Alcohol And Other Drugs Use example essay topic

ALCOHOLISM This research paper is on alcoholism and its affect on teenagers and adults. This piece will fully outline alcohol from its origin, and different types of alcohol, all the way to the treatment of alcohol addiction. Reading this paper will hopefully shed some light on the fact that people with an alcohol addiction do not only hurt and affect themselves, but also make the people around them susceptible to the same fate. I. Ethyl alcohol (also known as drinking alcohol), is one of the oldest drugs in the world. Five thousand years ago, the people of Mesopotamia drank beer and recorded it on clay tablets.

The ancient Egyptians brewed and drank beer also. 1 And today, alcohol is probably used in every country in the world. There are several types of alcohol, but ethyl is the most common and is the only one that can be consumed. Other alcohols include: Methyl, used in antifreeze and cleaning solutions; Isopropyl, which is used in rubbing alcohol; Ethylene, also used in antifreeze; and Glycerol, which is used in hand lotions and plastic explosives. 2 Alcohol is made through a process called fermentation.

Fermentation turns fruit juice into wine and grain mixed with liquid into beer. 3 This process is completed by a group of microscopic organisms, mostly made up of yeasts. When the yeast bacteria act on the sugar (glucose) in the fruit juice, they produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. 4 Alcohol addiction or alcoholism is a diseased condition resulting from the excessive or persistent use of alcoholic beverages. 5 These beverages include: whiskey, wine, wine coolers, beer, liquor, hard cider and many others. Alcoholism is thought to arise from a combination of a wide range of physiological, psychological, social and genetic factors.

6 Consumption of alcohol has greatly increased in the United States, many European countries and countries that were in the former Soviet Union. This is paralleled by growing evidence of increasing numbers of alcohol-related problems in other nations. 7 Alcohol has direct toxic as well as sedative affects on the body. Excessive drinking may further complicate theses matters, and often advanced cases require hospitalization.

8 Alcohol has a wide effect on the organ system. These include ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas, and cirrhosis of the liver. 9 The brain and nervous system also can be severely damaged, causing blackouts, hallucinations or tremors to occur. 10 Studies have also shown that drinking during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the unborn child. II. Teenage alcoholism is on the rise in the world today, for many different reasons.

Some of these main reasons are stress, peer pressure from their friends to drink, belief that drinking will relieve problems that they have in their life, or pressure from alcohol advertisements on television, radio, and in newspapers and magazines. Sadly, alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults. Deaths among persons ages 15-24 resulted from automobile accidents involving alcohol use or abuse. 11 In 1994, more than half of adolescents involved in alcohol-related accidents were intoxicated. 12 Here are some key facts from research on teenagers and alcoholism: - Teens are more likely to use alcohol or other drugs if their parents or the community they live in tolerate underage drinking or other drug use. - Teens who do poorly and dislike school are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs.

- Teens are more likely to drink alcohol or use other drugs if they believe their peers are doing so. 13 Now, here are some things that parents can do to prevent their teen from drinking or abusing drugs: - Talk with your teen about the risks involved in using alcohol and other drugs. - Set a good example. Show your teen that it is possible to have a good time, or relax, without using alcohol or other drugs. - Stay informed. Find out what you need to know about alcohol and other drugs use and talk about it with your teen.

-Involve your teen in decisions about the rules they are expected to follow and the consequences for violating those rules. Teens are more likely to obey rules if they have a say in them and in the consequences. 13 One more thing that is on the rise in the world, is the illegal sale of alcohol to minors. A minor is considered to be anyone under the legal drinking age of 21. The consequences for breaking this law are as follows: 1. the punishment for making alcoholic beverages available to a minor has been increased from a class 'C' misdemeanor (a fine of $0 to $500) to a class 'B' misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both. -OR- 2. the direct sale of alcohol to a minor is a class 'A' misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail for one year, or both.

14 . Alcohol does not affect teenagers alone, it also affects adults. Many adults drink for the same reasons as teens. Stress, is among the highest. Other adults are called social drinkers. These types of people use alcohol moderately as a regular part of their social lives.

Unfortunately, there are still people among this group of social drinkers, who drink just to get drunk, often to escape painful feelings about themselves and their lives. 15 When a person is dependent on alcohol like this, he / she is called an alcoholic. Meaning that he / she needs, or is addicted to alcohol. A person who is becoming alcoholic usually gets drunk more and more often, frequently lapsing into drunken unconsciousness. The amazing, yet sad thing about most alcoholics is that they continue with home life and work, even though they usually have problems with both. Did you know that an alcoholic's marriage is seven times more likely to end in divorce or separation than those of any other people?

17 Alcoholics also succeed in hiding their problem from other, but they often fail to realize that they are alcoholics themselves. Some experts classify alcoholics into three types: Type I, Type II, and Type alcoholics. Type I alcoholics are characterized as 'born alcoholics'. These individuals are born with a genetic defect in their endorphin-producing system. Endorphins are morphine like substances in the brain that relieve feelings of stress or pain. 18 But Type I alcoholics drink to make up for the lack of endorphins, because alcohol temporarily creates a false sense of well-being.

19 Type II alcoholics are characterized as 'stress-induced' alcoholics. These people are born with a normal endorphin count. But by drinking to relieve stress, their natural level of endorphins are reduced. 20 Lastly, Type II alcoholics are characterized as 'drug-induced' drinkers. They once had a normal brain chemistry, but continued use of alcohol has weakened the brain's ability to produce a normal amount of endorphins. 21 IV.

One good thing about alcohol addiction is that it can be cured through rehabilitation. Rehab procedures include individual, group, or family therapy. Two of the most famous alcoholic rehabilitation groups are A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous) and Al-Anon. Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide organization of men and women who help each other solve their common problem of alcoholism. 22 A.A. was founded in 1935. Today, it has about 85,000 local groups in the United States, Canada and about 130 other countries around the world.

23 But, if there is one important thing to note it is that Alcoholics Anonymous is not a religious nor a medical organization. Its only concern is to help with alcohol recovery and to make sure those who do recover stay sober. The second group, Al-Anon is a worldwide organization for the families and friends of alcoholics. Their members learn that alcoholism is a disease and how it affects family life.

They then use that information to deal with their own problems. 24 Al-Anon has about 500,000 members in more than 30,000 local groups. 25 And just like A. A, Al-Anon is not connected with any religious group. Most of the time, having to go through rehab, means having to go through the consequences for the person who was the alcoholic. One of these consequences is called delirium tremens. Delirium tremens, often called the DT's, is a nervous and mental disturbance that results from acute alcoholism.

It occurs after withdrawal from alcohol and may last three to ten days. 26 Most often the recovering alcoholic will develop insomnia, a dislike for food, and they may become irritable or restless. In worse cases, death sometimes results, because pneumonia develops or heart failure occurs. 27 Doctors 8 usually treat DT's by giving the patient a sedative or a tranquilizing drug such as. Naltrexone blocks the pleasurable effects that drinking produces and reduces an alcoholic's craving for alcohol. 28 Despite all efforts, alcohol is still one of the most widely abused drugs in the United States.

Experts estimate that from 10 to 12 million people suffer from alcoholism. There is no cure for this disease, but it can be treated, and the patient can make a complete 360 degree turn and go back to a happy, healthy, productive life. But this can only be done if the alcoholic first, realizes he / she has a drinking problem and second, that he / she knows that people with an alcohol addiction do not only hurt and affect themselves, but they also make the people around them susceptible to the same fate. Then perhaps we can slowly but surely put an end to alcoholism.

Bibliography

World Book Encyclopedia 1995 Edition Keyword (s): Alcoholism, Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous'Alcohol' Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Vol.
1, Harper & Row, 1993 Resnick, Charlotte A.
and Gloria R. Resnick, To Your Good Health-2nd Edition, p. 374-388, New York, Am sco, 1989 web Texas Alcoholic Beverage Comission, 2001 web no author given, no date given web What to Know About Teen Alcohol and other Drug Use (downloadable pamphlet) 2001.