Havana, Sep 30 (EFE).- Suicide rates in Cuba has declined in recent years, but alcoholism is on the rise and alcoholic drinks such as rum, the preferred beverage, are regularly taken by 7 to 9 percent of the island's 11 million inhabitants.
Dr. Jose Sandoval, from Havana's Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, said in a recent psychiatry congress at the Cuban capital that although alcoholism was not a serious health problem, it frequently causes accidents, abuse and other conflicts.
He told some 400 congress participants from 15 American and European nations that it was drinking was "part of Cuban lifestyle, culture and consumption."
This is why health authorities have implemented an alcohol rehabilitation and control program focusing on prevention at the community level.
A study was presented by scientist Lillian de la Parte, who revealed that 39 percent of her respondents were alcoholics, most of them moderate drinkers.
According to the study, 11.5 of the alcoholics are women, and that most of them started drinking before the age of 20.
But upon analyzing their backgrounds, 25 percent of them were found to have alcoholic parents, 54 percent were between 20 and 24, and 70 percent were students.
De la Parte said that there were many contributing factors to alcoholism, such as the improper spending of free time, the presence of alcohol in meetings with friends, bad example set by parents and the wide availability of the product.
Another subject which grabbed the attention of participants was suicide, which is now the eighth biggest killer in Cuba.
The national psychiatric society revealed that in 1995, the suicide rate in Cuba was 19 for every 100,000 people, dropping to 18 in 1996.
Studies revealed that there were 10 or 12 suicide attempts for every completed suicide, the incidence of which was highest in Cuba's eastern provinces.
Dr. Lourdes Barroso of "Hermanos Ameijeiras" hospital said that suicide attempts are more frequent among women, most of whom try to kill themselves by pouring fuel on themselves and lighting up, while most male suicides prefer to hang themselves.
Barroso said that the senior citizens have the highest suicide rate, although it is prevalent among all ages including teenagers, who due to psychological factors are very prone to suffer disorders produced mostly by family problems and school.
Depression and dementia, most of all among the elderly, and psychological disorders such as desperation, loneliness, lack of self-esteem, and social problems are other factors which produce these disorders.
The expert said that "it is important to address the causes which motivate a suicide and to work within the community to prevent it, and teach people how to change their lifestyle to be more capable of facing everyday challenges."
A study made last year by researchers from the Cuban Institute of Legal Medicine indicated that, in the 1950's Cuba had a suicide rate of over 10 for every 100,000, climbing to 13.1 in 1957 and to 15.4 in 1959.
The study also revealed that after falling in the 1960's, the suicide rate again began rising in the 1970's, going up to 21 for every 100,000 in 1980, and 21.5 in 1993. EFE