Read this story and you will see that the Russian Women in this particular village are pretty courageous given the scale of the alcoholism that is afflicting their men.
Alcoholics in Russia have little to no support in terms of peer support or organizations like AA that can help them recover and become functional again. So to see a grassroots effort on the part of these women no matter how small is good.
July 30, 2008, 16:01
Siberian Women Battle Against Alcoholics
The stereotype of the hard-living, hard-drinking Russian man is common around the world. Alcoholism is a huge problem in the country, killing more than 50,000 Russians a year. But in a Siberian village women have decided to things into their own hands.
Aleksandr Shatalov’s wife worries that if he carries on the way he is, he may not live to see 50.
“Come on sister, I’ve been drinking longer than you have lived. I’ve drunk since I was 5 years old, and I’m 44 now,” Shatalov says.
So, in steps the local Women’s Council. 19-member council say they’re taking on each and every vodka-drinker in the area – and there are almost 1,000 alcoholics on their list.
“We received so many complaints about men drinking heavily. We’ve seen families destroyed by alcohol. So, we created this Council and we’re working with the authorities to take action,” says Maria Khoklova, Head of Women’s Council.
They’ve been given local government funds to provide medical treatment for alcohol abuse.
“We’re doing our best to put these men through a detox programme and give them medication which reduces the alcohol craving. But treatment is only effective if patients are willing to change their ways,” says Anna Felisova, Women’s Council doctor.
Alcoholism is a deeply ingrained problem in remote Russian villages. Vodka is partly to blame for Russia’s rising mortality rate and its declining population.
But many men want to kick the habit – they just need the means and encouragement to do so.
So far, the Women’s Council has 60 success stories.
Aleksandr Stashkov has recently taken the treatment and he’s now in remission.
“They talked to me like to a human being. They persuaded me to undergo treatment and a small miracle happened. Now I have no desire to drink. Life’s better now, I’m looking at it through different eyes,” says Aleksandr Stashkov, a recovering alcoholic.
Encouraged by success, Council doctor Anna continues the battle knocking on the door of known alcoholics.
Sometimes Aleksandr Shatalov takes note and sobers up. Right now he’s back on the booze.
“Excuse me? Medical treatment!? I’m never going to sign up for medical treatment. Ruin my health on that! No, never! But maybe I’ll get some pills when I’m tired of boozing,” registered alcoholic Aleksandr Shatalov says.
(you can read the original article here)
Now to give you an idea as to the scale of alcoholism in Russia consider this.
The United States has 300 million people which is over twice the population or Russia (currently 145 million and declining rapidly).
In the entire US there are roughly 300 direct deaths related to alcohol each year.
While in Russia as you can see from the above article that number is around 50,000.
And this doesn’t even include the fact that alcohol is also responsible for 2/3rds of the 30,000 Russian auto fatalities a year as well.
Loading up on shot after shot of straight vodka is a major part of the male culture here. It’s not uncommon for any Russian Man to consume half a bottle of vodka in one sitting completely on his own. This is often the case for any occasions or celebrations and the Russians have many.
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This is an astounding reality given the day and age we live. Most I know that have given themselves to the booze is due to their hopelessness in life.
If you have no hope or happiness, you seek escape where you must. My Irish and Canadian heritage is well known I think for similar maladies.
I had thought this may be the way of things but have found in my own life I see and learn. Alchohol is not the way, even though it seems a tool my ex-wife tried to use against me, or wished she could use as an excuse. Is it possible this is so for the men there as well?
Just a thought, but interesting article GL. Cheers.
This is why it is important for people to reclaim the nuclear family as the primary unit of society-thus going against Feminism and Marxism. With the protection and preservation of the family unit, through the strong message GL preaches, men and women can be given purpose again. Feminism and Marxism destroy a higher purpose, and these alcoholics are casualties of that-amongst others.
Hi Jacque and Simplegirl,
Thanks for the comments. You pretty much nailed it..
Feminism kills the soul of a Woman.
Marxism kills the soul of a Man.
Alcoholism in Men.
Prescription Drug abuse in Women.
Essentially the same deal isn’t it?
Seems to be some interesting logic going on in this thread.
If a strong family unit is insurance against alcoholism, and feminism erodes the family unit, and Russia has a huge incidence of alcoholism… then… uh… what is our conclusion again?
Alcohol is for people who want to forget their problems and with the current state of the demographics of Russia there seems to be an overwhelming desire to drown many sorrows. I’ve never been inebriated and never will as I want to be very aware of the state of my affairs. I know too many people who have made life changing decisions while they were under the influence. Living is tricky enough – even sober.
-Mick
Dawn,
It’s pretty clear to me, don’t marry an alcoholic feminist.
I don’t think that the traditional family unit is a magic cure that will immediately cure every one of our societies ills. However the structure, responsibility, and support provided by a traditional family unit will act as an additional motivation to keep someone away from alcohol, a life of crime, gangs, seperating, divorces, etc.
SiSD
Dawn,
I knew I could always depend on you for your semi-daily dose of distortions..
I don’t know if you are having a problem reading today but I never said as you stated:
“a strong family unit is insurance against alcoholism”
In case you haven’t figured it out by now..
Strong family units normally depend on a “Strong” Wife and “Strong” Husband working “Strongly” together. And by using the word “strong” I’m referring to strong and healthy characters.
In case you haven’t noticed it takes two of these players to form a “Strong Family”
AND If one of them drops out and decides to pick up the bottle instead then that family unit is pretty much done for.
Care to apologize for getting your hand caught in the cookie jar once again Dawn?
GL
I seldom see alcoholism as a problem here and it easy to find men that aren’t. We do not have many smokers or abusers as said. I have no family that drink. A relative of mine does but not always. Most people I know are clean.
We do not have that bad of abuse with drugs.
Why are women from Russia coming here through the internet? The reason they are coming here has a reason. Anybody ordering a woman online has a reason as well.