Alcoholism Essay Research Paper IntroductionI chose to

Alcoholism Essay, Research Paper

IntroductionI chose to write about alcoholism for a number of reasons.One reason is because it affects so many people. About ten million Americans suffer from this disease. Families can be destroyed and torn apart because of an alcoholic within the family. I chose alcoholism because so many people drink alcohol and use it in their daily lives. I also chose this topic because as a teenager, to drink alcohol is a choice that I will have to make. I wanted to know the consequences of drinking and the facts about it. I was tired of hearing contradictory facts about alcohol and alcoholism. The main purpose for writing this report on alcoholism is to inform myself about this subject. I intend to cover the causes of alcoholism, the effects of its use and the treatment of alcoholism. Reasons for Drinking AlcoholFirst of all, alcoholism is a disease in which the drinking of alcohol is a compulsion. A person who has a need to drink alcohol is called an alcoholic. Alcoholism is different then being drunk. A person may get drunk occasionally, but that does not make him or her an alcoholic. Alcoholics drink for many reasons. One debated reason is that it is genetic. Studies have been done on this issue. One study found that men whose fathers were alcoholics were three times more likely to become an alcoholic than the men whose fathers were non-alcoholic. They also found that the sons of alcoholics were more likely to become addicted at an earlier age. Another study compares sons of alcoholics who had been raised in homes with their alcoholic fathers with brothers who had been adopted and raised in a non-alcoholic home. The conclusion was that both boys were just as likely to become alcoholics.4 The descendants of alcoholics inherit a greater alcohol tolerance due to their body chemistry. The liver of an offspring of an alcoholic produces more acetaldehyde. This enzyme contaminates the blood, which will ultimately end up in the brain. This produces, along with the consumption of alcohol, a disproportionate amount of TIQ. TIQ is an analgesic which produces a feeling of relaxation and comfort. When it enters the brain anxiety diminishes. A side effect of TIQ is that it is as addictive as morphine. Scientists involved in alcoholism research state that, “there is no one substance that contributes to making of an alcoholic more than TIQ.” Since the alcoholic produces more acetaldehyde by drinking they can produce more TIQ. They become addicted very quickly.Along with addition there is another problem due to the increase of acetaldehyde. When it blends with gamma-amino butyric acid it thickens the brain cell membrane walls. The effect of this thickening is a decline in the ability of the brain cells to function effectively. With continued ingestion of alcohol the addict becomes a cerebral cripple.4Another reason for drinking is the taste. Although alcohol is an acquired taste, some people get used to it. Alcohol can even taste good when eaten with certain foods such as pizza. Wine is considered especially enjoyable with meals like steak or spaghetti. But not too many people drink because of the taste. They drink because they like the way it makes them feel. Alcohol relaxes them, making them more comfortable and less tense. This relaxing affect is what leads to alcoholism. Many people drink to escape their problems, relieve stress that has built-up during the work day or even the school day. Alcohol relieves both physical and emotional pain. In the early days of the practice of medicine, alcohol was used during operations to lessen pain. Teenagers might drink to be cool. They feel they must fit in with everyone else to they drink. Some teenagers drink to relieve problems. These problems could be an abusive parent or an over demanding parent. A child will drink to escape the pain the parent inflects on him when the parent himself is drunk. Being drunk helps the child forget about his troubles. A parent might make a child feel inadequate. Maybe the child cannot get good enough grades or he cannot be the star athlete. This makes him feel worthless when his parents criticize him. The child might turn to alcohol to forget his pain.6Social situations also encourage people to drink. Business is conducted over martinis. Weddings and holidays are celebrated with champagne. College parties are often centered around a keg of beer. Birthdays and promotions are also celebrated with alcohol. In these cases drinking is encouraged and is acceptable.Most people believe alcoholism is a learned habit. If children grow-up in an alcoholic home they have a significantly greater chance of becoming an alcoholic when they become adults. The chances increase even more when both parents abuse alcohol. The children grow up with the idea of drinking in their minds. They see their parents drinking so they think it is perfectly acceptable to abuse alcohol. Children who grow up in an alcoholic family also may turn to alcohol to escape the pain they must endure from their parents. Effects of Drinking AlcoholThe drug alcohol is a depressant. It lowers the activity of the nervous system. Alcohol affects the control centers of the brain and so a drunk may behave in ways that are unlike the person. The drunk is usually confused, disoriented, and unable to make steadily.2 Alcohol affects different people differently. Alcohol can even affect a person differently at different times. Alcohol depresses the brain s