Health Warning: Alcohol is a Gateway Drug to ... Booze!

Alcohol: moderate use a gateway to alcoholism

Muslim Times  Posted by Zia H. Shah

Muslims realize that all the detrimental consequences related to alcoholism are a proof that alcohol is the reason for numerous problems. The non-Muslims especially the Westerners have a convenient rationalization. They fracture the reality into two parts, moderate use and excessive use and keep trying to blame all problems on excessive use, while applauding the recreational value of moderate use and its other benefits. This also requires denying any possible relationship between moderate and excessive use. “Thus unto every people have We (Allah) caused their doing to seem fair.” (Al Quran 6:109)

The simple fact is that every alcoholic starts as a moderate consumer of alcohol. He or she may or may not have a genetic predisposition, but, the reality is that if he or she had never tasted alcohol his or her vulnerability would not have been exposed.

There are at least 75 verses in the Bible against wine or drunkenness. However, unfortunately, Christianity’s message on the issue becomes ambiguous as wine is a part of its sacraments also. In the majority of Western Christianity, the generally accepted definition of a sacrament is that it is an outward sign that conveys spiritual grace through Christ. Christian churches, denominations, and sects are divided regarding the number and operation of the sacraments. The outward component of sacraments entails the use of such things as water, oil, bread and wine.

Unlike the Bible, the Holy Quran has a very precise and unambiguous message about alcohol:

“They ask thee (Muhammad) concerning wine and the game of hazard. Say: ‘In both there is great sin and also some advantages for men; but their sin is greater than their advantage.’ And they ask thee what they should spend. Say: ‘What you can spare.’ Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may reflect.” (Al Quran 2:220)

And:

“O ye who believe! wine and the game of hazard and idols and divining arrows are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper. Satan desires only to create enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and the game of hazard, and to keep you back from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. But will you keep back?”
(Al Quran 5:91-92)

In these verses the Quran not only prohibits alcohol but also gives reasons behind the prohibition and enlightens us with criteria to judge useful from harmful!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, my commentary and highlights are in red:

Alcoholism has multiple and conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism is any condition that results in the continued consumption ofalcoholic beverages, despite health problems and negative social consequences. Modern medical definitions^[1] describe alcoholism as a diseaseand addiction which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcoholism, also referred to as dipsomania^[2] described a preoccupation with, or compulsion toward the consumption of, alcohol and/or an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Although not all of these definitions specify current and on-going use of alcohol as a qualifier for alcoholism, some do, as well as remarking on the long-term effects of consistent, heavy alcohol use, including dependence and symptoms of withdrawal.

While the ingestion of alcohol is, by definition, necessary to develop alcoholism, the use of alcohol does not predict the development of alcoholism. The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. In addition, although the biological mechanisms underpinning alcoholism are uncertain, some risk factors, including social environment, stress,^[3] mental health, genetic predisposition, age, ethnicity and gender have been identified.^[4] Also, studies indicate that the proportion of men with alcohol dependence is higher than the proportion of women, 7% and 2.5% respectively, although women are more vulnerable to long-term consequences of alcoholism. Around 90% of adults in United States consume alcohol, and more than 700,000 of them are treated daily for alcoholism.^[5] Professor David Zaridze, who led the international research team, calculated that alcohol had killed three million Russians since 1987.^[6]