Alcohol is considered to be a misused drug amongst many people. It is important that this issue is addressed because several people do not know the long term effects alcohol has on both your body and mind. Numerous people know that drugs and tobacco have a very negative outcome on your body, but it doesn’t seem like many people know about the effects of alcohol until it completely changes one aspect of your life. Due to few people knowing about all of the effects of alcohol, it is crucial that the facts and statistics regarding it are known.
For the majority of people, alcohol is considered to be a simple way of relaxing after a long day. However, it can become very addictive and people can start consuming too much of it during a short period of time. Once this happens, the person needs to realize they have a problem and should either try to stop, or get help from someone else. Drinking becomes a problem when the adult starts to drink more than they are able to handle; they then have a difficult time with controlling their own actions. The average amount an adult male should drink is two beers, while women and elderly should stick with only having one. Some people get to the point where they are considered to be alcohol-dependent. This means that an individual is unable to stop drinking once they have already started. If people who are alcohol-dependent suddenly stop drinking, they suffer from withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include nausea, sweating, irritability, tremors, and hallucinations. 1 in 13 American adults are thought of as being an alcohol abuser at any given time. Drinking problems primarily occur in younger Americans; about five million individuals, aged 12 to 20, participate in binge drinking; this includes...
... middle of paper ...
...r. 2014.
.
"Alcohol Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Effects." Alcoholism. Timberline Knolls, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
.
Covelli, Grace. "Social Effects of Alcohol." EHow. Demand Media, 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
"Facts About Alcohol Poisoning." Facts About Alcohol Poisoning. College Drinking, 11 July 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
"Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse." : Signs, Symptoms, and Help for Alcoholism and Alcohol Use Problems.
Help Guide, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
.
Lily, Henrietta M. and Harmon, Daniel E. Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking. New York: the Rosen Publishing Group Inc., 2012. Print.
“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health.” Bethesda, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2010. Print.
As illustrated the model of drug abuse and the theories behind addiction are varied. There is no concrete reason for one person who drinks to become alcohol dependent versus the person who does not. Several factors contribute to why a person begins drinking and why they continue to do so despite reasons to stop. The case history exhibits a client with many risk factors associated with alcohol use and dependence.
Makela, Pia. "Views into studies of differences in drinking habits and alcohol problems between sociodemographic groups." Contemporary Drug Problems, Winter 1999 v26 i4 p633.
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the US. One in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse. Alcohol addiction is very common in modern ...
Today, one out of every thirteen adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. That means nearly thirteen million Americans have a drinking problem. (www.niaaa.nih.gov) This topic offers a broad range of ideas to be researched within the psychological field. For this particular project, the topic of alcoholism and the psychological effects on people best fit the criteria. Alcoholism is defined as a disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. (www.dictionary.com) Through this project, the most important information regarding personal experiences dealing with alcoholism will be revealed. Not only are statistics, like the facts mentioned before, important when dealing with an issue such as alcoholism, but personal accounts and information are often more powerful and influential evidence. Non-alcoholics should be allowed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for research purposes.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Alert. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, January 2006. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.
The ingestion of alcoholic beverages for their enjoyable effects is a custom which has been around for thousands of years, and alcohol continues to be a popular drug because of its short-term effects (Coleman, Butcher & Carson, 1984). An enormous amount of damage can be attributed directly to alcohol abuse as a result of lost jobs, accidents caused by drunk drivers, and so forth (Maltzman, 2000). Alcohol also compounds other problems--an estimated 25% to 40% of hospital patients have problems caused by, or recovery delayed by alcohol abuse (Maltzman, 2000). Clinical psychologists spend about one-fourth of their time dealing with people who are suffering in part from alcohol or other substance problems (Vaillant, 1995). Although alcohol problems have been around for so long, it is only recently that these problems have begun to be associated with medical or psychological difficulties.
Drinking alcohol is associated with many adverse health problems in the short and long-term. These include cancer, stroke, heart disease, miscarriage, premature birth and unintentional injuries. Despite the fact that alcohol brings many negative impacts, many people still choose to drink and do not overcome their drinking habit. They have been successfully seduced by alcohol until drinking has become their addiction. However, some of them try to quit drinking, but they still cannot break the addiction. Basically, quitting alcohol is difficult and almost impossible for them because of brain-craving, lack of belief and support, and weak willpower.
To understand alcoholism, it must first be understood what this affliction is dependent on. Alcohol is a substance that is made by the fermentation of fruits, grains, or miscellaneous other organic materials. The chemical, alcohol, is a depressant and acts on every cell in the human body. Due to this, the central nervous system, along with the pleasure centers of the brain, are affected resulting in a feeling of euphoria and a sense of well being. After repeated exposure, the brain becomes dependent on this drug to unburden itself whenever it feels the compulsion. Several factors that contribute to alcoholism are the individual’s psychology, genetics, culture, and the individual’s response to physical pain.
Block, Marvin A. Alcoholism: Its Facets and Phases. The John Day Company, New York, 1962, 1965. (Pages 145-153)
Mendelson, E. (October 20, 2000). Emphasis on Social Norms Can Help Curb Drinking. Chronicle of Higher Education [On-line], Available: www2.gasou.edu/library/ (Galileo)(EBSCOhost)(Search=Alcohol Abuse).
Alcoholism is a disease in which the drinking of alcohol becomes uncontrollable. Compulsion and craving of alcohol rules the life of the alcoholic. Many of us drink alcohol to socialize which is not alcoholism. An alcoholic is a frequent habitual user. Alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, dulls the senses especially vision and hearing. Signs of alcoholism are tremors, delirium, inability to concentrate and many others. “According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, more than 13 million Americans abuse alcohol”(Mayo Clinic Health Information 1). There are many causes leading an individual to alcoholism. Alcohol damaging effects are physically, psychologically, and socially devastating.
Zelman, K. (1995, Dec). Retrieved from The Alcohol Debate: Should You or Shouldn't You: www.medicine.net
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.