Informative Essay On Alcoholism

Since ancient times, man learned to ferment cereals and fruit juices for a substance that evokes a special state.  This situation is different for different people according to the amount ingested and according to the motives for its intervention. The influence of alcohol in society has had great weight as a problem in the formation and functioning of the family and the individual and thus society, and the influence of alcohol has been reflected in various areas of the history of society since time immemorial.  Alcohol is considered a drug and its continuous consumption lead to addiction. Due to the ease of obtaining it, it has become a social problem in many countries. Especially in adolescents, the rate of alcohol addiction increases to them.  This is not only limited to teenagers, but alcohol addiction happens to men and women of all ages. According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “56% of people ages 18 and up reported having drunk in the last month“. Alcohol is advertised in many pictures. Such as advertisements, movies, series on television, social networking sites, and others. Where alcohol is promoted, for example, in the main role of the character in a series, which is shown that he drinks alcohol to show that his character is stronger, and in other promotional advertisements. High levels of alcohol consumption have detrimental effects on health, such as heart disease, liver complications, stroke, cancer, injuries from the accident because of drinking excessive alcohol, and other psychological problems.

       Alcohol affects the heart and increases related diseases. Excessive consumption of alcohol causes high blood pressure and increases the possibility of blood clots, and thus the failure of blood to reach the heart, as well as an increase in the level of cholesterol and triglycerides, and thus the occurrence of heart disease. And these effects increase the rate of death in heart disease for addicts. A group of scientists conducted a study on how alcohol affects the heart and blood pressure. And the result was “light alcohol intake was associated with minimal increases in cardiovascular risk, whereas heavier consumption was associated with exponential increases in the risk of both clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease.” Through this conclusion, we can say that alcohol has significant risk and impact on heart problems and diseases, and through this, it contributes to an increase in the death rate in the world.

Too much alcohol intake affects the liver's function in expelling toxins. Thus, this leads to the occurrence of many infections and diseases related to the liver. Long-term alcohol use interferes with this process. It also increases your risk for alcohol-related liver disease and chronic liver inflammation: Alcohol-related liver disease is a potentially life-threatening condition that leads to toxins and waste buildup in your body. Chronic liver inflammation can cause scarring or cirrhosis. When scar tissue forms, it may permanently damage your liver. ARDI is an online application that provides national and state estimates of alcohol-related health impacts, including deaths and years of potential life lost (YPLL). These estimates are calculated for 58 acute and chronic causes using alcohol-attributable fractions and are reported by age and sex for 2011-2015. “In 2019, of the 85,688 liver disease deaths among individuals ages 12 and older, 43.1 percent involved alcohol. Among males, 53,486 liver disease deaths occurred, and 45.6 percent involved alcohol. Among females, 32,202 liver disease deaths occurred, and 39.0 percent involved alcohol.” (Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI)).

Alcohol addiction increases the risk of developing cancer. There are many studies and research that show the link between drinking alcohol and an increased risk of cancer. “ Alcohol increases the risk of cancer of oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, colorectum, liver, larynx, and female breast. There is accumulating evidence that alcohol drinking is associated with some other cancers such as pancreas and prostate cancer and melanoma” (V Bagnardi). This is the result of the study, which shows that alcohol contributes significantly to the risk of all types of cancer. Therefore, you should reduce alcohol consumption or cut consumption completely. This is the best solution to maintain the health of the addicted person, and thus this solution reduces the number of deaths.

Over drinking alcohol increases the incidence of stroke. Several studies indicate that factors that occur as a result of drinking alcohol increase the risk of stroke, and thus increase the risk of death. Among these factors were mentioned above, namely, increased blood pressure, weight gain, increased blood sugar, and liver damage.

Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to brain damage and affects the mental health of the individual. Excess alcohol causes many psychological problems for the addict. For example, a person who is addicted to alcohol suffers from depression, anxiety, or nervousness, and thus practices violence against his family as a result of drunkenness. Or also alcohol causes a lack of concentration and thus the occurrence of many accidents and injuries. “Substance use can affect your judgment, vision, and coordination. Parts of the brain responsible for these functions are among the first negatively impacted by alcohol and other drug use. Because of this, people who use these substances are more likely to get hurt than people who don't” (Addiction & Mental Health, Alberta Health Services).

Treating alcohol addiction is a difficult process that requires a lot of time and effort, but with the right treatment steps, it becomes simple. The most important basic step necessary for a successful recovery from alcoholism is the patient's desire to quit drinking alcohol and change the lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle away from alcohol and alcohol.  Alcohol treatment steps begin with an attempt to gradually reduce the consumption of alcohol until you stop it permanently, and doctors stress the importance of continuous support from those around you to prevent the addict from returning to alcoholism again. Before identifying the steps for treating alcoholism, it is necessary to know the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, for the addict to be psychologically and mentally prepared before starting treatment. Withdrawal symptoms for alcoholics vary from person to person according to the degree of addiction and the amount of alcohol consumed by the patient. Withdrawal symptoms range from mild to severe, but a specialist doctor's supervision is required to avoid some serious complications during that period. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include Headache and head pain, nausea, sweating, Desire to vomit, Anxiety, feeling tired, Stomach cramps, diarrhea, sleep disturbances, loss of concentration, High heart rate, and blood pressure. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually begin within hours after you stop drinking, peak within a day or two, and improve after 5 days. Treatment for alcohol addiction can only be started if the addict agrees to undergo the treatment program and stop drinking alcohol and has the will and desire to get rid of the addiction. The patient must also understand that alcoholism is treatable and has a high recovery rate, and there should be a strong incentive to act as a catalyst for change, as well as family and psychological support.

There are many stages that an addicted person who is trying to get treatment goes through. Including the stage of rehabilitation and recovery, which is carried out in special centres under the supervision of experienced doctors. In which the patient is instructed in the correct ways, as well as giving him some medicines and medical treatments necessary for recovery from alcohol addiction and enhancing the skills necessary for the success of treatment. There is also the stage of protection from returning to addiction, through the support of parents and close people, or working groups with people recovering from alcohol addiction, to obtain sufficient support from them to continue treatment.

Drinking alcohol and being addicted to it has very great damage to the physical, mental, and psychological health of the addict. All this also affects his age, diseases, the amount of alcohol he drinks, or whether he also smokes or not. These factors increase the risk of developing diseases caused by alcohol, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, liver failure, cancer, and other physical diseases. In addition to psychological diseases that lead to depression, loneliness, and distance from society, as well as increasing anger and thus increasing the rate of violence that the addict applies to his family. Also, anxiety and lack of focus lead to many accidents that lead to injuries, fractures, and even death. Thus, we must focus on treating alcoholics, because alcoholism is like a disease and addiction that must be treated before the person dies or wastes his health more and more.