The Lord gives us friends to push us to our potential – and enemies to push us beyond it. ~Robert Brault
Alcoholism is an addiction that is poorly understood in Japan. As liquor consumption grew sixfold over the last 50 years in Japan to match its economic affluence, alcoholism became a growing but misunderstood problem.
Alcoholic beverages are easily available at convenience stores and vending machines. Liquor ads are prevalent on television and drinking with work colleagues is common.
Katsuya Maruyama of Kurihama Alcoholism Center, a leading hospital for treating alcohol dependency, said Japan is too tolerant with drinking. This attitude makes it tough for society and alcoholics to recognize the problem.
“There is no proper teaching on how alcohol can be dangerous, so no one knows alcoholism as a disease,” he said.
The economic loss from drinking problems in Japan is more than 6.6 trillion yen ($73 billion) a year, according to data from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. About 800,000 people are estimated to be alcoholics in Japan. While that number is less than that of the United States or Europe, it is rising as more women and elderly become alcoholics.
www.thetreatmentcenter.com
Kevin Kline
Director of Admissions
The Treatment Center
877-392-3342
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