Alcoholism Essay Research Paper ALCOHOLISMAlcoholism is the

Alcoholism Essay, Research Paper

ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is the chronic and usually progressive illness involving the excessive inappropriate ingestion of ethyl alcohol, whether in the form of familiar alcoholic beverages or as a constituent of either substance. It is thought to arise from a combination of a whole range of physiological, psychological, social and genetic factors. It is characterized by an emotional and often physical dependence on alcohol, and it frequently leads to brain damage or early death. Alcohol has direct toxic as well as sedative effects on the body. Some damages, for example, are persistent brain damage, nerve and muscle damage, liver damage, cerebovascular disease, gastrointestinal system damage, nutritional problem, heart and circulatory system damage, respiratory system damage and also reproductive system damage. Therefore, alcoholism can have as adverse effects as any other medical disease as AIDS or cancer. The similarity between all three of them is that, the precautions are given from before, but in case of alcoholism the resulting effects are not publicized as much. That is, awareness programs that are being spread in public these days, regarding cancer and AIDS is properly looked after and it is made sure that all the people understand the effects. But as for alcoholism, the adverse effects is not being spread as much. This is where the whole problem lies. The way alcoholism is effecting peoples’ lives is a major issue, which has to be looked at and considered. Therefore, alcoholism is not only a medical problem, but also a social problem, which can be resolved with the proper public awareness.

Alcohol is estimated to be a contributing factor in 20-30% of all accidents.

In fatal car accidents involving young men between 10pm and 4am, it is a contributory factor in 60% of the cases

Some 30% of pedestrians killed in road accidents are above the legal limit for driving and more have drunk some alcohol up to the limit.

An unknown proportion of accidents to children occurs when adults responsible for their welfare have been drinking. Other kinds of accidents may include home accidents, fires, drownings, industrial accidents and so on. It has been suggested that alcohol may be a contributory factor in one third of all domestic accidents.

In Great Britain, among 165 home accidents, 32% of accidents were alcohol related.

A series of studies of the causes of fire deaths conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Glasgow University, found a raised blood alcohol level of 50% of the cases, and that in a high proportion of these the blood/alcohol level was enough to have impaired the escape ability of the victims.

Around 30% of all drownings are estimated to be alcohol related. This proportion may rise to 50% in the 20-30 age group.

Alcohol may again have a dual effect, increasing the risk of entering water (as a result of impaired co ordination or increased bravado) while simultaneously reducing the victim’s ability to survive. The occurrence of workplace accidents by time of day, have suggested a link between accidents and workers drinking immediately before going on duty or drinking during lunchtime.

High proportions of victims of violent crime are drunk or under the influence of alcohol at the time of their assault. Alcohol is associated with a wide range of criminal offences in addition to offences of drink driving and drunkenness, in which drinking or excessive drinking define the offence. The link with alcohol is particularly strong in relation to violent offences.

Research shows that alcohol is a major factor in 60-70% of homicides, 75% of stabbing, 70% of beatings and 50% of fights and domestic assaults.

It has been proved that, young heavy drinkers are more likely than light drinkers to commit minor violent offences and to be the victim of a crime and also that between 20 – 30% of violent offences and of disorderly behavior, falling short of serious violence, occurs in or near licensed premises.

Almost half the incidents of disorderly behavior dealt with by the police occur shortly after pub closing times and are more likely to occur on Friday or Saturday nights.

Alcohol has contributed to a number of crowd disturbances and other problems at sporting events including football, cricket, rugby and boxing. Because of the links between alcohol and disorder, restrictions can be placed on carrying and consuming alcohol on coaches and trains taking supporters to sporting events and at the events themselves.

In the USA it has been estimated that eliminating the glut of alcohol outlets in inner city areas would cut the homicide rates by 10%, saving 2000 lives a year.

Many adverse effects of alcohol are common to men and women, but, in many cases, women may be at greater risk and there are some problems special to women.

The heaviest drinkers among women appear to be those in the 16-24 and 35-44 age groups.

20 %of women in the 16-24 age group are drinking over 14 units per week compared with 11% in the late 1980s and 19% of women aged 35-44 are drinking over the limits compared to 10% previously.

An American study concluded that heavy drinking women are likely to have an advanced level degree, to have never married, to be separated or divorced, to have no children and to

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