The Causes and Effects of Alcoholism

Term Paper 12/7/11 Biology 205 The Causes and effect of in dryness In the linked States there atomic hail 18 approximately 79,000 deaths annu every(prenominal)y attri excepted to excessive inebriant use (NASAIC, 2011). inebriety is defined as a medical complaint or a neurologic deflect. insobriety is essentially when a mortal continues to drink, even when wellness, work, or family ar being revileed (NCBI et al, 2011). Alcohol is not an issue when enjoyed in moderation and responsibly, this heretofore is not al charges the case. 18. 3 million people in the U. S. ar heavy drinkers among these atomic number 18 12. million people who pack hotshot or more(prenominal) than symptoms of inebriantic beverageism (NCBI et al, 2011). somewhat of the m each symptoms of inebriantic beverageism argon distaste when asked astir(predicate) boozing, inability to stop or reduce inebriant intake, or making excuses to drink. The number of problem inebriation in the U. S. has increased 8. 2 pct since 1980 and with the growing acceptance of alcoholic drink this number is at undertake of rising in the near future (NCBI et al, 2011). Problem drinking give the bounce be defined in two categories, alcohol dependence and alcohol demoralise. Alcohol abuse is when a person binge drinks as way to escape from personal problems.Alcohol dependence is when a person has an addiction to alcohol and backsidenot control how much they drink. The person simply bottom of the inningnot just have one drink of alcohol with pop feeling the need to cause elate. The full(prenominal)est preponderance of alcohol dependence and abuse is among ages 18-24. Over 80 percent of college presidents in the U. S. bring up alcohol abuse as the biggest problem on campus (nd. edu et al, 2003). College savants ar in the ideal environment to develop a drinking disorder. Students ar outdoor(a) from their families and are caring for themselves for often the first time in thei r lives.Muscular corpse Muscle MetabolismWith the increase in responsibility in their lives students raise honor themselves stressed and conf employ. These factors only lead to students drinking amongst some other students in efforts to garb in or as an escape from their studies or other neighborly problems. However, drinking alike much and on a regular basis only leads to even more social and sensible problems in the future and possibly for the rest of their lives. Alcoholism is something that should not just be seen as a socially ravage disease. The life of a person with dipsomania is controlled by their alcohol addiction.The many short status effects of alcohol are minor compared to the broad bound health concerns from excessively abusing alcohol. Public health organizations are utilizing in the raw methods of prevention and seek to combat the further rise in this disease. Demographics though there are risk factors for development drinking there is no definite cau se of the disease. A history of inebriety in a persons family definitely increases their risks of development the disorder. This theory has been validated passim the years utilizing twins in adoption cases growing up in various families.Current research concludes that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but the identity and function of which genes are still unknown (NCBI et al, 2011). Ethnic and ghostly background base similarly play a role in the development of alcoholism, in relation to the cultures lifestyles and acceptance of alcohol. Cultural, religious values and expectations towards alcohol vary and passel either promote or disapprove drinking. Members of different ethnic and cultural groups generally show preferences for different types of alcoholic beverages, which preempt affect their plan of attack and alcohol exposure.Other factors such as a take to the woodss reaction to alcohol loafer affect the prevalence of drinking. For example, blacks ar e 3 multiplication more likely to develop an alcohol connect disease than white (NIAA et al, 2005). The SAMHSA subject area Household Survey on drug Abuse reported that 3. 5% of people in their entire warning could be classified as alcohol dependent. Caucasian and black surveyors had a similar rate of 3. 4 percent of alcohol dependence (NIAA et al, 2005). Alcoholism rate for Native American and Hispanic-Mexican Americans are higher compared to other ethnicities at 5. percent (NIAA et al, 2005). It was found that these groups tend to start drinking at an foregoing age and drank more heavily compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. The rates of alcohol dependence were begin among other groups, Caribbean, 1. 9%, primeval American, 2. 8%, Cuban, 0. 9%, Puerto Rican, 3. 0% and South American, 2. 1% and Asian/ peace-loving Islander, 1. 8% (NIAA et al, 2005). The survey also reported that Asian Americans had higher rates of abstention and lower rates of heavy alcohol co nsumption compared to Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics.Diversity in drinking patterns is very distinguished between subgroups of the same racial or ethnic group. Mexican Americans born in the U. S. report drinking more often, but consuming less alcohol, and have three times higher rates of alcohol dependence (NIAA et al, 2005). This emphasizes that the lifestyle and genetics of a person play a great role in alcoholism then race or culture. This is also relevant when feeling at gender discrepancies. Women and men have the same chances of becoming alcoholics.However, women have a much stronger reaction to the effects of alcohol therefore there are many more cases of alcoholism in men though there is no research to certification gender susceptibility (NIAA et al, 2005). Womens stronger reaction to alcohol also means that women are more susceptible to alcohol think illnesses after fewer years of heavy drinking. While research has provided many factors that increase the risk of alcoholism the highest risk factor for exploitation a drinking problem is a persons lifestyle. This is why college students with their young, eager, and immature demographic are ideal for the development of alcoholism.Effects of Alcoholism on the Brain Alcohol is a central nervous system narcotizing and unlike other drugs alcohol does not activate a item receptor in the head. This attributes to the wide range of side effects of intoxication. Some of the side effects from drinking heavily include slurred speech, overtaking of inhibitions, slowed reaction times, want of balance and memory loss. Cleary alcohol affects the brain negatively when make these reactions. A definite sign that someone had consumed far too much alcohol is a black out. This is when a person has no recollection of events while they were intoxicated.A survey of 772 college undergraduates found that 51 percent of the students reported to having a blackout multiple times in their lives (nd. edu et al, 2003) . What they do not recall is the altered state that their brains were in at the time. An estimated third base to one-half of all unintentional and intentional injured Americans in accidents, crimes, and suicides were intoxicated (BSCS et al, 2003). Alcohols affect on the outer layer of the frontage cortex region of the brain interferes with the conscious thought process (BSCS et al, 2003).This contributes to the loss of inhibitions and sometimes careless behavior when someone is intoxicated. However, research has shown that these short term effects of alcohol abuse can be enormously more severe than just a hangover. People who drink heavily and regularly greatly increase their risk of developing changes in the brain. Up to 80 percent of alcoholics have thiamine deficiency (BSCS et al, 2003). This is a communal incident in alcoholics and dissolvents from poor overall nutrition. This can eventually develop into sombre brain disorders such as Wernicke or Korsakoff syndrome.Korsa koffs psychosis is a inveterate and debilitating syndrome, gisting in persistent learning and memory problems (BSCS et al, 2003). There are also cases where people have had difficulty walking and with hand midriff coordination. People with Wernickes encephalopathy have mental confusion, paralysis of the nervousness that move the eyes and difficulty with muscle coordination (BSCS et al, 2003). Drinking during motherliness can lead to a range of physical, learning, and behavioral effects in the developing brain of the fetus (BSCS et al, 2003). This is known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).FAS sisters brains may have less volume and fewer brain cells as well as being smaller than average. Therefore, drinking during pregnancy ensures the child a high risk of developing serious health problems early on in their lives. Effects of Alcoholism on the proboscis The dangers of alcohol are commonly associated with the altered states of mind people can cause themselves in while the negati ve physical reactions to alcohol can be much more severe. Alcohol offers very little nutritional value and is high calories. The body treats alcohol as fat, converting alcohol sugars into fatso acids (BSCS et al, 2003).This results in a lack of energy and endurance. When alcohol is consumed 20% is oblivious by the stomach and 80% by the small intestine. When alcohol enters the roue stream it can affect nearly every tissue in the body. This is because cell membranes are highly perme satisfactory to alcohol (BSCS et al, 2003). This immersion can be affected by the make sense of food or liquified in a persons stomach. Other factors such as how quickly the alcohol is consumed or how much a person weighs also affect absorption which leads to intoxication. Women absorb alcohol faster due to their metabolism.The absorption of alcohol is referred to as the BAC, blood alcohol content. (Graph pg. 10) When our society thinks of alcohol related deaths alcohol poisoning is first to come to mind. Not only can a person die from drinking too much alcohol at one sitting but research has shown that consuming alcohol can result in vast amount of different alcohol related disease. One study determined that 3. 6% of all cancer cases worldwide are related to alcohol drinking, resulting in 3. 5% of all cancer death (NASAIC, 2011). Research has also concluded that drinking alcohol heavily can damage brain tissue, heart, liver and reproductive organs.Problem drinking can also cause pancreatitis, nutritional deficiencies, malignancies, and cirrhosis (NASAIC, 2011). The liver is the closely vulnerable organ to alcohol abuse because it breaks down the alcohol into righteous by products and years of this can destroy the liver. Therefore, the negative effects on the body substantially outweigh the possible positive social aspects from drinking. Factors causing the problem In our society drinking alcohol has become widely accepted and is associated with a celebratory or ceremonial atmosphere.This is a tonality component in the current increase in alcoholism. With the current acceptance, stigmas and speculations about alcohol in our country people are unaware of the ruggedness of the drug. The increase in alcoholism is due to the fact that a mass of people in our nation drinks alcohol rather than profane. The frequent receives their education about alcohol through family, peers, media, and personal experimentation. The communicateation people and especially college students or children living in homes with alcoholism are receiving often glamorizes alcohol.Therefore, the public knows very little about effects of alcohol and the consequential ill-use they can inflict on themselves and others. Other factors such as the bill and frequency a person tends to drink plays a role in the chances of developing a drinking disorder. People with addictive personalities, depression and other social disorders are also at a very high risk of becoming alcoholics (NASAI C, 2011). These people with stressful lifestyles, depression or fretfulness problems often use alcohol as a release. Drinking numbs their painful sensation and is an escape from their social issues.A striking 20% of all suicide victims in the United States had a form of alcoholism prior to their suicide attempt (NCBI et al, 2011). Adolescents that live in a culture where alcohol use is common are often pressured by their peers to partake. All of these risk factors are at once correlated to scenarios virtually college students find themselves in. In result, this age group is at the greatest risk of developing a drinking disorder. College students are at an impressionable age and are looking to meet and befriend modern people. They are peer pressured into going out with their riends to restaurants, bars and clubs. With easy access to alcohol they are often drinking more frequently than any other time in their lives. Research has shown that immaturity of neurotransmitter system an d hormonal changes during puberty lead to more pleasure in drinking alcohol (NASAIC, 2011). This means that developing brains introduced to alcohol may trigger long term biological changes developing into an alcohol addiction. The overall public neglect and unknowingness of the severity of alcoholism only leads to increasing rates of alcoholism in our society.Providing the public with a better intelligence of the ease in developing this disorder is an immediate necessity in our nation. Public Health rejoinder In almost cases a person suffering due to alcoholism does not accept that they have a problem. This makes it very difficult or sometimes impossible to cure. The support from loved ones and friends is essential to help find the person a form of treatment that suits them. Alcoholism is treated with focussing and support groups like any social disorder. There is very deep number of national and local help services for people looking for help dealing with their addictions.Imp atient treatment centers are closed communities where patients are able to live focused on controlling their addiction. Alcoholism is common to most drug addictions, whereas after being dependent on the drug sobriety triggers withdrawal symptoms and often results in relapses. In these cases having the close support of an burning rehab center is the most effective. Tragically most alcoholics do not have the chance of obtaining impatient sobriety because of lack of money. Outpatient programs are less pricey and are an effective method of treating an addiction.SMART, LifeRing, andAlcoholics Anonymous are all support groups that attempt to resolve the behavioral effects that led the person to become an alcoholic (NCBI et al, 2011). Participants meet in groups or class a number of times a week and share their own personal alcoholism experiences. As a whole group working towards a olive-drab up lifestyle the patients have the counselor or the other participant to daily round to when they need help dealing with a possible relapse. In most cases a person will never completely resolve their alcohol addiction.Refraining from drinking entirely after achieving sobriety is recommended to limit the chances of relapsing. Alcoholics struggling with staying sober can be prescribed medications. Acamprosate and Naltrexone are some drugs that have been shown to lower relapse rates in those who are alcohol dependent by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms (NASAIC, 2011). Prevention methods are currently being use to give people a better understanding of the risks and affects of alcohol. Programs such as D. A. R. E and other anti drug and alcohol programs are used to build awareness.Colleges have recognized the vulnerability of college students and have increased student awareness substantially over the past years. Online alcohol education programs are now mandatory for college freshmen to complete prior to admission to most universities. though these classes are sometim es tedious and time consuming there is no doubt that they give adolescents a better awareness of alcoholisms social and physical effects. Other forms of prevention include warnings on alcoholic packaging and labels. These inform drinkers the percentage of alcohol in the drink and pregnancy warnings are everlastingly evident (NASAIC, 2011).Health organizations are working together to help find out more on the treatment and prevention of alcoholism to combat the prevalence of the disease in the future. Conclusion Alcoholism is not a disorder that only affects the one suffering from the disease. An addiction to alcohol controls the life of the patient, as well as their families. 56 million of Americans say that alcohol abuse has brought trouble to his or her family (NCBI et al, 2011). Getting a person to recognize the harm they are causing to themselves and others from their drinking is the first step of resolving the problem.The immense amount of organizations and support groups in A merica today provides people the outdo possible treatment. Studies continue to discover new illnesses that are in result of alcohol abuse. There is still no definite cause of the disease yet the factors attributing to developing alcoholism are definite. With a better understanding of the disease and a raised public awareness alcoholism is something that can be preventable for future generation. The chances of developing an alcohol addiction are higher than ever which only leads to a new age of alcohol related diseases if the neglect of the negative effects of alcohol continues.Blood Alcohol ducking Changes in Feelings and Personality Brain Regions Affected Impaired Activities (continuum) 0. 010. 05 Relaxation star of well being Loss of inhibition intellectual cortex watchfulness ,Judgment, CoordinationVisual tracking, Reasoning and depth perceptionInappropriate, obnoxious social behavior Slurred speech, pretermit of balanceLoss of temperature regulation, Loss of bladder control Difficulty breathing, Slowed heart rate 0. 060. 10 Pleasure spiritlessness of feelings Nausea, Sleepiness Emotional arousal Cerebral cortex + forebrain 0. 110. 0 Mood swings, Anger Sadness, Mania Cerebral cortex + forebrain + cerebellum 0. 210. 30 Aggression Reduced sensations Depression Stupor Cerebral cortex + forebrain + cerebellum + brain stem 0. 310. 40 torpor Death possible Coma Entire brain 0. 41 and greater Death Advisory committee and NIAAA scientists (bscs. org, 2003) (Effects of Alcoholism on the Brain continued) Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration The graph depicts the average persons emotional and physical altering when consuming a certain amount of alcohol. For most people an hour after the rinking one 12oz beer will result in a BAC of . 02. The amount of alcohol attributes to very different and mischievous side effects the more it is consumed (BSCS et al, 2003). Bibliography 1) U. S. subject Library of Medicine and A. D. A. 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