Women: Alcohol Addiction
explanatory Essay
2168 words
The alcoholic beverage has remained an established element to society’s social world and has grown into a way of living. As alcohol continues to flourish in its prevalence among citizens of the United States, so does the concept of alcohol addiction. A person becomes addicted to alcohol when they “drink excessively and develops a dependence that results in noticeable mental disturbance, or an interference with bodily and mental health, their interpersonal relations, and their smooth social and economic functioning” (Calahan, 1970, pp. 3). In 2009, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that about 52% of Americans used alcohol at least once within 30 days of their survey. As the percentage of Americans who consume alcohol continues to increase, the number of people who become addicted to alcohol remain at a higher risk for medical complications. Although men have been known to drink more likely than women, the side effects that women are more prone to suffer not only affect themselves but also the children they bear (Wilkinson, 1970).
As a legal drug in the United States, alcohol joins the many chemicals that bring harmful effects upon the body. Alcohol has been known to affect every organ in the body of the person who consumes it and has the potential to damage a developing fetus (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2009). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2009), occasional alcohol use can impair brain functions and various motor skills whereas on the other hand, heavy use can increase the risk of “certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease.” With heavy usage of alcohol, a person may develop an addictive craving or continuance for alcohol use despite the harm or injury it can cause to both the us...
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National Association for Children of Alcoholics. (2012). Children of Addicted Parents: Important Facts. Retrieved from http://www.nacoa.net/pdfs/addicted.pdf.
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. (2001). Summary of National Findings. Office of Applied Studies: Maryland. DHHS Publication No. SMA 02-3758.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that addeo, e. g., & reichling, j. why our children drink.
- Explains that lupton, burd, and harwood, (2004), cost of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. american journal of medical genetics.
- Explains the concept of alcohol addiction. alcohol is a legal drug that affects every organ in the body and can damage the developing fetus.
- Summarizes gravitz, bowden, and iacono's book, "cohort effects on gender differences in alcohol dependence". society for the study of addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
- Cites the national association for children of alcoholics and national household survey on drug abuse.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcohol abuse is a huge problem in america. the number of adults that meet the requirements for an alcoholic disorder is about 17.6 million which is roughly 8.5 percent.
- Explains that many alcoholics don't reach out for help or believe they have a problem. alcoholic parents can easily affect their children's lifestyle in negative ways.
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- Explains that some people believe that alcoholism isn't a disease because it's an abnormal disorder of structure or function in humans that produces specific signs or symptoms.
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- Explains the signs to look for when observing someone who may be an alcoholic. treatment depends on the severity of the addiction and the resources in the community.
- Explains that scientists are using vitamin e therapy to reverse damage of early exposure to alcohol, and 1-octanol to reduce damage on mouse embryos.
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- Explains that the national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism (niaaa) is researching treatments and therapies that are more effective than others.
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- Explains that lawmakers in the united states set the drinking age to twenty-one to prevent destructive decisions and avoid serious health issues.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how addiction affects a person's mind and physiology, negatively impacting their interpersonal relationships and work environment. alcohol continues to contribute to the lives across generations as evidenced by music.
- Explains that alcoholism affects a great number of people, and that it can cause major health risks, such as damage to the liver, brain and other organs.
- Compares the lyrics of amy winehouse's "rehab" and "whiskey lullaby" with those of brad paisley and alison krauss.
- Explains that music is a form of expression that can be both complex and simple. it can express emotion through the manipulation of sound and lyrics.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that alcohol abuse is a rising concern in today’s world. alcohol in moderation could be beneficial to some, but unfortunately can and is lethal to others.
- Defines a standard drink as one that contains.6 fluid ounces of alcohol. a 12-ounce glass, can or bottle of beer, which contains about 5% alcohol, and 8-9-ounce drinks of malt liquor, wine and hard liquor are all defined.
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- Explains the effects heavy drinking can have on the liver, including steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. alcoholic liver disease (ald) can occur when drinking in excess or moderate drinking.
- Explains that alcohol hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by drinking alcohol. it is most likely to occur in those who drink heavily over a long period of time.
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- Explains that children can take on many different roles in trying to adapt and adjust. one role is considered the ‘family mascot’, where they try to use humor to distract the other members of the family.
- Analyzes how the 'family scapegoat' is the child that the family members blame the issues of family upon. the ‘family hero’ sets good examples and is a role model to the other children.
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- Explains that withdrawal symptoms can occur within hours of discontinuation of consuming alcohol, ranging from headache, dizziness, and nausea within 12 hours, to those who are heavy drinkers for long periods of time.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the reasons behind women becoming heavy drinkers, and explains the conflicting results of research on women and alcohol.
- Describes the a.a. meeting that they attended. there were only three women present, so the female presence in the room was not as great as they would have liked.
- Analyzes gomberg's findings about how time spent with people who drink alcohol affects the likelihood that a person prone to alcoholism will develop an alcohol problem.
- Explains that alcoholism has been a fixture in our society since the first introduction of alcohol, but the treatment, and research, have been about men.
- Explains that women who are alcoholics come from a lower-middle and lower class background. alcoholics anonymous teaches women to deflate their ego and give their life to god.
- Analyzes the ramifications of gender on any sort of addiction treatment.
- Cites forth-finegan, jahn l., gomberg, edith s. lisansky, and makela, pia.
- Explains that pittman, david j. and helene raskin white, eds. society, culture, and drinking patterns reexamined.
2428 wordsRead More - Alcohol and its effectsanalytical essayPatterns of Drinking to Burden of Disease: An Overview,” Addiction Research Institute, May 8, 2003, 1209-1228.
In this essay, the author
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- Explains that alcohol has become a social norm in america and the world, and contributes to many diseases and deaths.
- Analyzes the lack of research done on adolescent health issues and the current knowledge of the consequences of alcohol consumption.
- Analyzes how the article provides a good comparison of alcohol and tobacco, and provides suggestions for solutions to the rising problems with alcohol.
- Explains that alcohol is a social norm in the united states and around the world. the prohibition period ended, making it legal again to possess alcohol.
- Analyzes how whole is definitely bigger than the sum of its parts, health and social work, august 2002, 162. this article gives information on health care challenges created by substance abuse.
- Explains that the article aims towards a large study to estimate the global burden of disease attributable to alcohol. it identifies the relationships between average volume consumption, patterns of drinking, disease, and injury outcomes.
1478 wordsRead More - Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuseexplanatory essayIn the United States alone, nearly 18 million people have an addiction to alcohol. This drug can be a mild to chronic addiction and sometimes can turn out fatal for some people (Chakraburtty). Almost 100,000 people have died from overusing this drug (Chakraburtty). Alcoholism and alcohol abuse is not only damaging emotionally, physically, and mentally to the person who is doing it, but to the people around them as well.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that alcoholism and alcohol abuse is damaging emotionally, physically, and mentally to the person who is doing it.
- Explains that alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both self-destructive and can affect so many different things with themselves and their loved ones.
- Explains that alcoholism is the most serious form of someone who is abusing alcohol. it is also known as alcohol dependence.
- Explains that alcohol has a major effect on the brain, and chronic alcohol use can lead to long-term health problems.
- Explains that parents who have a drinking problem tend to be blinded and cannot see the damage that is being done. they focus on their own problems and trying to cope with them.
- Explains that teens are exposed to alcoholic substances very young these days. many teens attend parties and start a habit that they do not see the bad consequences of.
- Explains that alcohol can cause major impairment to the brain and over-all actions of someone. alcohol affects people in many different ways, but it can truly change a person from the inside out.
- Explains that alcoholics can develop an addiction from genetics. it doesn't matter how much money a person makes or what social class they are in.
- Explains that alcohol is a serious issue and affects women who are pregnant. fetal alcohol syndrome, or fas, is one of the top 3 defects that babies can have.
- Opines that alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both very serious diseases and most people are unaware of the toll it can take one person.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that abraham maslow describes a security need that is believed to exist in every person. people may participate in subgroups that encourage the use of alcohol.
- Opines that alcohol and drug use can be a result of oppressed social conditions, such as lack of money, decent schools, and sub-standard housing in communities that lack social services.
- Opines that race and ethnicity have shaped the opportunity structure for many minorities. the american indians have had a long history of alcoholism.
- Explains that alcohol use may contribute to further use and abuse through psychological means as well. people who were once social drinkers have transitioned to abusive drinking because the effects of alcohol are better than other activities going on in their life.
- Explains that tolerance of alcohol develops differently in people, but one thing remains consistent: increased activity in the nervous system or shaking occurs on cessation after prolonged use.
- Explains that alcoholism has enormous costs as it pertains to societies, families, and individuals. it is not prejudicial towards any race, color, sex, religion, or economic level.
- Explains that people do not drink alcohol to reduce tensions; they drink once the tense situation is over or has stopped and relief has set in.
- Explains that alcoholism is linked to behavioral and environmental factors. genetic linkage analysis can narrow the area on a chromosome and identify the gene that regulates the number of dopamine receptors.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that drinking is a serious problem in the united states. it is associated with cancer, stroke, heart disease, miscarriage, premature birth, and unintentional injuries.
- Explains that alcoholism is hard to break due to the brain craving created by a drinking habit.
- Explains that quitting alcohol is difficult because alcoholics lack belief and support. strong belief can empower anyone's vision to get what they want easily.
- Explains that the aa provides alcoholics with sufficient belief and support to help them quit their drinking habit. the strength and hope they receive from other members support their desire to change.
- Explains that alcoholics don't have enough willpower to overcome their addiction. alcohol weakened their self-control and made quitting difficult.
- Opines that breaking drinking addiction for alcoholics is never easier if they don't know the right ways to do so.
1630 wordsRead More