Alcohol Essay Research Paper Alcohol is the

Alcohol Essay, Research Paper

Alcohol is the most used and abused drug in the world, for this reason there is no wonder

why we have alcohol problems. The most common problem is alcoholism. Alcoholism is

a chronic usually progressive disease that includes both a psychological and a physical

addiction to alcohol. Alcoholics know what will happen to them when they drink but they

are so addicted they can.t stop drinking. Alcohol becomes the most important part of the

person.s life. It totally consumes them, all their thoughts and actions have to do are

somehow associated with alcohol. Alcoholism like other illnesses will become worse

without treatment and remain life-threatening as long as it is left untreated. The

psychological dependence an alcoholic has is when they think alcohol is necessary and life

will not be good without it. The physical dependence an alcoholic has is when their body

becomes so used to the drug that it now needs alcohol to function without pain.

Alcoholism is not a disease experienced only by adults. Alcoholism, like any illness, can

strike at any age. Ten percent of the adult drinkers in the U.S are considered alcoholics or

at least experience drinking problems to some degree. Surveys have shown that more

than one out of three Americans have a personal friend or relative who has had a drinking

problem for ten years or longer. Almost two out of three Americans report that they

know someone who drinks too much. It is estimated that there are 18 million alcoholic or

problem drinkers in the U.S. For every alcoholic there are at least four other people who

are affected by the alcoholic. This means that in the U.S. there are at least seventy-two

million other people dealing with the disease somehow. Many people believe that

alcoholics are people that are the skid row winos and bums. This is a common

misconception, actually ninety-four percent of alcoholics live at home, while only six

percent are the skid row type. Ninety percent of all alcoholics are employed, and many

work for years before their alcoholism becomes so bad that they cannot perform their job.

Federal officials estimate that the abuse of alcohol costs the economy well over

one-hundred billion dollars every year. Alcohol does this by making people be less

productive at work, taking more sick days, sustaining on the job injuries, collecting more

workmen.s compensation, and increasing health insurance premiums.

Physical Effects

Prolonged alcohol use like that of an alcoholic can lead to permanent damage of your

body. The liver is the organ of the body most vulnerable to damage by alcohol because

the liver is where the alcohol is broken down. The liver may become worn out from the

daily task of removing alcohol from the blood, this may cause the liver to be unable to

perform as well in removing other harmful substances. One of the most dangerous

diseases of the liver caused by long-term alcohol use is cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis

causes the liver to become inflamed and scarred, which eventually kills the liver and the

person. Over fourteen thousand deaths a year from cirrhosis are directly related to

alcohol. Alcohol causes an increase in blood pressure, this makes the heart pump harder

to move blood around the body. Alcohol can cause an increase in heart rate while at the

same time reducing the ability of the heart muscle to pump, it can also cause abnormal

heart rhythms. Long-term and heavy use of alcohol can cause a condition of the heart

called alcoholic cardiomyopathy, this impairs the heart muscles ability to contract and

eventually fail. Alcohol.s action on the brain is what causes people to feel intoxicated. A

sudden intake of large amounts of alcohol may result in death, this is because nerve

impulses to the brain are dangerously blocked. There are over two hundred deaths a year

from this kind of accidental alcohol poisoning. Alcohol also has an increasing effect on

our brain chemistry this is what causes are change behavior. This can make people do

things that they would not do when they are sober, this a is common sign of an alcoholic.

Test have shown that long-term drinking like that of an alcoholic can lead to a measurable

loss of thinking ability. Over time heavy drinking can also cause permanent damage to the

central nervous system. Research has shown that there seems to be an association

between alcohol and cancer, with heavy drinkers having the highest risk. Drinkers seem to

get cancer more frequently than non-drinkers. Scientists believe that alcohol weakens

body tissue and makes them more susceptible to cancer causing substances. Alcohol is

considered a factor in over seven thousand cases of cancer a year. Alcohol hurts heavy

drinkers health in general, consuming large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time

harms their bodies and shortens their life. On average, heavy drinkers are taking twelve to

fifteen years off their lives.

How People Become Alcoholics

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