2020 is gearing up to be a very interesting year. Strangely, although everything is completely topsy-turvy, it isn't bothering me much. I suppose that is because I am lucky enough to have what I need. In these dark days of complete lock down in South Africa others are not so lucky. This morning, a man we have known for years, chanced breaking lock down rules to come to our house to plead for some wine. He didn't want money, he wanted wine. He is an alcoholic and has been for a very long time. What little money he usually earns doing gardening goes to feed his habit. Lock down rules have banned the sale of alcohol and the man is suffering badly as I am sure are many others. The main reason for the ban was to curb socialising in crowded pubs. The man I mentioned drinks alone in his home. The withdrawal from alcohol will probably kill him as his general health is very poor. This led me to think about the consequences of the ban.
If this ban is not lifted a number of things will happen. Firstly people like my friend will probably die from withdrawal. I have witnessed Delerium Tremens, it is not pretty and usually fatal. Secondly, the reckless behaviour caused by the overwhelming need for the drug of choice will lead to the law being broken from petty thievery to perhaps grievous bodily harm or worse. An addict's brain is fixated on one thing only and when in withdrawal, their ability to differentiate between right and wrong is severely altered. Then there is the very real possibility that any substance that contains perceived mind altering properties from hand sanitizer to turpentine will be consumed. This will lead to severe poisoning and yet more lives lost. It is inevitable that illicit alcohol sales will (probably have already) become a thriving business and yet another drain on policing resources. Black market alcohol is also often not regulated and therefore another potential health risk. South Africa has a very high incidence of addicts in all sectors, but especially in the poorer areas where alcohol is a form of escape from lives mired in poverty. I do not think the government thought this ban on alcohol through adequately. Some NGO's are calling for the ban to be lifted as keeping it will do more harm than good to alcoholics in our society. Alcoholism has a stigma attached and non-alcoholics may not understand how all consuming it is. I fear for those, like my old friend, who sadly has the odds of survival stacked against him.
