As understanding of causes and effects of alcoholism on the individual and society is essential in any attempt to effectively prevent alcoholism. The Baha’i International Community, therefore, welcomes this South Pacific Regional Conference on the Effects of Alcoholism as a necessary step in broadening the scope of understanding in a collaborative effort to combat alcoholism, and is most appreciative of this opportunity to support the efforts of the Commission.

Most psycho-social factors that heavily influence a person to indulge in alcoholic beverages relate directly to the individual’s drive to satisfy or displace a personal need. The seeking of relief from pain and insecurity are often cited as primary factors. This often stems from the challenges to traditional values and life-styles, which have historically upheld the dignity of the individual in a closely-knit social setting, resulting form rapid development and increasing communications with diverse societies around the globe; anxiety and despair often resulting from the disparate social and economic conditions existing alongside the anticipation for an improved quality of life; and the desire to identify with influential individuals or cultures that promote “social drinking” as both a means of status and social acceptance.

Any preventative measures to combat such a multi-faceted problem as alcoholism, must be comprehensive in its approach. The individuals, family-life and the diverse social and cultural environments must be considered as dimensions of one reality – the human reality, in seeking a solution to a problem which is demoralizing both to the individual and society.

In light of these factors, the Baha’i International Community believes that alongside government measures, there must be individual commitment to eradicate alcoholism. Based on a conviction that man is a noble and spiritual being, created to know and love God through the developing his latent potential for service to humanity, Baha’i communities emphasize the sense of each individual’s high purpose in life and their positive influence on society. When individuals are educated as to their true nature and spiritual identity, the commitment to non-use of intoxicating and debilitating substances becomes enmeshed with the personal resolve to “channel their potential into useful and fulfilling activities”, while seeking intellectual, emotional and spiritual stimulation.

The process of education needed to nurture the intellectual, moral and spiritual development of the individual must involve the efforts of families, local communities and governments:

1. The home and family environment greatly influences the future attitudes of children towards alcohol and other harmful substances. Parents, through assuming direct responsibility for the education of their children, just demonstrate explicitly through their words, actions and attitudes that use of alcohol and other harmful substances will have adverse effects on their personal development as well as on that of the family and community. In upholding the personal dignity and identity of the child, parents must nurture and educate their children through methods of positive reinforcement, providing order, discipline and guidance.
2. Though anyone may be susceptible to alcoholism, communities should seek to incorporate the needs of high risk groups – such as youth, economically and socially disadvantaged groups, and the infirmed – into community education programmes and social activities.  To promote the healthy growth of the community, programmes should be based on community consultation, active participation, mutual cooperation and shared goals and objectives. The promotion of physical, intellectual, emotional and social activities will provide the necessary stimulation required for growth while providing numerous alternatives to the use of alcohol as an “escape” from boredom or as a “panacea” for personal problems.
3. Governments should take measures to ensure access to education by all its people, making education compulsory for children and youth. This education should attempt to inculcate in the individual the responsibility for personal self-development and service to one’s community and society as large. In addition to education, governments must protect the dignity of the individual through the promotion of economic, social, cultural and human rights; elimination of racism and racial discrimination; and by nurturing the self-reliance of individual communities. Furthermore, the governments should promote the exchange of thoughts and ideas among themselves to inspire co-ordinated efforts among their peoples to improve the quality of life throughout the South Pacific.

As governments, communities, families and individuals mutually reinforce their resolve to improve the quality of life, and role of alcohol as a means to manipulate human reality in order to face stress and undesirable circumstances will greatly diminish. Through improved education and communications, people will become increasingly aware of the true reality of the human being, which is – as explained in the Baha’i Writings, his spiritual identity and not his material body. This concept of man indicates that beyond physical and sensory perceptions, there is a greater factor involved, the rational soul, the understanding of which may change our vision of treatment modalities proposed for alcohol and drug dependencies.

Baha’i communities, both within the South Pacific region and world-wide, are committed to the laws of their Faith, prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages and other habit-forming drugs which causes “the disintegration of thought and complete torpor of the soul”. This prohibition is not based on an emotional aversion to alcohol and other drugs but is based on the great importance attached to the development and protection of the human mind.

In whatever communities Baha’is may reside, they endeavor to instill the principle of community consultation in their approach to solve difficult problems faced by the community at large. The approach to the problems of alcoholism, therefore, are not necessarily separated from the efforts to confront other major social problems. With the basic objective to articulate the true concerns of the community, in an effort to arrive at solutions acceptable and beneficial to the community at large, Baha’is attempt to inculcate a vision of their community which is conducive to service to the common good.

Baha’is continuously strive to strengthen their communities through education, service and exemplary life-styles, including abstinence from intoxicating beverages and substances, thus contributing to a widening of the drug-free sector of society. Those susceptible to alcoholism will thereby increasingly find the social support needed to overcome their dependencies and begin to fulfill their own individual potentialities through the development and protection of the human mind. The Baha’i International Community looks forward to collaborating with the South Pacific Commission and other organizations in an effort to combat alcoholism and its devastating effects, thereby furthering the social and economic development of the South Pacific region while preserving the dignity of the individual so inherent in the way of life of its peoples.