Alcoholism Essay Sample

This research paper explains the meaning attached to alcoholism, the factors that fuel or contribute to the development of alcoholism as a situation, makes an analysis of the benefits against the costs of alcoholism in society ,the effects of such endeavors, the treatment that is necessary for recovery and the standpoint at the latter stages of the paper.
Thesis Statement: Alcohol is a very tentative issue in society that is enjoyed by a large segment of society for various reasons known to man. Placed on a weighing scale the benefits against the costs that accrue to alcohol indulgence are varied and compete amongst the opinions of people. However a greater percentage of people ranging from doctors to the average person has advice on alcohol limits as it may be an enjoyment beverage but on the flip side it results to grave consequences.

Introduction

Alcoholism is defined as the continuous, persistent nature of an individual to continue drinking alcohol heavily without due regard or care to himself/herself, his /her social wellbeing ,his/her family, status or even when injurious to one’s health. This degenerate form of behavior and insistent attitude is absurd and classified as a disease by some in the care fraternity or experts who study alcoholics and the extreme behavior. Alcoholism is also described as the un-ending want or desire to drink more to reach a certain peak of events some sort of ‘Valhalla’ or heavens sanctuary of peace and tranquility but in others it’s to a violent world, a Viking world.
I. Causes
Stress is a major factor that fuels alcoholism taken in an attempt to bury and forget their woes people partake of alcohol only putting it off and setting up a recurrence of trends. This develops a habit, a behavior and in the end it sticks to one as a disease.
Cultures in certain societies have alcohol as their main beverage even children are given some to blend in. Functions and parties are graced with alcohol offered in various forms of concentration to others it is just a normal drink. This is a direct pointer to alcoholism and the advancement of the cause
Family setting and upbringing also has a major role to play as the folks of a child determine most of what a child sees, hears or does. Thus a lot of alcoholics and drinkers automatically provide the right set up for a child’s debut into alcoholism and this directly contributes to alcoholism
According to a publication explaining alcoholism, by Darla B urke , July 11, 2012,’ the cause of alcoholism is still unknown. However, dependency on alcohol develops when you drink so much alcohol that chemical changes in the brain occur. These changes emphasize the pleasurable feelings that result when you drink alcohol. These feelings cause an increased desire to drink, even if it causes harm. Alcoholism typically develops gradually over time.’ Alcohol consumption changes one’s brain chemical composition therefore making one who consumes alcohol heavily to have a consistent desire and craving for the same even at one’s twilight years. Different people digest alcohol differently based on gender, body size and the fat one may possess in their bodies. The faster the digestion the less the alcohol uptake and the lower the digestion rate the more alcohol uptake especially for people with more fat in their bodies.
II.SYMPTOMS

There are a myriad of symptoms of alcoholism based on the different observations and tests done on alcoholics:

1. Drinking to oneself and behaving like an introvert is one
2. High tolerance to alcohol therefore more drinking results
3. Violent behavior when addressed
4. Very poor diets exhibited by the alcoholic
5. Poor health hygiene
6. Instances of missing commitments due to distracted mind due to alcoholism
7. Having no care of anything and formulation of excuses to get to the drink
8. Drinking persistent even when basic needs are not available.

9withdrawal symptom s like nausea even after quitting

10. Trembling when drinking
11. Memory failure even totally under severe situations
12. Different sicknesses and struggling patients
According to a journal of addictions nursing (Taylor and Francis LTD) , ‘Smoking and alcohol drinking in adolescents cause significant problems in most countries. The aim of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine the prevalence, causes, risk factors, and preventive factors for cigarette and alcohol use‘Many students in college drink binge excessively due to poor performance in school and this later on may lead to memory failures or the victims being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, extreme sexual behaviors, rowdy characteristics .This was achieved through a model study on the effects of binge drinking on impulsivity. And its effects on the behavioral change occasioned.
III. ALCOHOLISM EFFECTS
Excessive alcohol consumption results to the damage of the liver in severe cases one may develop liver cirrhosis which is a deadly disease with a guaranteed shortened lifespan.
Dementia/memory loss at severe stages through gradual mental illness is an effect of alcoholism, damage to the gastro intestinal tract even resulting to cancer in the same area due to chemicals deposited from the excess alcohol consumption. Depression may result as most alcoholics have been heard to retreat into their cocoons or ‘rabbit holes’, high-pretension and high blood pressure are also factors that may result. Pancreatic problems may also result due to the excessive sugar level in alcohol which overwhelms the pancreas in its role to regulate the blood sugar level. Nerve malfunctions as one develops tolerance to pain and less responsive action to things is also a problem one may develop due to heavy alcoholic drinking.
IV.TREATMENT
A publication – Chad.E on alcoholism, many alcoholics who are treated do better than those who don’t receive any treatment and have a higher chance of success. An alcoholic may recover completely or may not recover at all based on the treatment and perceptions of a patient. A number of treatment measures include:
-Detoxification which is the complete cleaning of one’s system from the chemicals that may be introduced by alcohol. This ensures one’s body is healthy and remains toxic free. Withdrawal from alcohol may also be an option geared toward success
-Rehabilitation of an alcoholic make one reconnect to lost self and helps one find a drug free life which is popular solution.
-Counseling sessions, self-help groups help one identify himself with the real solutions to his or her problems therefore avoiding alcoholic companies, ideologies and tendencies.
-Medical treatment and medications administered by a qualified doctor helps one have a clean bill of health so long as one follows the expert advice.
Moderate drinking has its benefits as some health studies even suggest it improves one’s heath. According to a 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, collected and documented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the “lowest coronary heart disease mortality occurs at an intake of one or two drinks per day. “This translates to about 12 ounces of a drink.
National institute of health provided a study in (2003) that proves that moderate drinking in men reduces the risk of getting coronary disease. The study goes on to provide that men who drank 7 days a week had a lesser chance of getting the disease than men who drank 3 -4 days a week.
V.CONCLUSION
In all this, do a cost benefit analysis and the result is that the impacts of alcoholism are far much greater than the benefits of drinking which is largely enjoyment. Alcohol therefore stands to harm in the long run rather than build and this ultimately dents society. In my view we ought to shun alcohol through legislation or enact laws that ensure moderation strictly speaking from a socialist standpoint

REFERENCES

Works Cited
Alcoholism. (2012, July). Retrieved from Healthline: http://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/basics
Emrick, C. (1975). A Review of Psychologically Oriented Treatment of Alcoholism. II. The Relative Effectiveness of Different Treatment Approaches and the Effectiveness of Treatment versus No Treatment’.
George Krucik, M. (2012, july). alcoholism. Retrieved from healthline: http://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/basics
International Nurses Society on Addictions, Taylor & Francis. (2014). Research Gate. journal of addictions nursing.
us departmement of health and human services. (2005). Retrieved from dietary guidelines: www.usadietaryguidelines.com
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse Alcoholism (NIAAA) (2003) Frequency of Light-to-Moderate Drinking Reduces Heart Disease Risk in Men NIAAA Press Office or NHLBI Communications Office
Alcohol Effects on Health and the Heart (2008) Alcohol Effects Could Extend To Lowering Cholesterol by Betsy Lee-Frye Updated October 04, 2008