"The World Health Organization calls alcoholism the single greatest public health crisis in modern Ukrainian history. Thirty percent of the newly orphaned children of Ukraine are “social orphans” – children of living parents who’ve abandoned them as a direct result of alcoholism. One-third of all deaths of young people between the ages of 14 and 25 are alcohol related. There are cities where over 25% of the population under 28 is HIV positive ... virtually all of which is attributable to alcoholism and drug addiction. Across the Former Soviet Union, one-half of the decline in male life expectancies from 63 to 57 years of age is alcohol related. Alcoholism impacts every social component. "
I didn't notice it for several days after arriving in Odessa, but today I ventured away from the main tourist area in mid afternoon and found
alot of young people just hanging out, drinking big bottles of beer.
These young men likely won't be good candidates for marriage, thus Ukraine is one of the world's leading destinations for the foreign marriage and dating business, and of course, adoption.
But the disease is growing at an alarming rate amongst women, who now represent 35% of the alcoholic population. Shockingly, many pregnant women drink, resulting in the the growing public health crisis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
This is a place of extreme contrasts; beauty and hopelessness
There are at least a thousand street kids living in Odessa's sewers and abandoned buildings. Despite their desperate circumstances, these boys were funny, smart and each knew some English. Apparently, the boy on the right believes in God.
As a recovered alcoholic I know that the spiritual path is the only way to healing. Please pray for this
beleaguered country
I didn't notice it for several days after arriving in Odessa, but today I ventured away from the main tourist area in mid afternoon and found alot of young people just hanging out, drinking big bottles of beer.
These young men likely won't be good candidates for marriage, thus Ukraine is one of the world's leading destinations for the foreign marriage and dating business, and of course, adoption.
But the disease is growing at an alarming rate amongst women, who now represent 35% of the alcoholic population. Shockingly, many pregnant women drink, resulting in the the growing public health crisis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
This is a place of extreme contrasts; beauty and hopelessness 
There are at least a thousand street kids living in Odessa's sewers and abandoned buildings. Despite their desperate circumstances, these boys were funny, smart and each knew some English. Apparently, the boy on the right believes in God.
As a recovered alcoholic I know that the spiritual path is the only way to healing. Please pray for this beleaguered country
No comments:
Post a Comment