Alcohol Ruins Lives: as Shown by Raymond Carver’s Short Stories

Alcoholism is a long standing health issue, and there has been ongoing research to seek out drugs that could effectively help to treat alcoholism, acute and long-term. According to an article by Johnson, Swift, Addolorato, Ciraulo, and Myrick (2005), a challenge has been to identify medications that not only reduce the rewarding effects of alcohol, but the dependence, post cessation craving, and the withdrawal craving.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a major national health impact in the United States, affecting over 17 million people, causing more than 100,000 deaths and costing over $200 billion annually (Bouchery et al., 2011; Grant et al., 2004; Hardwood, 2000). Alcohol use and abuse is currently the third leading risk factor for premature death and composed of nearly 4% of all deaths worldwide (World Health Organizations). Despite a large amount of effort focusing on the development of new medications for AUD, currently there are only 3-FDA approved treatments on the market, all of which have only yielded limited success even when combined with psychosocial support (Harris et al., 2010; Litten e al., 2012). This is evident by the high rates of uncontrolled heavy drinking that continue to persist and the high relapse rate in patients even after long-term inpatient treatment and support (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). As such, novel approaches that allow for rapid development of new and effective medication to treat and/or prevent AUD is an important public health goal (Bouchery et al., 2011; Heilig and Egli, 2006; Johnson, 2010; Johnson et al., 2007; Steensland et al., 2007).

“Jerry and Molly and Sam” is a short story written by Raymond Carver which tells about a family man that is suffering from alcoholism. I can relate to this story because my father had a problem with alcohol abuse when he and my mother were together. Reading this story lets me see the perspective from the alcoholic’s point of view. The main character, Al is a husband/father, that is dealing with some life struggles and even though Al’s family doesn’t know what’s going on, they are also affected by the choices he makes. Just before things started to go downhill for Al, he and his wife just moved into a new home and then he found out that his job was laying people off. He began to panic and it escalated into him drinking a lot more, he was having an affair and he also was trying to find any excuse to not be home. When a family member is addicted to alcohol, everyone suffers from it.

Alcoholism is a disease that not only affects the health and well-being of the alcoholic, but also everyone close to that person. Some people can control their drinking, but sadly, others cannot. Breaking the cycle of alcohol abuse can be difficult, and in many instances, almost impossible. However, FDA-approved medication for alcohol abuse can be used in conjunction with counseling and 12-step programs with effective results. What follows is a summary of some of the medications used to combat alcohol use disorder.

In addiction to nicotine; alcohol often begins during teen years and continues to progress. Often times individuals want to stop but are so far gone in the addiction they need assistance. Medications have been developed to assist these individuals in reduction of craving and ingestion of alcohol. Several medications will be discussed

rising attention to the use of psycho active drugs in order to control alcohol cravings

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), “Up to 40% of all hospital beds in the United States (except for those being used by maternity and intensive care patients) are being used to treat health conditions that are related to alcohol consumption.” To the majority of Americans, this statistic is almost unbelievably shocking. Often, America’s excessive consumption of alcohol is downplayed and normalized. Regardless of one’s opinion, America has an alcohol problem. The only thing that can change that is first admitting that the problem exists.

Raymond Carver's short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” leaves the reader feeling as if they have sat down at the table with a bottle of Gin and experienced first hand the effects of alcoholism and depression. In the original version of this story the “Beginners” Carver carefully crafts the many sides of an alcoholic personality developing strong knowable characters. The fundamental personalities are left fairly intact from the original version. It should be noted that the feelings that the reader are left with are due at least partially to the severe editing of the “Beginners” done by his editor and friend Gordon Lish. With this collaboration Carvers personal struggles still shine through but his intent of hope and

People use substances as a way to deal with life stressors by self-medicating physical and emotional pain. Many people who suffer from anxiety, depression, trauma and other disorders, turn to drugs of alcohol for relief. Although this may provide some relief– temporarily it usually brings along with is a host of other problems.

Every day around the world, people fail to realize the effects alcohol abuse can have on themselves as well as their loved ones. Alcohol is highly addictive, and can plague an individual 's life. People who suffer from alcohol abuse go through various withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cease from drinking alcohol. There are various methods alcohol abusers to quit using alcohol. For adults who abuse alcohol, achieving abstinence can be an arduous process that can be overcome with the perseverance of the individual as well as the support of family and peers.

Many times, people young and old, will abuse the use of alcohol. It is known that when a person begins drinking alcohol at an early age, they will later develop health issues, and possibly face the risk of becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholism is a chronic disease, where a person has problems controlling the amount they are drinking. An alcoholic does not have to be someone who drinks too much, they may feel a strong urge to drink, they may become tolerant of the amount they are drinking, sometimes drinking it just like water. They also can become physical with someone and then not remember the conversation or what they did to the person the next day. Alcoholism is a serious matter, many do not fully understand what it can do to lives, and may believe that it is not an issue. This essay will explore the risk factors of alcoholism, effects of the prolonged use of alcohol, and how an alcoholic can get help.

Alcoholism also devastates families and loved ones of the addicted individual. Of the approximate 18 million alcoholics in the United States, each one adversely affects at least four other people. Families of alcoholics suffer the same symptoms of the disease as the alcoholic (Kronenwetter, 68). Excessive use of alcohol claims at least 100,000 lives each year, either through accidents or health problems. This is 25 times more loss of life than all illegal drugs combined (Bender, 168). Alcoholism and related problems cost taxpayers an overwhelming $85.8 billion in mortality and reduced productivity (Sora, 193). However, alcohol is still looked upon as a non-threatening dilemma. (Webmaster, 2009)

Medicine plays one of the key role in alcohol addiction treatment. The goal of medicine is to minimize the depth of the unremitting cravings for alcohol and limit the frequency over relapse and the quantity of alcohol consumed. There are mainly three medicine use in alcohol addiction that are approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Firstly, Antabuse commonly known as Disulfiram is one of the oldest drug in the market approved for the treatment of alcoholism for more than 50 years. It breakdown alcohol product and it cause extremely unpleasant reaction when alcohol is consumed called down acetaldehyde. Disulfiram may decrease consuming by way of inducing a fear regarding a poisonous reaction; however, there is no evidence on stoppage enhancement,

Volkow, I realized how little we actually know about additions. Despite the plethora of studies and years of research, we really do not have a clear understanding what is alcohol or drug dependence. With certainly, I can say that it is a very unique condition that does not fit easily into one category. Rather, it is a complex, powerful, and sad human condition that affects human’s body, soul, and mind. It is the matrix of genetic inevitability, existential pain, and perpetual pursuit of pleasure, and I hope one day we will know more about it, and be able to treat if

In our modern society the constant abuse of drugs and alcohol has become a major issue. Dependence on substances such as alcohol is a common phenomenon in our world. Many individuals who constantly drink changing their ways are the hardest and biggest obstacles. Often these individuals are looking to feel the positive effects that alcohol provides for them. Such as gaining more confidence and forgetting about any problems they may have in their life, past present or future. Alcohol is a drug that slows down an individual’s brain, providing the drinker with a feeling of relaxation. According to the Centre for Mental Health “about 6,700 Canadians die each year as a result of drinking alcohol—due to car crashes, other accidents, suicides and murders, and health problems related to alcohol use”(http://www.camh.ca). Most people don’t even recognize alcohol as a drug but the reality is alcohol is a very dangerous drug and is the most abused substance in Canada. The act off drinking has become a social norm within our culture and access to it is a lot simpler than any other substance. The issues that emerge when a person is dependent on alcohol may not become evident right away but eventually overtime the individual builds up a reliance on the substance as a form of relief or emotional release. This dependence will lead to the individual believing that they cannot function without a drink. Much like a drug user breaking the habit is one of the most difficult barriers that an