The Influence of Alcohol on the Brain

Alcohol seems to be a common topic for teenagers in today’s society. Mainly alcohol is consumed by adolescents that are bored or trying to fit into a crowd by attempting to look ‘cool’. Students are aware of the effects but why is nothing being done? There are many consequences that come along with drinking; alcohol negatively affects not only the body, but the brain.

Driving under the influence is measured by a person’s blood alcohol level (BAC). BAC is determined by the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream. Individual counties and states have their own legal level on blood alcohol percentages that they measure a person’s

Statistics say that 8.7 million Americans between the ages twelve and through twenty said they have recently consumed alcohol(“NIH)”. When a person is under the influence, they have consumed enough alcohol for their mental and physical features to become impaired. Teenage drinking is an issue that has haunted society for generations. Each year, approximately 5,000 teenagers die from alcohol related car crashes, alcohol poisoning, homicides, suicides, and other injuries (“Underage”). Scientists say that developmental transitions are key factors in a teens decision to consume alcohol. Therefore, because the teen’s brain is undeveloped, it has led them to drink. Drinking alcohol with an undeveloped brain may cause a loss of intellectual capabilities,

Many negative effects come with drinking alcohol. Since teenagers’ brains are not fully developed until they are in their mid 20’s, it is especially dangerous to them. The legal alcohol age should not be eighteen because it harms the teenage brain and body, it has negative (and potentially fatal) effects on school, and it has negative effects on driving.

“Each year in the U.S., nearly 80,000 people die from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in our country” (Alcohol Facts 1). Alcoholism is a major controversy in the United States, and many debate whether alcoholism is a disease or choice. Accordingly, based on scientific evidence, alcoholism is a disease because it has major long-term effects on the brain, it is an addiction, and it is treated medically.

In chemistry terms, alcohol is any organic compound where a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom, which is has single bonds to three other atoms. The type of alcohol that can be consumed is called Ethanol which is a liquid and psychoactive recreational drugs. If a person drinks Ethanol, or alcohol, it affects the central nervous system, which causes decrease in activity, anxiety, tensions, concentration, and judgement. There are also several cases of memory loss due to heavy drinking that cuts off the supply of oxygen to the brain.

Alcohol is the result of the chemical process known as fermentation, which is essentially the putrefaction of yeast and sugar into a consumable intoxicant. The earliest examples of alcohol consumption were evidenced by beer recipes from Mesopotamia, written in Cuneiform on clay tablets. These tablets are considered one of the earliest forms of written language. Alcohol has long been considered an integral part of society, but its effects on physical and mental health, and social standing continue to be discovered. In order to properly address the immeasurable amount of harm alcohol can create when abused, its image among society and the media must shift from glamorization to brutal honesty. Alcohol consumption not only destroys the physical health, social life, and mental abilities of the user; but also places a negative burden on both society and the economy.

Alcohol has the chemical element of ethanol which its formula is CH3CH2OH or C2H5OH. When the yeast is fermented, the yeast is broken down by sugar to form carbon dioxide and the alcohol.The carbon dioxide will exit the alcohol by gas bubbles.

One of the major problems in society is alcoholism. The effects of this disease are very dangerous and serious. Alcohol can cause many problems in a person’s life without them even being aware of it. People who have been drinking large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time run the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. While several decades of research with adults have shown that chronic heavy drinking is associated with adverse consequences on the adult brain, this relationship has only recently been explored in the adolescent brain.

Alcohol is a major problem faced by many people across the United States. People who use this drug often times do not know of the impacts it has on them and others. This drug can change ones life with just one use. Teens are influenced or peer pressured to try it, which can impact them for the rest of their lives. The choices made while drinking can also have a sizable impact on someone for the rest of their life. Alcohol will impact your brain, impact your body, impact your choices, and impact those around you.

When drinking alcohol, alcoholics know some side effects. What they dont know is how it damages the brain. Brain disease is one of the many side effects. Alcohol also affects the liver, lungs, heart and cells.

I have learned some valuable information about substance abuse and addiction, especially about how the use of drugs and alcohol affect the brain. Psychoactive drugs and compulsive behavior will destroy the brain cells if the activity is practice for a long period of time. According to Inaba & Cohen (2014) say psychoactive drugs and compulsive behavior “overwhelm the brain’s ability to rebalance itself and can induce epigenetic changes that can last a life time” (p. 145). I have learned from reading the book Uppers, Downers, All Rounders’, 8th edition written by Inaba & Cohen (2014) reveals gambling is a serious addiction for the gambler. There are four levels of gambling that classify as an addiction that I did not know, so that was new insight

Undoubtedly, the legal limit for drinking while driving desperately must be reconsidered. Driving after consuming any amount of alcohol is negligent and hazardous. The concern of drinking and driving is a state law; therefore, the rules and laws may vary among the states. Regardless, drinking while driving is an enormous concern in all 50 states and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming any amount of alcohol should not be tolerated under any circumstances. “The amount of alcohol in the bloodstream is called Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). It is measured in milligrams percent. In most states, drinkers are presumed to be legally impaired if they have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. This is the same as one drop of alcohol in 1,200 drops of blood. While this may seem a small amount to worry about, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.30 can cause a person to go into a coma, while a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.40 could easily kill you” (Chaves County DWI Program). A surprising statistic to most people is, on average about three drinks will put an individual over the legal limit. One drink is considered 12oz beer, 3oz of wine, and 1oz of hard liquor (Arizona Department of Public Safety). Many people get behind the wheel, after having just a few drinks, believing that they have

http://www.alcoholism.tqn.com/library/weekly/aa022697.htm?pid=2750&cob=home. Whether a crime was committed intentionally or unintentionally has great bearing on the decision of a jury in finding a person guilty of a crime and/or on the judge's choice of punishment. You might have heard of husbands apologizing to their wives the day after they've beaten them. Their apology might sound something like, "I'm so sorry. I did not mean to hurt you, I swear!" Does alcohol have the capability to make a person forget? Can a person be unaware of his surroundings and yet still be able to interact with it? More importantly, can alcohol change a person's personality enough that it would cause him to do things

Someone is sitting at a restaurant bar. A waitress walks over handing out free shots, so he takes one. One leads to two, two leads to three, and so on. Before he realizes it, he is talking louder than ever, tripping over his own feet, and causing a scene. Toward the end of the night, he walks into someone’s table, as he is heading out of the restaurant, knocking over their meals. He tries to say something, but all that comes out is mumbling. The next morning, he is feeling dizzy, has a pounding headache, and does not remember anything from the night before.