Alcohol abuse has quickly become one of the most common, yet detrimental issues in modern society. It is harmful to both the abuser, the abuser’s family and friends, and also society as a whole. Alcohol abuse is defined as “a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite its negative consequences” (“Alcohol Abuse”). While the definition may seem like a simple one, alcohol abuse is actually the complete opposite. It is a very complex issue with many variables accounting for the causes, effects and consequences, the tell-tale symptoms, and also how to begin to correct the problem.
There are very many reasons that a person may begin to abuse alcohol at some point in life, and with the number of Americans alone that abuse alcohol, these reasons are acceptable, at least to a certain extent. The popular news channel CBS has reported that according to a government study, more than thirty percent of American adults have, at some point, abused alcohol or have fallen victim to alcoholism (Roberts, “30% of Americans Abuse Alcohol…). Why is it that so many people fall prey to what is quite obviously a long, troublesome trap?
A road filled with so many public examples that even the most stubborn of people wouldn’t dare trudge along. Some people abuse alcohol because it is in their genes. Perhaps their parents too often indulged themselves in the pleasures of that buzz that compliments alcohol. Maybe they come from a long line of heavy drinkers and alcoholics. It is also fact that “men are three times more likely to abuse alcohol than women. ” Also more likely to drink in excessive amounts include those with mental health disorders.
Individuals with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorder are at a greater risk for eventually abusing alcohol (“Alcohol Abuse and Dependence…”). Other people drink due to their surroundings. It could be that they are in an area where there isn’t much else to do. Maybe alcohol is too readily available where they live. With today’s technological advancements, alcohol can be mass produced and at a much lower price than it has been in the past. This can make alcohol a very tempting beverage.
Certain demographics, such as American Indians, are also more likely to fall into alcohol abuse. Another reason for alcohol abuse is peer influence. Friends can influence your drinking habits through their lifestyles. If you are around others who regularly drink or at an amount that you are not accustomed to, you may follow suit. Not only friends influence this, however. The media also plays a big role. Turn on your TV and you will see advertisements for many different types of alcohol. Actors will be placed in situations that viewers would find exciting.
The advertisement’s message is simple. “Drink alcohol and you can do all of this and more. ” Alcoholic beverages have become commonplace in movies, TV shows, and even video games. Also a factor are life situations and conditions. The loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, a bad break up, receiving a ticket in the mail; all of these can be extremely stressful. When people become very stressed, they are more likely to turn alcohol as a form of stress relief or self-medication. They say that drinking is a way for them to feel normal and cope with their current life situations.
Now that you have an idea of why people fall into alcohol abuse, one must understand its effects. The effects are plentiful, and they are not pretty. Alcohol abuse is a serious issue which brings about very serious consequences. These consequences include untimely and often violent death, disabilities, and also harm to those around the abuser. Alcohol abuse is widely responsible for things such as unplanned pregnancy and unprotected sex, accidents, driving offenses, and violence (“Alcohol Abuse”). This is due, in large part, to the fact that alcohol impairs ones judgment.
Alcohol abuse is one of the most serious health concerns in the American Indian demographic (Smith, Robinson, Segal, “Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse”). Eighty percent of the suicides and sixty percent of the violent acts in these communities are a result of alcohol misuse. These are alarming numbers and are a result of this nationality’s general dependence level on alcohol (“Alcohol Abuse”). In just the U. S. alone, alcohol is responsible for the deaths of about 5,000 people under the age of twenty-one yearly. These deaths include car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries.
Every year in the United States there are 80,000 alcohol related deaths (“11 Facts about Alcohol Abuse”), making it the third leading cause of preventable death in the country. “Every day, thirty-two people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver” (“Excessive Alcohol Use”). That is one alcohol related death in just one category every forty-five minutes. Alcohol is also responsible for more than 1. 8 million deaths worldwide. Also relevant: 58. 3 million people have been disabled as a result of alcohol misuse (“Alcohol Abuse”).
These are just a few statistics of the violent ends met by alcohol abusers. Aside from the before mentioned violent deaths, alcohol abuse is also a cause of serious health problems such as heart disease, liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and stokes. It is also bad for your brain and nervous system (“Alcohol Abuse and Dependence…”). On the other hand, the effects of alcohol abuse are not just physical. Alcohol abuse can also lead to isolation from friends and family. It can drive families and relationships apart. Alcohol abuse is closely related to domestic disputes, spousal and child abuse, and divorce.
Because it impairs judgment, alcohol abuse can also result in termination from a job and making you less dependable. You know why some people fall into alcohol abuse. You also know what happens to those who do. Now you must know how to determine if you or someone you know abuses alcohol. It is possible to abuse alcohol and not even realize it. You could be in the early stages of it because it can happen slowly over time or it could be quick. Also, not to be confused with alcoholism, those who abuse alcohol may find it easy to go long periods of time without drinking.
Alcohol abusers tend to have problems at work or school as a result of their drinking. Showing up late, messing up things that are normally easy for you, and becoming less dependable are all signs of an alcohol abuser. Another sign is drinking in risky situations. Risky situations include things like driving motor vehicles or operating dangerous machinery. Blackouts are also a common symptom. If you blackout after drinking and cannot remember what happened, you most likely abuse alcohol (“Alcohol Abuse and Dependence”).
Other symptoms include feeling guilty or ashamed about your drinking, lying to others about your drinking, needing to drink in order to relax, regularly drinking more than you intend to, hurting yourself or others while or after drinking, drinking even though you have health problems that are either caused by your drinking or can worsen as a result, and friends or family worrying about your drinking habits. Alcoholics and alcohol abusers have many options when it comes to treatment of this problem. There are various companies and organizations that offer help.
Most notably is the organization AA or Alcoholics Anonymous (“Alcohol Abuse and Dependence…”; Smith, Robinson, Segal, “Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse”). Alcohol abuse is on the rise worldwide. It is responsible for the deaths of millions of lives and impacting millions of families. Given the known causes, you can say that alcohol abuse can occur anywhere, in any family. It can hit any race or nationality. The effects are devastating and only education on the subject can begin to correct its destruction. Works Cited “11 Facts About Alcohol Abuse. ” Do Something. Do Something, 27 Nov. 2012.
Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://www. dosomething. org/actnow/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-alcohol-abuse>. “Alcohol Abuse and Dependence-What Increases Your Risk. ” WebMD. WebMD, 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://www. webmd. com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/alcohol-abuse-and-dependence-what-increases-your-risk>. “Alcohol Abuse. ” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Alcohol_abuse>. “Excessive Alcohol Use. ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Apr. 2011.
Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://www. cdc. gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/alcohol. htm>. Roberts, Joel. “30% Of Americans Abuse Alcohol, Study Says. ” Editorial. CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 1 Mar. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://www. cbsnews. com/2100-204_162-3007571. html>. Smith, Melinda, Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal. “Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. ” : Signs, Symptoms, and Help for Alcoholism and Alcohol Use Problems. Help Guide, 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2013. <http://www. helpguide. org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment. htm>.
