Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both very serious diseases and most people are unaware of the toll it can take one someone. People who drink moderately or people who drink excessively should take caution in their actions with the any alcoholic substance. Becoming an alcoholic can be fatal, but it can also affect someone’s mental state, their emotions, and also how they act. Alcohol abuse can be very serious for some, but it does not always affect other people the same way.
“For every family that is impacted by drugs, there are another 10 to 15 families impacted by alcohol abuse. It's a pretty big deal. We have a tendency to only look at part of the puzzle.” (Kevin Lewis). As a society we tend to categorize the severity of addiction in a way that drugs are the most dangerous and alcohol being just a problem. Because alcohol addiction can be a slow progressive disease many people don’t see it in the same light as drug addiction. An addiction to drugs is seen as being a more deadly and dangerous issue then that of alcohol because a drug addiction can happen more quickly and can kill more quickly. Alcohol is something that is easy to obtain, something that is found at almost every restaurant. People with an alcohol addiction can not hide from alcohol as easy as a drug addict. Approximately 7 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse and another 7 million suffer from alcoholism. (Haisong 6) The dangers of alcohol affect everyone from children with alcoholic parents, to teenagers who abuse alcohol, then to citizens who are terrorized by drunk drivers.
Hunter Hardman
Biology
Alcoholism: The Effects on the Body
Alcoholism is a disease that describes an array of problems with alcohol. This disease is highly addictive and has many negative effects on the body. Alcohol affects almost every aspect of the body, including many vital organs, and deteriorates the health of long- term alcohol users.
Alcohol has harmful effects on the brain by interfering with the brains pathways. The consumption of alcohol can affect how the brain works, which can cause a change in the behavior and even the mood of a person.
When people hear the word "drug," they usually think of an illegal substance such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other drug that can be found on the street. Most people never consider the fact that consuming alcohol can be just as harmful as illegal drugs, not only on the body, but on the mind and spirit as well (#1). If constantly abused, alcohol can be even worse for one than taking illegal drugs (#5) Irresponsible drinking can destroy a person's life as well as the lives of those around them. When people become both physically and psychologically addicted to alcohol, they become an alcoholic and suffer from a disease called alcoholism. One denotation of this term is "a diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors" (Webster's Dictionary, 37). Another definition of this term, given to me by my English professor, Janet Gould who is in fact, a recovering alcoholic, is that alcoholism is a mental dependence and a physical allergy (#3). Alcoholism somehow affects us all through a parent, sibling, friend, or even personal encounters with a stranger. In fact "alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, quiet and withdrawn, or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175).
Alcoholism is perhaps the most common form of drug abuse in North America today. Scientists report that the reason alcohol is so popular to people is because it is pleasant, relaxing, and is considered a "social beverage." But what individuals often do not take in to consideration is the fact that alcohol dulls the brain and confuses physical reactions. This can lead to numerous injuries, accidents, and death. Alcohol affects every part of an alcoholic's life: their body, their mind and their family life. The body has a natural chemical that gives a feeling of a "natural high". It happens in the presence of a life-endangering situation. This chemical is adrenaline, which is meant to prepare the body for defense in the case of an emergency. Alcohol tricks the body into giving off the chemical and in turn, gets the "natural high" feeling. The problem alcohol has is that when it goes to the brain, it blocks the synapses in the brain, that portion of the brain cannot perform its usual tasks; such as speaking, walking, seeing, etc. After the body has consumed a certain amount of alcohol, it cannot rely on the upper brain, to operate itself. Instead it depends on the lower brain, due to this the person will not know what they are doing or saying. Since the body is in the "high" state for so long, instead of just for a few minutes, it becomes addicted and depends on the alcohol for normal function. Alcohol has a tremendous affect on the body. In small doses, alcohol has a tendency to provide warmth, confront and relaxation. But when the drinker is unable to control the amount he or she has, they become more outgoing, self confident, and uninhibited. Alcohol mostly affects the liver. Normally, the liver processes ...
Alcoholism is an addiction to the consumption of alcohol or the noetic illness and compulsive demeanor resulting from alcohol dependency. Heavy drinking causes considerable damage to the body including cancer, heart problems, and liver disease. Alcoholics have deep rooted problems associated with alcohol abuse such as trying to keep families together as well as personal relationships. Alcoholics have a tendency to lie about their addiction and are mostly in denial as they cannot acknowledge or recognize that their is a problem with their alcohol consumption. In the event of people that depend on liquor to capacity or feel physically constrained to drink they are considered an alcoholic. Alcohol abuse is the most extreme manifestation of issue drinking. Substance masters make a refinement alcohol and alcohol abuse (likewise called alcohol reliance). Not at all like heavy drinkers, liquor abusers capacity as far as possible on their drinking habits. In any case their liquor utilization upset toward oneself and hazardous to themselves or others. Regularly, relatives and close companions feel committed to blanket for the individual with the drinking issue. So friends tend to tackle the load of cleaning up wreckage, heaps, lying or working more to make a decent living. Imagining that nothing isn't right and concealing without end the sum of their apprehensions and feelings of disdain can take a huge toll. Kids are particularly touchy and can endure significant trauma when a guardian is a heavy drinker or overwhelming consumer. It also makes families totally resent and hate being accompanied by the person with the alcohol problem. (www.helpguid.org 1).
Alcohol abuse is a huge problem in America. The number of adults in America that meet the requirements for an alcoholic disorder is about 17.6 million which is roughly 8.5 percent (Serec et al.). Alcoholism is defined as a continuous illness that consists of not being able to control drinking, being constantly consumed by alcohol, using alcohol though it may cause problems, physical dependence of alcohol, and having withdrawals when there is an absence of alcohol (Mayo Clinic Staff). Alcoholics generally do not realize that they are not just hurting themselves but the people around them as well. More often than not, children who have at least one alcoholic parent are affected the most. Children of alcoholic parents are affected negatively in their lifestyle, mental health, and physical health.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, alcoholism is defined as "the compulsive consumption of and psychophysiological dependence on alcoholic beverages." It is a problem that can tear apart marriages and families, cause someone to lose his job, and many more negative results. In order to recover from this dependency a person must lose his desire for and dependence upon alcohol, continue to remain sober, and resolve all conflicts caused by the alcohol abuse. There are several alternatives an alcoholic has to rehabilitate himself. The best solution is a combination of individual therapy and a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcoholism
About 1.3 million adults received treatment for an alcohol use disorder at a specialized facility just in 2013. According to the Proquest database, alcoholism is commonly referred to as the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The world health organization estimates there are 140 million alcoholics worldwide. Alcoholism can lead to ca crashes, crimes, violence, abuse, reduced workplace activity and illness.
“When I was 13, my dad started drinking more and more. Every day he would come home from work and have beer, lots of it. I didn’t think much of it at first, but then he started getting more angry and violent. He would shout at my mom and me. It was like my father had gone and been replaced with another guy” says an anonymous kid who lives with an alcoholic parent in “How my dad’s drinking problem almost destroyed my family”. The kid depicts that he is so confused, angry and upset especially when his father got fired for going to work drunk. This is one of many children’s voices who suffers having an alcoholic in their family. Most of them are depressed because alcohol has destroyed their family. This is an addiction that does