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Alcoholism is a deadly disease in which an individual is addicted to alcohol and its relaxing effects. There is a theory that holds that addiction fits many criteria used to define other diseases and should therefore be treated as a disease. The individual depends on alcohol to get through the day or night, solve their problems, ease their depression, or no reason at all. According to the Encyclopedia of Health-Substance Abuse, an addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to use a drug or other substance. Alcoholism can be attained in two different ways. Alcoholism can be a genetic predisposition in which alcoholism runs in the family or is hereditary.
The other factor is that of the environment in which one may live. One or both of these factors can be taken into account when alcoholism is present. The bio psychosocial model is a theory that states that addiction is caused by the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors with an individual. Drinking behavior runs on a continuum starting with social drinking to careless drinking to problem drinking and finally alcoholism. Any stage before alcohol dependency is reversible. (Cornett, 10) The difference between problem drinking and alcoholism is that problem drinking is psychological dependence on alcohol, which usually is followed by complications with health and social life. A problem drinker will not obsess about alcohol, he or she has not yet developed an increased tolerance and do not suffer from physical withdrawal symptoms if he or she goes with out alcohol.
In alcoholism, the individual has a psychological and physiological dependence on alcohol. He or she spends alot of time drinking, obsessing about alcohol. An alcoholic has developed a high tolerance to it requiring more and more to get high. Once an alcoholic starts drinking he or she is unable to stop. Once an alcoholic, the individual is no longer in charge of how much alcohol he or she drinks once drinking has begun. (Cornett, 10 - 12) According to the World Book Encyclopedia, there are three types of alcoholics. Type I alcoholics are characterized as born alcoholics, with a genetic defect in their endorphin-producing system.
They drink to make up for the lack of endorphins, make them feel a false sense of well-being. Unfortunately alcohol further weakens the brains ability to produce endorphins. This differs from the Type II alcoholic who are stressed-induced drinkers, born with normal brain chemistry. As a result of their drinking to relieve stress, their natural levels of endorphins are reduced.
Temporary alcoholic behavior occurs. The last type of alcoholics are the drug-induced alcoholic group. These people once had normal brain chemistry, but continued use of alcohol has weakened the brains ability to produce a normal amount of endorphins. Continued drinking leads to a shortage of endorphins and to long-term alcoholic behavior.
Alcohol is a depressant, it reduces activity of the body system or function especially the central nervous system. Depending on how much is taken in, alcohol may help bring about relaxation, or induce sleep or if taken in larger doses may act as an anesthetic or painkilling agent. (Hermes, 30) According to the Encyclopedia of Health, author William J. Hermes states that In moderate doses, (one or two drinks) alcohol can make an average adult drinker feel a sense of relaxation and increases self-confidence. The effects of alcohol on a persons personality are of wide range.
The following effects are characteristic of that of which resides on one who is drunk. The individual is relaxed, most often, or happy depending on their mood before they began to drink. The reflexes are slowed, blood vessels dilate and thus the body feels warm but ends up losing heat more easily. A drunk person will sway or stumble when standing or walking.
Speech could be slurred or unclear, the person might become rowdy, violent, angry, or abusive. The thought process is temporarily shut down depending on how much alcohol is taken into the body. Unfortunately good judgements are usually unable to be made while one is intoxicated. In addition, if a decision must be made it is common for the three words I dont care to be spoken. A drunk individual may appear to be care-free, but is unable to realize repercussions of actions made while he or she is intoxicated. As if these affects are not enough the internal damage is great also.
Alcohol kills brain cells, destroys the liver and damages the heart and the stomach. There are many long-term affects of alcohol on an alcoholic or any individual who uses alcohol in excess. The liver is greatly affected and might become impaired, chances of cirrhosis of the liver or alcoholic hepatitis are also very high. Pancreatitis, which is the swelling of the pancreas often occurs in alcoholics. Diseases of the stomach, gastritis and bleeding ulcers are all diseases of heavy drinking. (Hermes, There is also emotional and psychological effects that alcohol on the brain. The three main criteria that affect the drunkenness of a person are weight, food present in stomach when drinking, and the amount of alcohol that is in the blood.
The amount of fat and water that is in a womans body versus a mans body make it easier for a woman to become drunk. The alcohol gets into the bloodstream faster in a womans body because of her body chemistry. The weight of a woman is also less than that of most men. The Blood Alcohol Level of an individual determines the drunkenness of a person. From. 05 % to. 10 % BAL the brain begins to lose control of thought processes and coordination. From. 20 % to. 40 % BAL the brain starts to shut down completely.
Loss of memory, lack of emotional control, unconsciousness, and even coma are all results of the dangers in alcohol. At. 50 % BAL, the drunk person faces death because of alcohol poisoning or lack of oxygen. Families are greatly affected by alcoholics. Families have been torn apart because of economic problems related to alcoholism. Alcoholics usually breed dysfunctional families sometimes with with verbal, emotional and physical, and sexual abuse.
The parents could be children of alcohol...
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