Effects of Alcohol on Your Life

Alcohol abuse is a problem that hits home for me. I was exposed to it from a very young age and I come in contact with it everyday. Most of the people I know use alcohol. Going to bars and drinking alcohol is the norm where I live. Alcohol has surely made an impact on my life: My uncle died of alcoholism, he drank all the time and barely ate; my best friend in high school committed suicide while drinking; and an ex-boyfriend beat someone to death while drinking. These are just a few extreme examples of how alcohol has affected my life. I was not able to get my driver's license until I was23 years old because of underage drinking arrests since the age of 16. I had to depend on others for rides to go anywhere. I could not get jobs and/or keep them because I had no transportation. I attended business schools and college but transportation problems made me unable to finish. After I got my license, I was able to finish college, but had I not drank I would have accomplished this a lot sooner. Alcohol really messed up my life and it cost me thousands of dollars in fines.

Alcohol is one of the nation's top drug problems and it is responsible for the destruction of many lives. It's use is commonly accepted by society and to a great extent encouraged. Alcohol abuse is irresponsible drinking which harms or endangers the drinker or other people. Drinking and driving is an extremely dangerous form of alcohol abuse. It can also lead to: violence, poor judgment, missing work or school, and police trouble.

About one-half of all highway deaths are alcohol related. Alcohol related crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. Alcohol is a factor in a large number of suicides, cases of spouse abuse, and other crimes. Millions of people are arrested each year for driving while intoxicated and public drunkenness. Alcohol costs the nation billions of dollars each year in lost employment, productivity, and other related costs. Also the hidden cost of broken families, abused children, ruined careers, and lives cut short.

The responsible drinker can take or leave alcohol. A person who is dependent on alcohol has a difficult time doing without a drink. Daily use of alcohol becomes a need and usually leads to compulsive drinking. An alcoholic is a drinker who has become totally dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is not in itself a question of morals or manners(even though it affects them both). It is a health problem.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows the activity of the brain and spinal cord. Alcohol rapidly enters the bloodstream (no digestion is required) and circulates to all parts of the body within a few minutes. The main effect is on the brain because it "knocks out" control centers, which cause intoxication. The body burns one average drink in about an hour.

There are five stages of intoxication:
1."happy"-talkative,sociable. Some loss of judgment and efficiency.
2."excited"- emotional erratic behavior. Thinking is impaired, reactions slowed. Poor judgment, loss of control over actions.
3.confused- staggering, disoriented, Moody, slurred speech and double vision.
4.in a stupor- unable to stand or walk. Barely conscious and vomiting.
5.in a coma- completely unconscious-few or no reflexes. May die from respiratory paralysis.

Why do people drink?
1. to "tune in"- to enhance the enjoyment of people and activities. In social situations where alcohol will promote social ease, moderate drinking may relax inhibitions and help people talk and relate more freely at parties and get-togethers. Some people enjoy alcohol with meals, on outings, and to relax. Alcohol can be harmless and enjoyable if it is used responsibly and in moderation.
RESPONSIBLE DRINKERS:
a. drink along with other activities(not using alcohol for its own sake.)
b. drink with others.
c. avoid intoxication by drinking slowly with food in the stomach and paying careful attention to their actions.
2. to "tune out"- some people drink to anesthetize the mind; to block out unwanted thoughts and feelings.
They may drink:
a. as an escape from problems.
b. as a "cure" for fears when courage and self-confidence are lacking.
c. to block out painful feelings of loneliness, alienation, inadequacy or self doubt.
d. as a substitute for close relationships or challenging work.
A person may drink alone, drink to get drunk or use alcohol to try to forget troubles. Drinking never solves anything and it often makes matters worse. Often, a sense of guilt develops ,which can lead to more drinking.