The belief that alcohol boosts appetite is nothing more than a myth, says Samuel Kwakye, a clinical psychologist at Chosen Rehabilitation Center.
Speaking on Atinka 104.7 FM’s Resilient Road show, hosted by Asare Bediako-Addo, he emphasized that there are pharmaceutical products designed to help with appetite loss and that alcohol is not a necessity for eating well.
“My mother doesn’t take alcohol before eating, yet she eats well. The body does not require the kind of alcohol people consume—it is already present in some of the foods we eat,” – he explained, urging people to erase the idea that alcohol is an essential part of their diet.
The Accra Branch Manager of Chosen Rehabilitation Center, Yoshiyuki Kawajim, added that while the Bible does not completely condemn alcohol in the New Testament, it does in the Old Testament. However, he cautioned against using religious justifications to excuse drinking.
“Alcohol is the mother rock of drugs. Many people who struggle with drug addiction started with alcohol, and it often leads them back into addiction,” – he warned.
Helen Ofeibea Amoo, Manager of Chosen Rehabilitation Center’s Women Branch in Dome, expressed concern over the increasing number of young women consuming alcohol, particularly those mixing it with marijuana. She attributed this trend to poverty and peer influence.
“It is alarming to see young ladies knocking on vendors’ doors at dawn just to buy alcohol,” – she lamented, calling for urgent measures to curb the growing problem.
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A recovering addict who has been drinking since 1993 shared his harrowing experience, revealing that his alcoholism began when he was assisting a blue kiosk operator as a child.
“Alcohol made me feel so happy that I spent money recklessly,” – he admitted, adding that his condition worsened despite spiritual interventions from his family.
He concluded with a sobering reality: “There is no antidote to alcoholism—it only gets worse when not properly managed.”
With experts and former addicts sounding the alarm, the conversation on Resilient Road shed light on the dangers of alcohol abuse, urging society to take responsibility in addressing the issue.
Resilient Road airs every Saturday, 1pm to 3pm on Atinka 104.7FM.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu