Question by h: Cultural differences in alcohol use, addiction and treatment – UK pub culture?
In the UK, people don’t meet for a coffee, they meet for a pint (or cocktail, whatever). Alcohol use is embedded in the social fabric – what might elsewhere be understood as mild alcoholism is easily accepted as normal – to the point that it’s not unusual for people to turn up for work with a hangover (or take a sick day to nurse a bad one). I think there’s resistance to the disease or genetic theory of alcoholism – people have ‘drink problems’, or just ‘like having a good time’, or are ‘being sociable’. This applies to all classes + groups: binge-drinking students + city workers; football fans; families (children are often welcome in pubs)…
To be abstinent, as is demanded of many alcohol treatment programmes, is to be a pariah. On top of that I think mental illness in general is largely taboo…
What are treatment strategies that make sense in this context, then? How do you help someone with a ‘drink problem’ who’s in sync with his culture?
Any thoughts are welcome…
Best answer:
Answer by gemo The thing is! This drink culture is huge! I live in Scotland and I drink everyday, i love the feeling of downing a crisp cool pint, but that pint always turns into more!! Normally a total binge on beer, vodka, shot, absinthe, whisky. Anything that makes me drunk quickly. I dont know if I have a problem because here it is totally normal behaviour, but I do find myself “needing” a pint! Maybe its this dull, drab society that leads us scots to drink! But yet again – thats wot Scotlands famous for!
Heath Ledger dead, tragedy, now let’s get over it. Why are there stories on every news station every hour? Deep discussions and discussion panels into the psyche of Heath Leader, give me a fucking break. What about the girl that went missing this morning, I’ve seen that once today, she could still
be alive, how about showing that some more to get the word out?
Non-celebrities die brutal, unfair, often disgusting deaths daily, little thought when this happens, but let’s all shed our tears for a disturbed drug addict actor. Let’s make sure we reinforce just how great of tragedy this is. And don’t give me the plot about the pressures of acting. I survived 15 years of meth addicted parents and abuse and have never taken drugs.
I’m very sad Heath Ledger passed away, but no more than any other needless loss of human life, he was in fact only human.
I like the opportunities this country represents, but really dislike its population at times.
Raves are late-night dance parties that are held in dance clubs or at temporary venues such as warehouses, open fields, parks or empty buildings. Some simply take place in suburbia in the homes of youth whose parents are out of town. The rave trend started in Europe in the eighties and became prevalent in most metropolitan areas of the US by the early nineties. Raves are often advertised to attendees as alcohol-free events to detract attention and curiosity from law enforcement and to appease parents. Thumping electronic music and stimulating visual effects usually are components of a rave. Party attendees or “ravers” take club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, ketamine, Rohypnol, LSD and nitrous oxide to enhance their overall experience. Rave promoters advertise famous DJs and PLUR, the ravers’ mantra, which stands for peace, love, unity and respect. Contrary to this mantra, these overly crowded, unsupervised dance parties have often ended in the accidental death of an experimental teen who was merely going with the crowd. Drug dealers will sell ecstasy tablets to young and naive ravers, wait for the drugs to take effect and then take back the remaining drugs along with whatever money the victim has on them. Whether a rave takes place at a friend’s home, an abandoned warehouse or a nightclub with security, overdose, rape, robbery and death are all potential outcomes. Join these amazing kids who have taken the initiative to speak up about club drugs and raves to help …
Raves are late-night dance parties that are held in dance clubs or at temporary venues such as warehouses, open fields, parks or empty buildings. Some simply take place in suburbia in the homes of youth whose parents are out of town. The rave trend started in Europe in the eighties and became prevalent in most metropolitan areas of the US by the early nineties. Raves are often advertised to attendees as alcohol-free events to detract attention and curiosity from law enforcement and to appease parents. Thumping electronic music and stimulating visual effects usually are components of a rave. Party attendees or “ravers” take club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, ketamine, Rohypnol, LSD and nitrous oxide to enhance their overall experience. Rave promoters advertise famous DJs and PLUR, the ravers’ mantra, which stands for peace, love, unity and respect. Contrary to this mantra, these overly crowded, unsupervised dance parties have often ended in the accidental death of an experimental teen who was merely going with the crowd. Drug dealers will sell ecstasy tablets to young and naive ravers, wait for the drugs to take effect and then take back the remaining drugs along with whatever money the victim has on them. Whether a rave takes place at a friend’s home, an abandoned warehouse or a nightclub with security, overdose, rape, robbery and death are all potential outcomes. Join these amazing kids who have taken the initiative to speak up about club drugs and raves to help …
Raves are late-night dance parties that are held in dance clubs or at temporary venues such as warehouses, open fields, parks or empty buildings. Some simply take place in suburbia in the homes of youth whose parents are out of town. The rave trend started in Europe in the eighties and became prevalent in most metropolitan areas of the US by the early nineties. Raves are often advertised to attendees as alcohol-free events to detract attention and curiosity from law enforcement and to appease parents. Thumping electronic music and stimulating visual effects usually are components of a rave. Party attendees or “ravers” take club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, ketamine, Rohypnol, LSD and nitrous oxide to enhance their overall experience. Rave promoters advertise famous DJs and PLUR, the ravers’ mantra, which stands for peace, love, unity and respect. Contrary to this mantra, these overly crowded, unsupervised dance parties have often ended in the accidental death of an experimental teen who was merely going with the crowd. Drug dealers will sell ecstasy tablets to young and naive ravers, wait for the drugs to take effect and then take back the remaining drugs along with whatever money the victim has on them. Whether a rave takes place at a friend’s home, an abandoned warehouse or a nightclub with security, overdose, rape, robbery and death are all potential outcomes. Join these amazing kids who have taken the initiative to speak up about club drugs and raves to help …
Raves are late-night dance parties that are held in dance clubs or at temporary venues such as warehouses, open fields, parks or empty buildings. Some simply take place in suburbia in the homes of youth whose parents are out of town. The rave trend started in Europe in the eighties and became prevalent in most metropolitan areas of the US by the early nineties. Raves are often advertised to attendees as alcohol-free events to detract attention and curiosity from law enforcement and to appease parents. Thumping electronic music and stimulating visual effects usually are components of a rave. Party attendees or “ravers” take club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), GHB, ketamine, Rohypnol, LSD and nitrous oxide to enhance their overall experience. Rave promoters advertise famous DJs and PLUR, the ravers’ mantra, which stands for peace, love, unity and respect. Contrary to this mantra, these overly crowded, unsupervised dance parties have often ended in the accidental death of an experimental teen who was merely going with the crowd. Drug dealers will sell ecstasy tablets to young and naive ravers, wait for the drugs to take effect and then take back the remaining drugs along with whatever money the victim has on them. Whether a rave takes place at a friend’s home, an abandoned warehouse or a nightclub with security, overdose, rape, robbery and death are all potential outcomes. Join these amazing kids who have taken the initiative to speak up about club drugs and raves to help …
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