I want my mother

Author: Padre Alejandro Cortés González-Báez  

 

 

Not too long ago, at the beginning of the 16th Alcoholics Anonymous Information Week, certain statistics were released in the media concerning alcoholism in our country. The Under-Secretary for Prevention and Health Promotion Mauricio Hernández informed us that the Fifth National Survey on Addictions revealed that one out of every ten men, and one out of every 50 women abused or excessively consumed alcohol. As a consequence, the Social Security Institute of Mexico treats one thousand cases weekly of alcohol intoxication. The Under-Secretary also noted that although the majority of these cases are male, the number of younger generation women is increasing. Approximately four million people consume alcohol, which is now the main addiction especially for those between 18 and 29 years of age. In addition, the age of first drink for women 10 years or older has increased to 14.8% while for boys the percentage is 15.3%.

There has also been an increase in alcohol-related illnesses as well as alcohol-related trauma, such as violence and automobile accidents. María Elena Medina, director of the National Institute of Psychiatry stated that 41% of inmates in Mexican prisons committed their crimes while under the influence of alcohol. She added that it was very important to emphasize identification of potential abuser, zeroing in on "at risk" people. It is about prevention, being proactive, not waiting until there is a problem.

Also of interest is the testimony of a member of the Red Cross who has tended to many intoxicated people. In particular I want to focus on two unrelated cases involving two different girls of approximately 18 years of age. In the haze and incoherence of these young victims the only thing the medical attendant could decipher was: "I want my mommy." Curious as it may seem, these two young girls, hours before, were making sure that their mothers would not be witnesses to their getting drunk. Now they cry out for the security of the only person whom they truly trust. I think it is very clear how a mother's role is so irreplaceable.

We should widen this discourse, this dialogue to our whole society. The damage of alcoholism isn't confined exclusively to families. It's also afflicts the friends of our parents and their own children, anybody, everybody whether they are driving or walking, inside or outside of the house. This is a topic for all of us to stop, to think, to discuss and to keep fresh in our minds at all times.