these villages without considering the differences such as religion, gender, employment, age and social status use alcoholism. This has severely affected these communities, stunted their growth and retarded their progress as a healthy community. The fact that this will affect drastically the development of the region is considered as the research problem. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used in the research. Data for the research was collected as Primary data as well as Secondary data. Through interviews, observation and discussion Primary data was obtained. Accordingly information was gathered from the families living in this area, Officials of the village, Samurdhi Development Officers. Further information was also gathered from organizations and societies from these villages. Data were also gathered from sources related to the research subject such as books, magazines, documentations, statistics, essays and newspaper articles. Examining the causes of the social deterioration that has set in these villages, the research has proposed some conclusions. In these villages the practice of smoking and the consumption of alcohol are very common. There are reasons for these. Similarly drug abuse has led to the deterioration of health conditions, economic deterioration and social deterioration. According to the data we have gathered and analysis made upon them makes us convincingly say that if certain problems are solved for these villagers then it will be possible to eradicate many social and other forms of deterioration that has besieged these villagers.