What Does the Essay Tell Us About Drinking Alcohol
Central Nervous System Depressants are substances that slow brain activity and include tranquilizers, hypnotics, and sedatives. Alcohol is also classified as a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant that decreases brain functioning, neural activity and reduces the performance of vital functions in the human body. While there are several types of alcohol, this review will focus primarily on ethanol that is commonly found in beer, wine and liquor. It is produced by fermentation of starches, sugar and yeast. Ethanol is a small molecule with the chemical formula CH3CH2OH and occurs as a natural result of the microbial fermentation of sugars. What does the essay tell us about drinking alcohol?
Background
The consumption of alcohol has been practiced in all parts of the world for thousands of years. Alcohol beverages began as fermented drinks. Early humans discovered that consuming fermented juices of certain fruits, berries and grain created very desirable effects. Alcohol was used in festivals, rituals and ceremonies. With new technologies and chemical analysis, scientists are finally able to write a detailed story of ancient feasts, celebrations, and rituals during which people consumed alcoholic drinks. In more advanced nations, beer and wine were believed to have health benefits.
One of the first countries to produce beer was Egypt. Beer was a common beverage of the Egyptian's daily diet as well as a form of payment for work. It was often used as a treatment for certain health conditions. Egyptian beer, therefore, is most often cited as the 'first beer' in the world because it has more in common with the modern-day brew than the Mesopotamian recipe, even though few modern-day beer enthusiasts would recognize the ancient brew as their favorite drink.
In the United States the origins of alcohol dates back to the colonial period. During this era, the idea of drinking recreationally and excessively was introduced by European settlers. Alcohol abuse was common place and the term “drunkenness” was introduced. By the 17th century, alcohol addiction was viewed as a health problem.
By the mid-1800s, alcohol addiction was addressed as a mental health condition. The New York State Inebriate Asylum in Binghamton, founded in 1864, was the nation’s first hospital to treat alcoholism in this manner.
Contemporary Theories
To continue essay on alcohol abuse lets revise contemrorary theories about alcohol abuse. Over the past several years, the frequency of alcohol abuse among adults has steadily increased. It has been well documented that alcohol related dependency can result in a wide range of physical, psychological and social problems. A number of current theories that address alcohol problems have been developed and validated in clinical settings. Among these, the CAGE questionnaire is a four-item instrument developed to identify lifetime alcohol use disorder in individuals, and is one of the most frequently used measures in the general population. An alternative theory to explain alcohol abuse is the neurobiological theory. This theory argues that when humans consume alcohol they become physiologically dependent on it. Chronic exposure to alcohol induces changes in neural circuits that control motivational processes, including arousal, reward, and stress. An additional theory that supports the neurobiological theory is the disease theory of alcoholism. The disease theory of alcoholism suggests it is a physical addiction that cannot be controlled, characterized by certain symptoms that require medical treatment. The Disease Theory of Alcoholism states that alcohol addiction is a brain disease that alters the way a person thinks, feels and makes decisions.
In the study of alcohol addiction, many theories are presented offering an array of facts, evidence, and data. However, in some cases, theories shed speculation and doubt. A quality theory should explain the observations or results of an experiment or phenomena, being understandable to a lay person while also being reasonable enough to allow for further tests. A successful empirical theory must synthesize pharmacological, experiential, cultural, situational, and personality components in a fluid and seamless description of addictive motivation. It must account for why a drug is more addictive in one society than another, addictive for one individual and not another, and addictive for the same individual at one time and not another.
Medical Perspective
Most medical professionals are in agreement that excessive amounts of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on the human body that includes liver disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. According to the Global Burden Diseases study, which analyzed levels of alcohol use and its health effects in 195 countries from 1990 to 2016, no amount of alcohol is safe. The study looked at a broad range of risks posed by alcohol consumption, including diseases, driving accidents and self-harm. According to the report, alcohol led to 2.8 million deaths in 2016. It was the leading risk factor for disease worldwide, the study found, and accounting for almost 10 percent of deaths among those ages 15 to 49.
Clinicians have long observed an association between excessive alcohol consumption and adverse immune-related health effects such as susceptibility to pneumonia. In recent decades, this association has been expanded to a greater likelihood of acute respiratory stress syndromes (ARDS), sepsis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and certain cancers; a higher incidence of postoperative complications; and slower and less complete recovery from infection and physical trauma, including poor wound healing.
Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant; small amounts can produce euphoria and relaxation while large amounts can result in coma or death. Furthermore, moderate alcohol intake (a maximum of one or two drinks per day) may have some health benefits although some research suggests that even moderate drinking may increase the risk of hippocampal atrophy, a form of brain damage associated with memory-loss conditions such as neurocognitive disorder, also known as dementia. Excessive and regular alcohol consumption can be severely detrimental to one’s health.
Studies have indicated that drinking alcohol, even small amounts, is harmful to a person’s health. Contrary to this research, some studies suggest that moderate to light drinking has health benefits. Although the use of high doses of alcohol is a proven risk factor for different organs and systems in the human body, the use of small and moderate doses show evidence of the opposite data. Thus, regularly drinking a small amount of alcoholic drinks could reduce a person’s chances of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoporosis and some other diseases, and also reduce overall mortality.
Alcoholic Perspective
Most research studies identify alcoholics as individuals who are in denial or those who do not recognize their drinking behavior as being a problem. These individuals either postpone treatment or refuse to participate in any alcohol treatment program. A possible explanation for not seeking treatment is denial or lack of problem awareness. Several studies showed that patients did not seek treatment because they did not perceive any need for treatment. Even if acknowledged, many persons with Alcohol Use Disorder expressed the wish to handle the problem on their own instead of seeking professional treatment.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Paul Henry, a recovering alcoholic and author, studied the effects of alcohol on the human brain. He believes his condition of alcoholism and addiction is ingrained in various parts of the brain that are connected to self-regulation such as emotion, motivation, memory and so on. Dr. Henry argues “When we are in emotional distress, our addiction becomes activated and acts like a ‘parasite’ on these parts of the brain that deal with self.”
Most alcoholics deny reality and find ways to argue, twist, contradict and distort the truth. They will frequently blame reality for causing their problems. Alcoholics will justify their behavior and make excuses to explain their actions. Instead of seeing their addictive behavior as the cause of the problem they are more likely to see this as the one thing that is helping them to cope with things. Rejecting the facts and cognitive disconnect give the addict the ability to explain away their behavior.
Alcohol consumption alters consciousness in ways that make drinking both attractive and dangerous. The alcoholic has a false sense of reality and believes their excessive drinking is within the norms of society. It is this distorted belief system that keeps alcoholics ensnared in addiction for many years and some will never advance beyond this way of thinking.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) are among the most common mental illnesses worldwide. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a mental health disorder characterized by a problematic pattern of alcohol use. It is a significant health problem affecting physical, psychological, and social aspects of life.
Scientific research has not determined the exact cause of Alcohol Use Disorder however; certain environmental and genetic links have been identified. Studies have proven that excessive alcohol consumption can alter the chemical design of the human brain that leads to addiction. Alcohol intake affects the mental and physical health of certain individuals differently than others, resulting in alcohol related health problems. Genetic factors increase the risk of alcohol addiction at a rate higher than non-genetic causes. As an example, close family members living with an alcoholic have much higher rate of alcoholism than living alone. There are also environmental considerations that include cultural attitudes regarding drinking, availability of alcohol and peer pressure. Alcohol abuse increases when individuals drink to cope with everyday problems including fear, anxiety or mood issues.
Conclusion
To end alcohol abuse essay, today alcohol addiction is considered a disease that harms the human body both physically and mentally. Alcohol treatment and recovery centers include the Betty Ford Treatment Center, Hazelden Recovery Program and Alcoholics Anonymous which is the largest alcohol rehabilitation center in the United States. Alcoholics Anonymous appears to be an effective clinical and public health ally that aids addiction recovery through its ability to mobilize therapeutic mechanisms similar to those mobilized in formal treatment, but is able to do this for free over the long term in the communities in which people live. Alcohol Use Disorders can occur in any social environment, culture or public setting. It is especially prevalent among college students across the U.S. Excessive alcohol use in college students impacts academic performance (e.g., multiple absences from class, difficulty participating, inability to promptly complete assignments), and interpersonal and social relationships. Studies show college alcohol use disorder is associated with 60,000 annual injuries, 97,000 sexual assaults, and 2,000 deaths.
