Alcohol & Alcoholism

Social and Community Studies 21030FD2

Alcohol and Alcoholism

Coursework due 7th April

Course Tutor Ð'- Elaine Mitchell

Gareth Owen Foundation Year Student Ð'- 95467895

Within this essay my aim is to show how alcohol plays an important part in the everyday life's of many people all over the world, to find out what is meant by the word "Alcoholic", how this disorder effects the individuals who have it and those around them, and also to try and discover the advantages and disadvantages of drinking alcohol on the physical, mental and psychological states of the human body.

During this essay I will attempt to look at the increasingly serious situation of alcohol usage and abuse in Britain from an objective and thorough point of view.

I will focus and certain aspects involving the subject of alcohol and alcoholism, namely:

Ð'* The Advantages and disadvantages of drinking alcohol with regards to the physical and mental self.

Ð'* The effect alcohol abuse can have on your life style, i.e. education, employment, relationships.

Ð'* After effects or side lines of alcohol abuse.

Ð'* Alcohol, the money making machine.

What are the advantages of drinking alcohol, well this depends on a number of factors, how much alcohol and what alcohol you are drinking, generally speaking the old tale of everything in moderation applies here, but of course anything more than normal drinking will and does have dramatic effects.

So firstly the more common and obvious advantages of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, well in this country and even part of the world, to drink is seen as a very sociable thing to do, so much so that in certain situations such as parties and dinners not drinking for any particular reason can by some be seen as rude or offensive, so alcohol is a highly sociable pastime and has been for many years, going out to pubs and clubs is a very sociable friendly thing to do and is enjoyed by millions all over the country every week.

The second advantage to drinking is the "feel good factor", Alcohol damps down activity in the central nervous system, promoting relaxation, easing anxiety and reducing inhibitions. It acts as a social lubricant and as such plays a central role in many cultures. When in the form of beer, wine or spirits, alcohol also tastes very, very nice (at least to most people).

Health reasons also come into play here also, as it is widely recognised in the medical world that 2drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women can be beneficial from the view of protection against heart disease, this is of course part of a healthy diet and life style and not on its own but the evidence remains all the same.

What are the risks from excessive drinking on the body?

Short-term, not many really except for a hangover and that horrible sick feeling.

Long-term is a whole different matter, excessive drinking or alcoholism damages pretty much every organ in the body.

Ð'* Weight-gain Ð'- a pint of beer contains nearly 200 calories

Ð'* Heart problems Ð'- reduced efficiency and increased risk of disease;

Ð'* Nerve damage;

Ð'* Depression Ð'- two-thirds of suicide attempts are alcohol related;

Ð'* Impotence and infertility Ð'- even moderate drinking will reduce sexual performance

Ð'* Cancer Ð'- of the liver, mouth, tongue and throat;

Ð'* Liver disease Ð'- hepatitis and cirrhosis;

Ð'* Digestive problems Ð'- ulcers, gastritis and pancreatic problems.

Alcoholics can be of any age, background, income level, social, or ethnic group. Very often alcoholism affects highly educated people. Studies have showed that people who lack motivation are less likely to become addicted to alcohol than highly motivated individuals.

Alcoholism is not only a problem for the individual but also for those around him or her, this is why Alcoholism is often known as a family disease.

Alcoholics may have young, teenage, or grown-up children; they may have wives or husbands; they may have other relatives.

An alcoholic can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime.

Each member of the family may be affected by alcohol differently. Parental alcoholism may affect the fetus before a child is born.

In pregnant women, alcohol is carried to all of the mother's organs and tissues, including the placenta,

where it easily crosses through the membrane separating the maternal and fetal blood systems. When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic beverage, the concentration of alcohol in her unborn baby's bloodstream is the same level as her own.

Parental alcoholism also has severe effects on young and old children of alcoholics. Many of these children have common symptoms such as low self-esteem, loneliness, guilt, feelings of helplessness, fears of abandonment, and chronic depression

Children of alcoholics may feel responsible for the problems of the alcoholic and may think they created the problem.

Older children of alcoholics may show such depressive symptoms as obsessive perfectionism, hoarding, staying by themselves, or being excessively self-conscious.

Wife's and girlfriend also can be subjected to terrible conditions due to an alcoholic in the family, they often bare the brunt of the aggression and violence so often reported in cases of alcoholism. They may also feel of the above symptoms that children may feel such as loneliness, guilt, feelings of helplessness, fears of abandonment, and chronic depression

Because crime, aggression and violence are associated with alcoholism, incest and battering