September 11 All-Russian Sobriety Day
"Wine destroys the physical health of people, destroys the mental abilities, destroys the well-being of families and, what is most terrible, destroys the soul of people and their offspring." - Leo Tolstoy
We owe the establishment of the All-Russian Sobriety Day on September 11 to the Russian Orthodox church authorities.On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the Beheading of the head of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John. John the Baptist was a teetotaler and suffered at a drunken feast.
In 1911, in St. Petersburg, a group of teetotallers, mainly from highly paid intellectual workers, created the All-Russian Labor Union of Teetotallers, Its motto - "In sobriety-the happiness of the people". The Union with the participation of other metropolitan temperance societies held the first city anti-alcohol days in St. Petersburg. More than 230 temperance societies and fraternities took part in these events, which were really perceived by the people as a holiday.
The official decision to hold the sobriety festival on this day was made by the Holy Synod in March 1914. This holiday was celebrated until 1917, then it was forgotten.
Now in different cities of Russia, the tradition of holding sobriety days is being revived. This is due to the fact that the steadily growing alcoholization of the population over many years acquired by the beginning of the twenty-first century the character of a national disaster for Russia. The severity of this problem is highly economically and socially significant. It has acquired a character that seriously undermines the socio-economic and spiritual and moral foundations of the life of society and the state, threatening the labor, military, intellectual potential, and national security of the country.
In the Lipetsk region, more than 400 people die every year due to elementary intoxication. And if we add to these indicators violent deaths under the influence of alcohol from injuries, road accidents, fires, murders and suicides, as well as complications of diseases directly or indirectly related to
excessive alcohol consumption, then the total figure will make many drinkers think thoroughly.
From violent causes in a state of intoxication only for 6 months of 2018 in the Lipetsk region, 300 people died, from alcohol poisoning – 111 people. From all causes related to alcohol, according to the Lipetsk State Statistics Service, 431 people died in 6 months.
High mortality is also associated with the consumption of surrogates and moonshine by people. But moonshine is a highly toxic product that, when consumed for a long time, causes permanent irreversible changes in the entire body. Fusel oils contained in moonshine significantly aggravate the condition of the drinker, accelerate the development of alcoholism, cause such serious diseases as, for example, atrophy of the optic nerve. No home tricks (the addition of activated carbon, oak, lemon or tangerine crusts changes only the taste properties) do not allow you to remove toxic impurities from the moonshine: isopropyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, acetic-ethyl ether, propyl alcohol, acetyl, pyridine, butyl alcohol, oil-ethyl ether, furfural.
According to the latest scientific research, there is no harmless, not to mention "useful", dose of alcohol. Regular intake of even a minimal dose of alcohol not only destroys the liver, but also contributes to the development of cancer, diabetes and other deadly ailments.An incredible study (analyzed data from almost 600 thousand people from 19 countries who periodically drink alcohol, do not have signs of cardiovascular disease, and have a relatively high average income.) It was found that even in small doses, alcohol does not bring any benefit, and its harmful effects begin to manifest themselves as early as 50 grams of alcohol per week – this is about two small glasses of wine or two cans of beer.
The fight against drunkenness is not only a matter for the government or the church, but also for everyone who wants to live, raise children, work and relax in a healthy society. Reasonable and useful leisure activities, such as reading books, visiting cultural institutions, playing sports, and finally going to church, should become habitual, bringing pleasure. Parents should always remember that they are not brought up by words, they are brought up by personal example.
For those who have fallen into the trap of alcoholism and are trying to get out of it-ask for help!
GUZ "Lipetsk regional narcological dispensary"
Outpatient Rehabilitation Department 8(4742)34-85-86
Lipetsk, Kosmonavtov str., 2
Department of Inpatient Rehabilitation
8(4742)43-00-98 (around the clock), 43-22-13
Lipetsk, Krupskaya str., 2
Outpatient children's and adolescent department
8(4742) 73-05-50
Lipetsk, Leningradskaya str., 18
