Imagine for a second that you are not in control of yourself. You are not in control of what you do, say, hear, or remember. Imagine yourself weak and afraid, unable to break the chains that bound you to a hell of loneliness. Imagine yourself in this pit of despair, and suddenly light shines down on you, a voice calls out your name, and a ladder made of rope falls to your tired, achy body. Help has arrived. Your trembling hand reaches out, you grab the rope, and with all your might you pull your frail body up off the ground and begin your journey. Now, imagine yourself self doing this every day, every where you look you get assaulted by alcohol propaganda. Every time you get gas, go to the grocery store, watch television, read a magazine or newspaper. Even doing something as mundane as sitting in traffic, you can 't seem to escape the torture of alcohol adds. Well, a study done by the NCAAD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc.) that 's what it feels like for 17.6 million people living in the United States who are battling alcoholism (6). The “War on Drugs” portrays the message that drugs like heroin and crack-cocaine are the dangers, but fails to mention that alcohol contributes to 3.3 million deaths annually, according to Jermaine D. Jones (6). All other drugs combined to an estimated 20,000 deaths per year. How is it possible that something so deadly and addictive can be legal? Why do people glorify drinking and indulge in such debauchery
Many people have been misguided about whether or not alcoholism is “disease” that attacks a person’s good health. A key suggestion of those that believe alcoholism is a disease is that a disease is uncontrolled. This is not so. When people develop an addiction to alcohol they tend to push everything of importance out of their lives: family, friends, and sometimes even jobs. People with addiction to alcohol throw
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 88,000 people die each year as a result of alcohol-induced conflict in the United States, including over 5,000 fatalities as a result of underage drinking. Such unfortunate loss of life is reinforced by the rebellious presentations asserted by adolescents and underage young adults, fulfilling their temptation to evade the
“Nearly 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States” ("Alcohol Facts and Statistics” 1). There need to be stricter federal requirements in detox facilities because someone who has an alcohol issue will deny it, an alcoholic will do anything to be released and get another drink, and repeated intoxication offenders and alcoholics are not capable of making their own decisions.
Drugs and alcohol is a major social issue (J. David Hawkins, Richard F. Catalano, and Janet Y. Miller, 1992). It is not something that can be solved by the law (Lee P. Brown, 2008). Throughout history, many attempts have been made to try and legalize and control alcohol and drug addiction but has failed.
“Alcohol is a manipulative bitch. If she was a person, I think she’d be a telemarketer or a used-car sales women who could persuade you to do just about anything(188)” ,Koren Zailckas once said in her New York Times best selling novel, Smashed: Story of a drunken girlhood, based society vs. humans. Society has captivated us with a stereotype image of who we should be; Therefore a high average of teens, seek alcoholism or drug abuse to fill the void of imperfection, such as in the case of Zailckas.
There is a debate in the American government system on how to handle the use of drug and alcohol. In the 1960s drugs were uprising along with youth rebellion and in 1971 Nixon declared a “War on Drugs” (Citation a brief). This name is not to be confused with the band War on Drugs, but the term is still popularly used to describe the policies that Government officials are making regarding drugs and alcohol. This debate got reheated when Colorado legalized weed for medical and recreational use, followed by several other states. There has slowly been a shift in mindset from, “alcoholics are drug addicts are all criminals and we (the law) should throw them in jail” to “addiction is a disease.” Even the way that addicts/alcoholics are treated has changed to treatment centers with specialist versus throwing them in the hospital to detox and hoping for a change. Policies that are shifting the penalty from incarceration to treatment reflect these changes and help the individual suffering from the disease to get back on their feet. The war on drugs rings on, but changes are being made.
“Every year in the U.S., roughly 5,000 people under the age of 21 die from an alcohol-related incident including car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning and other related injuries” ( “11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse”). That is 5,000 more teens or young adults that could be saved from this plague in this society (11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse). Underage drinking and alcoholism is a huge problem in the United States, and as a society need to make a change with how everyone sees this problem. Adults and young teens take this topic too lightly, and it should not be taken lightly because of how many deaths there have been from poor decision making. There are many programs or events that could help this problem by fundraising, however people think this is not a very important problem. Underage Drinking and Alcoholism is a huge problem in the United States because it causes major health issues that can be very costly, personal life problems that can lead to more problems later in life, and major risks that have no benefit, but can put someone else’s life in danger.
Alcohol consumption was initiated on reservations when traders in the nineteenth century started to offer it to oppressed and depressed Native Americans. Natives represent, in fact, the ethnic group with the highest degree of alcohol consumption in the United States. Confinement on reservations after displacement brought for Native Americans identity conflicts and assimilation problems. This situation promoted the abuse of liquor to mitigate the psychological pain inflicted by the dispossession of the land and enclosure in a limited and controlled space. Both the stereotype of the “Noble Savage” and the “drunken Indian” are recurrent figures in mainstream literature of the US.
Drugs and alcohol are a topic coming out of every American's mouth. They are a household topic. Many people know the dangers and trouble that alcohol and drugs bring, yet it is what most people spend their money on. When you ask them about why they do drugs and alcohol, they reply that they like the feeling it gives you. The feeling that lasts 1-2 hours? Maybe you want to give up the amazing life God has gifted you with, but I don’t want to do that.
Alcoholism is perhaps the most common form of drug abuse in North America today. Scientists report that the reason alcohol is so popular to people is because it is pleasant, relaxing, and is considered a "social beverage." But what individuals often do not take in to consideration is the fact that alcohol dulls the brain and confuses physical reactions. This can lead to numerous injuries, accidents, and death. Alcohol affects every part of an alcoholic's life: their body, their mind and their family life. The body has a natural chemical that gives a feeling of a "natural high". It happens in the presence of a life-endangering situation. This chemical is adrenaline, which is meant to prepare the body for defense in
In this day and age, when it comes to alcohol consumption and laws of alcohol use in countries around the world, many people debate about whether the legal drinking age should be raised, lowered, or stay the same. What about a society where alcohol would be illegal?? Well, when it comes to the sheer number of deaths that occur from drunk driving alone, you’d end up agreeing with it. To add to this, addiction is always a risk to be taken into consideration, because it leads to alcohol poisoning, eventually causing death. All in all, alcohol is something that is just as addictive as any other drug, and should it be treated as an illegal drug as well. The following are just some of the many reasons why this should be so.
Alcoholism is a very serious disease, which can cause illness, death, injuries, schooling problems, family breakups, and crime. It is a proven fact the alcohol kills more people than any other illegal drugs combined. However, alcohol courses freely through American society, from college bars to corporate lunches. In a recent journal article by The Scientist, it is stated, "Technology shows alcohol abuse changes brain's molecular programming and circuitry? (Scientist). Thus revealing that alcohol is a quick fix that will hurt us all in the long run.
Alcohol is the number one drug problem among America’s youth. More senior high school students use alcohol than any other psychoactive drug. Family doctors, pediatricians, schoolteachers, and parents know that alcohol is overwhelmingly the drug of choice among today’s youth, although trendier substances such as cocaine are often given more attention in the headlines (Carla Felsted, p. vii). Furthermore, it is widely acknowledged that drinking alcohol is a part of the youth culture in America; it may also be understood as a culturally conditioned and socially controlled behavior.
Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.
Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disorder which leads to physical and psychological harm, and impaired social and vocational functioning. It is characterized by tolerance, physical dependence and/or pathological organ changes, all of which are the direct/indirect consequence of the alcohol ingested (Light 5). Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," can be recognized by four obvious symptoms.