The Negative Effects Of Alcoholism

1173 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative impact of drinking alcohol essay

Alcoholism is a mental illness that is very destructive not only to an individual that has it, but also to the people that surround him or her and the community. It is a “chronic disease, progressive, and often fatal”, according to James D. Torr, author of the book called Alcoholism (19). Alcohol, when consumed, causes the person to feel pleasure and other desired effects, because of the chemicals it contains. The continuation of consuming alcohol causes the brain and the body to develop tolerance or addiction which leads to alcohol dependence or alcoholism.
Alcoholism destroys a person’s mental and physical health. According to Arthur Diamond, author of another book called Alcoholism, when the alcohol is consumed, the central nervous system …show more content…

Alcohol is a major factor commonly involved in many types of incidents which negatively affects the community. “In New York State, for example, the New York State Council on Alcoholism estimates that alcoholism accounts for 35 percent of all hospitalizations; 50 percent of all rapes; homicides; and fatal car crashes; 85 percent of deaths by fire; 68 percent of deaths by drowning; 25 percent of suicides; and 40 percent of family court actions (Diamond 58). If the problem of alcoholism is resolved, then the occurrence of these types of incidents will be greatly reduced which will be very beneficial to the …show more content…

“Alcoholism may be treated in several ways including hospitalization, therapy, and self-help groups” (Diamond 64). But the very first thing people with alcoholism should do before getting a treatment is to admit that they have alcoholism. Usually, people with alcoholism deny that they have this problem (Torr 26). Friends and family who try to help them with their problem end up having arguments. Even when they admit that they have alcoholism, they will insist that they can treat themselves, even though they fail trying (Diamond 63). Unless they are willing to get treated, nothing is going to happen and they will just only continue to drink alcohol, further harming themselves and the people around

Show More
Related

  • Alcoholism: Recovery Experiences Between Men And Women

    2428 Words  | 5 Pages

    Most alcoholics proceed to a stage where their brains or their bodies have been so harmed by alcohol that the effects persist even when they are not drinking. This stage may be reached...

    Read More

  • Alcoholism Case Study

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism writes this article to inform the world that alcohol is a brain disease that affects the body and mind. The article states that alcoholism is a type of addiction, which therefore means it is a complex disease. It affects the health and well-being of the person. Alcoholism was defined as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1956. David Rosenbloom, PhD, states, “They can’t stop because their brain has been changed.” Neurotransmitters in the brain such as, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate, are disrupted by abused substances such as alcohol. This article will be helpful to me because it has specific examples and situation that explains that alcoholism is a disease.

    Read More

  • The Dangers of Alcohol and Alcoholism

    3315 Words  | 7 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Sobriety

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Alcohol Abuse: Alcoholism as a Disease

    2169 Words  | 5 Pages

    The problem of alcohol abuse has been recognized for thousands of years, but only more recently have we begun to see alcohol addiction as a treatable disorder. According to the Classical Disease Model of `Alcoholism,' habitual use of alcohol can be identified as a disease. Webster's Dictionary defines the concept of `disease' as follows: "Any departure from health presenting marked symptoms; malady; illness; disorder." Therefore, as many occurrences of alcohol excess provoke such symptoms, it is somewhat understandable that `alcoholism' is classified as a disease. The Classical Disease Model appears to offer a hopeful option. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives. Adjacent to the notion of alcoholism as personal failure or moral deterioration, the Classical Disease Model appears to be a more desirable concept as it provides a motive for the alcoholic to seek treatment and gain sympathy, minimizing personal guilt. As alcoholism is seen as a progressive and, to an extent, hereditary illness for which those afflicted are not accountable, victims avoid being ostracized from society (Jellinek, 1960). Labeling the problem as a `disease' allows the medical profession to take responsibility for the treatment of alcoholism, which puts the problem in a more favourable light than if it were in the hands of psychologists or social workers, thus detaching the stigma connected with the problem while it is put on a par with other diseases such as diabetes or cancer. However, critics of the Classical Disease Model believe stigma helps reduce alcohol problems and aids the alcoholic. Any effort to reduce the stigma which is faced by the alcoholic will reduce pressures to moderate consumption and could have the additional ...

    Read More

  • Effects of Drinking

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    Whereas, drinking may have some positive effects, it have a lot of negative effects. For instance, it can cause violence on the ...

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Drinking

    1630 Words  | 4 Pages

    “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

    Read More

  • Alcoholism is a Disease

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    To understand alcoholism, it must first be understood what this affliction is dependent on. Alcohol is a substance that is made by the fermentation of fruits, grains, or miscellaneous other organic materials. The chemical, alcohol, is a depressant and acts on every cell in the human body. Due to this, the central nervous system, along with the pleasure centers of the brain, are affected resulting in a feeling of euphoria and a sense of well being. After repeated exposure, the brain becomes dependent on this drug to unburden itself whenever it feels the compulsion. Several factors that contribute to alcoholism are the individual’s psychology, genetics, culture, and the individual’s response to physical pain.

    Read More

  • Medical Marijuana Case Study

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    Heavy drinkers are affected severely more than an occasional drinker. Alcohol related cognitive decline results in loss of motor skills, memory loss, emotional imbalance and anxiety. While drinking, the alcohol in your body effects the central nervous system like a depressant and slowing down nerve signals throughout your body. Having slow nerve signals effects your motor skills which include walking, driving, impaired reaction time and decision making. Higher amount of alcohol in your blood the lower your motor skills are. While intoxicated, you lose muscle control and could injure yourself, but you won’t feel it right away because of your slow nerve signals. Alcohol is the #1 abused drug, which is why occasional drinkers can turn into alcoholism and do serious damage to their physical and mental

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Alcoholism

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alcoholism is a disease in which the drinking of alcohol becomes uncontrollable. Compulsion and craving of alcohol rules the life of the alcoholic. Many of us drink alcohol to socialize which is not alcoholism. An alcoholic is a frequent habitual user. Alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, dulls the senses especially vision and hearing. Signs of alcoholism are tremors, delirium, inability to concentrate and many others. “According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, more than 13 million Americans abuse alcohol”(Mayo Clinic Health Information 1). There are many causes leading an individual to alcoholism. Alcohol damaging effects are physically, psychologically, and socially devastating.

    Read More

  • Alcohol Informative Speech

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help transmit signals from one nerve in the brain to another (Drinkaware). Drinking decreases our mental sharpness and judgment. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes” (NIAAA,). Another problem that affects us mentally is addiction. Alcohol is very addictive and people go through withdrawal. (Brittanica, Mark Keller). Alcohol affects human’s bodies and causes them to die at a young age. Alcohol harms your organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas, and the brain. (NIAAA). Also, there is an increase of developing cancer around the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast (NIAA). Consuming alcohol came lead to people taking actions they might not have taken when sober. Regular drinking lowers the levels of serotonin in your brain. This leads to depression and

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Quiting Alcohol

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coming to terms with the reality of alcohol addiction, enables the individual to begin taking action. Although peers may have already highlighted the problem to the user, he or she is more likely to commit to quitting if they themselves recognize that there is a problem stemming from their alcohol use. Initially, the alcohol user needs to assess his or her situation regarding alcohol abuse. Next, the individual will need to take steps to ensure that he or she can commit to making a change. Furthermore, this step can be hard to accomplish without making your decision clear to family and friends that the individual drinks with. Now that the alcohol user has acknowledged the reality that a substance abuse problem exists, it’s time for the alcohol user to speak with his or her physician for assistance on maintaining a sober

    Read More

  • Pros and Cons of Drinking Alcohol

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alcohol abuse is the most common problem, nowadays. In fact, majority of people drink alcohol repeatedly to the point where they have difficulty to stop. Statistics show that, as much as, “40% of college students report drinking five or more drinks in one episode” (Walters & Baer, 2006). Alcohol has become more popular over the years as advertisements, simultaneously with commercials of it, filled the media. It also is easily accessible and cheap in comparison to other psychoactive substances. On the other hand, alcohol safety awareness programs are barely noticeable. My research will present how alcohol and its abuse gets into people’s lives and how it influences their physical and mental health, as well as, social existence.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Drinking Alcohol

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    People started drinking alcohol socially for fun years ago, but after experiencing the effects of alcohol and with the amounts of stress people are facing nowadays; drinking alcohol became an addiction that in some cases is out of control. Alcohol is also considered a drug and it is addictive, and it has many bad effects. The main effect of drinking alcohol is causing disease; it has a lot of bad effects on an alcoholic’s human body organs and may cause death in some cases. There are other health related effects of alcohol that include: immediate effects and long term effects. As I mentioned addiction is one of the bad effects of alcohol, and it may cause people to lose family members, jobs and money if not treated. Drinking alcohol is also very dangerous for pregnant women, and has a lot of bad effects on women and their babies; some of these effects may be fatal. Withdrawal problems after quitting drinking alcohol are also bad and include symptoms like nausea, anxiety, and many more that will be discussed in the following paragraphs. The last effect of drinking alcohol that will be discussed in this essay is treatment; costs and effectiveness. Drinking alcohol affects the human body, mind and life in a very bad way, and just like drugs; alcoholics have to deal with the negative effects of drinking alcohol.

    Read More

  • Symptoms, Causes, and Effects of Alcoholism

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.

    Read More

More about The Negative Effects Of Alcoholism

Open Document