ASSESSMENT OF LEVEL OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ALCOHOLICS IN SELECTED RURAL COMMUNITIES, TAMILNADU

Alcohol has now become a common word in Indian society. Alcohol abuse/dependence is a serious clinical condition, signifying a major impairment in the dependent individual's quality of life (QOL) in conjunction with the severity of alcohol misuse. The objectives of the study was to assess the level of alcohol dependence and level of Quality of Life among alcoholics, to correlate between the level of alcohol dependence and Quality of Life and to associate the level of alcohol dependence and quality of life among alcoholics with their demographic variables. Total Enumeration of all the alcoholics identified as clinically significant in the rural villages were considered as sample. Descriptive survey method was used to assess the level of alcohol dependence and level of quality of life among alcoholics. The study findings revealed that 23.73% of the male population was clinically significant alcoholics. The mean percentage for overall alcohol dependence was 40% and for overall Quality of Life was 49 %. The study interpreted that major ity of them had moderate Quality of Life and it was related to the level of alcohol dependence. A strong community based interventions were necessary to improve the Quality of life and reduce the level of alcohol dependence among alcoholics.