Abstract:
The use of alcoholism for a long period of time has threatened the development of
the world and has caused immense social deterioration. In the third world countries
this has evolved as a serious social problem. Heroin which is produced for
commercial reasons, which is a western product as well as cannabis (Ganja) and
illicit liquor are available for use in our country. Alcoholism can be understood in
the following manner. It is a chemical substance which even consumed in a little
quantity can create a drastic change in an organism. The use of alcoholism varies
from country to country, society to society and individual to individual. Thus
within the parameters of the research a collection of villages in Eravur Divisional
Secretariat in Batticaloa district which are in a backward state is identified as the
research area. The communities here have suffered many losses due to the internal
war and natural disasters. They are also threatened with the social deterioration
that sets in as a result of the use of alcoholism. This has caused social destruction
and deviance. This research has the objective of searching the causes for these
dangerous conditions and proposing solutions to resolve these conflicts. Many in
these villages without considering the differences such as religion, gender,
employment, age and social status use alcoholism. This has severely affected these
communities, stunted their growth and retarded their progress as a healthy
community. The fact that this will affect drastically the development of the region
is considered as the research problem. Both quantitative and qualitative research
methods are used in the research. Data for the research was collected as Primary
data as well as Secondary data. Through interviews, observation and discussion
Primary data was obtained. Accordingly information was gathered from the
families living in this area, Officials of the village, Samurdhi Development
Officers. Further information was also gathered from organizations and societies
from these villages. Data were also gathered from sources related to the research
subject such as books, magazines, documentations, statistics, essays and
newspaper articles. Examining the causes of the social deterioration that has set in
these villages, the research has proposed some conclusions. In these villages the
practice of smoking and the consumption of alcohol are very common. There are
reasons for these. Similarly drug abuse has led to the deterioration of health
conditions, economic deterioration and social deterioration. According to the data
we have gathered and analysis made upon them makes us convincingly say that if
certain problems are solved for these villagers then it will be possible to eradicate
many social and other forms of deterioration that has besieged these villagers.
