Stages Of Alcoholism Essay

The blood flow of the brain is below average and can cause significant damage to tissues in the brain. The flow of the blood cannot efficiently reach the brain and brain functions are altered. Light and heavy drinkers suffer from poor spatial working memory. Alcohol can also affect the verbal part of the brain and there can be poor verbal learning and processing (Mattson 2). A study compared adolescents that drink with adolescents that do not drink and found that the adolescents that drank remembered 10% less information than the kids that did not drink. These findings have been consistent over the years (Squeglia 3).

The behaviour regarding alcohol consumption which leads to alcoholism varies wildly. It is impossible to predict the probability of becoming an alcoholic

Since the consumption of alcohol is necessary to develop alcoholism, the availability of and attitudes towards alcohol in an individual's environment affect their likelihood of developing the disease.

Alcohol is a liquid substance that can which when consumed slows down the brain. It also alters the brain to increase the risk of depression and anxiety. When too much alcohol is consumed it can cause memory loss.

According to the Dual Diagnosis website, “In 2012, as many as 87.6 percent of American adults over age 18 were reported in a SAHMSA…study to have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives…The National Institutes of Health…estimated that 17 million adults in the United States in 2012 had an alcohol use disorder” (“Disease…”). Approximately one in every 12 people either are abusing alcohol, or they are becoming, if not are, victims of alcoholism (National…). Alcohol consumption is especially known in our society’s culture. There are numerous people who like to drink every now and again in moderation; however, there are far too many people who abuse the alcohol and may even be completely dependent on it. Several

Alcoholism is a baffling and powerful disease. It affects all people from all walks of life. It has been medically proven and recognized by most of society as a disease. However, for some people who either have not been affected or just do not have any knowledge of the disease, it is considered more as a weakness of character. Alcoholism has many effects, on the alcoholic them self, towards their family and friends, and on their health, on their spouse and children, mentally and physically, but the good thing is there is help out there for all of these people.

Alcohol can cause alterations in the structure, and the consequences may be evident beyond adolescence. Even though alcohol appears to be a stimulant, really it is a central nervous system depressant, depressing the brains inhibition control center (“too smart to start”). Neuron connectivity is vital to every human. Connectivity can be slowed down by alcohol consumption, which leads the person to think, speak, and move slower (“too smart to start”). Long term effects include memory loss and continuity of poor judgement. The cerebral cortex works with the senses; when the senses are debilitated, information is forgotten and senses do not function properly. The hippocampus regulates a person’s memories. When consuming too much alcohol, or even just one or two drinks, the hippocampus will damage, and a person will struggle remembering minor and large details. Teenagers often gloat over not being able to remember the night before. Even though their night may have been an “awesome blackout” their hippocampus has already been permanently damaged. The person now, can not hold on to knowledge and learn the same as before. The cerebellum controls coordination, thoughts and awareness (“too smart to start”). On most occasions, people have problems with these skills when consuming alcohol. In grade school, D.A.R.E. representatives brought “drunk goggles” to school. Studies show that alcoholism in the cerebellum

Why some people become alcoholics remains a mystery, although most scientists now agree that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increases a person's vulnerability.

Alcoholics around you also affect the way you look at alcohol. If you are in a group of friends and all of them are drinking you will be pressured into drinking or you might feel like you have

While rising a glass every now and then may be okay, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to extreme alcohol abuse and even alcoholism. The society we live in is strongly prejudiced by alcohol, and affects people of all ages, gender, and background. It has been uncovered to millionaires to the homeless. Alcohol abuse has been a problem throughout the history of humanity; it is a disease which has caused many people to be overcome with trouble, problems, and debts also pattern of drinking that interferes with day-to-day activities. Alcoholism is a term that is widely recognized throughout the United States and the World. Alcoholism is a chronic disease, progressive and often turn fatal; it is a disorder and not due to other diseases or emotional problems. Many scientists have tried to pinpoint what Alcoholism is, and what this disease may be stemming from. Some people would dispute that alcoholism is only the over-consumption of alcohol; this statement is only somewhat true. An alcoholic is a person who relies on alcohol as a medium to help him or her deal with physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. It’s not always easy to see when drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. When dealing with Alcoholism a person over comes a lot of problems. Alcohol Abuse is high in the United States, “In the USA, 15% of Americans are problem drinkers, while between 5% to 10% of male and 3% to 5% of female drinkers could be diagnosed as alcohol

Alcoholism is an issue that a huge percentage of people in the world suffer from. Many people argue that alcoholism is an addiction but some may argue that it is a mental illness resulting from alcohol dependency. There is speculation about the cause of alcoholism but in truth it is still unknown to us. However, there are risk factors that can lead up to alcoholism. Many of these factors include: having a parent that struggles with alcoholism, stress, or if people live in a certain environment where alcohol is generally accepted. Regardless of what it might be, we can all agree that alcoholism can ruin a person's life and the people around them.

Genetics, social factors, psychological and physiological all play a role. Every individual person is not always equally affected by each cause. For some people who suffer with alcoholism such psychological traits like low self-esteem, impulsiveness and the need for approval can prompt inappropriate drinking. Others may try and drink to cope or “self-medicate” their emotional problems. When people begin drinking excessively, the problem can perpetuate itself. Excessive drinking can cause physiological changes that make drinking copious amounts the only way to avoid discomfort.

It is a matter of debate among doctors and scientists over what the cause of alcoholism is, but it is classified as a disease. Steady drinking over time definitely plays a part, as well as the age of a person when they start drinking. A person who starts drinking at a younger age is markedly more likely to develop into an

Although many see this as something fun and entertaining, alcohol consumption has many effects on the life of the drinker and those around him/her.

Too much alcohol consumption is damaging to the brain, Marlene Oscar–Berman and Ksenija Marinkovic found that “shrinkage (i.e., atrophy) of the cerebral cortex and white matter, as well as possible atrophy of basal forebrain regions, may result from the neurotoxic effects of alcohol” (as cited in Lishman 1990). Excessive intake of alcohol can damage the frontal lobe of the brain. The frontal lobe containing the primary motor cortex, and prefrontal cortex that extends from the central sulcus to the anterior limit of the brain (Kalat, p.84). The frontal lobe is also responsible for the cognitive aspect of the brain. Berman and Marinkovic stated, “disruptions of the normal inhibitory functions of prefrontal networks often have the interesting effect of releasing previously inhibited behaviors. As a result, a person may behave impulsively and inappropriately, which may contribute to excessive drinking” (2004). Binge drinking on alcohol or long-term drinking can affect the heart rate negatively, causing it to speed up its heart beat or beat irregularly. Consuming too much alcohol can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is characterized by left ventricular dilation, increased left ventricular mass, and reduced or normal left ventricular wall thickness among patients with a long-term history of heavy alcohol consumption (Djoussé and Gaziano, 2009). Excessive intake of alcohol