Alcohol Dependency

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Recommended: Negative impacts of drinking alcohol

I believe alcohol dependency is a very interesting topic especially around this University. I want to do more research and try to understand why people get dependent on alcohol and what they do to try to get out of it. What kind of medical treatment they seek and how their behavior changes because of alcohol. While being dependent, as well as during and after their treatment of not being dependent on alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant; which decrease central nervous system activity. The main thing alcohol does is to reduce levels of physiological arousal and it helps to relax. It slows down the functioning of nerves and communication from the inhibitory centers. It also messes with the neurotransmitter systems like Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Glutamate. Alcohol makes GABA to inhibit the likelihood of the next neuron firing as well as some behavioral dis-inhibition. Where as in glutamate alcohol interferes with the process of learning and memory; hence, the memory loss and blackout associated with alcohol. While drinking alcohol, “we generally experience a feeling of well-being, our inhibitions are reduced, and we become more outgoing… With continued drinking, however, alcohol depresses more areas of the brain, which impedes the ability to function properly” (Barlow & Durand). The book goes on to explain that motor coordination is impaired, which includes staggering, slurred speech, slow reaction time, confusion occurs, reduced ability to make judgments, blurred vision, negative effect on hearing. This explains why drinking and driving is clearly dangerous (Barlow & Durand). The deficiency of being alcohol dependent is a lot more complex then it seems. Some of the major long-term consequences include but not limited to liv... ... middle of paper ... ...nce to help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal from other substances. However, they do not provide outpatient medication prescriptions. I also found out that they do not provide home visit check-ups. Works Cited 1. Carmen, B., Angeles, M., Ana, M., & María, A. J. (2004). Efficacy and safety of naltrexone and acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a systematic review. Addiction, 99(7), 811-828. 2. David H. Barlow, & V. Mark Durand (01/01/2014). Chapter 11: Substance-Related, Addictive, and Impulse-Control Disorders. In Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Retrieved from http://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/index.html?nbId=43844&nbNodeId=7804498#!&parentId=7804510 3. Garbutt, J. C., West, S. L., Carey, T. S., Lohr, K. N., & Crews, F. T. (1999). Pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence: a review of the evidence.Jama, 281(14), 1318-1325.

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