Alcoholism In America

Improved Essays
Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Each year an estimated 87,000 deaths occur due to alcohol(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013 Alcohol consumption in the United States has continued to remain popular despite all of the negative effects. Alcoholism is defined as A chronic, progressive pathological condition, mainly affecting the nervous and digestive systems, caused by the excessive and habitual consumption of alcohol (The American Heritage Medical Dictionary,N.D.) . “Throughout most of U.S. history 'habitual drunkenness ' was viewed as a problem of moral degeneracy or character flaw inherent in the individual” (Gunzerath, Hewitt, B. G., Li, T., & Warren, K. R., 2011). More recently …show more content…
According to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, 7.5 million, child live in a single or two parent household who has a problem with alcohol. Of that 7.5 million about 1.6 million lived with a single parent who has an alcohol abuse problem (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2012). Among those individuals who have alcohol abuse disorders, their health was widely affected. Nationally there are over two hundred identified conditions linked to or caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol, according to the World Health Organization’s: Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health (World Health Organization, 2014). Individuals who consume alcohol are more likely to develop certain health issue than individuals who do not consume alcohol. Those who do drink alcohol are more likely to develop certain types of cancers In fact, there are 6 different types of identifying cancers that an individual’s chance are increased of developing just by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Those six cancers consist of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver and breast (National Cancer Institute, 2009-2010). The data clearly show that alcohol affects multiple facets of life, intentionally and …show more content…
(National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2014). There is very little in common that males and females have when it comes to alcohol. Not only are the drinking habits of women different from males, the effects on the body are too. This means the risks they are exposed to are different or of different magnitude. When women consume alcohol at a moderate or high level they are instantaneously at risk for a wide range of health issues. A notable difference in men and women is that women feel the effect of alcohol and experience health related issues due to alcohol sooner than men. Meaning that women experience issues faster, requiring a lower level of alcohol use than men (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2014). Another contributing factor that increases the health risks associated with drinking alcohol is weight. In general, women typically weigh less than men. After alcohol has been consumed it occupies the individual’s water in the body. Lower weight indicates a lower level of water. Meaning, women have a higher concentration of alcohol in their body than men. This is the cause of women feeling the effects more quickly. As previously stated men tend to have a larger weight than women, this indicates a larger amount of water, causing a “dilutions” of the alcohol that concentrates in one’s body (National Institute

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    June went wrong when she decided to have a variety of drinks. She could have just stayed sober and that way she would’ve woken up feeling great, wide awake and not light headed. Women tend to have more body fat then men, alcohol doesn’t move easily into fatty tissues so the chemical circulates into the bloodstream longer in women. Generally women make lower amounts of the enzyme that’s needed to metabolize alcohol, which is why June feels so hung over. Also, consuming large amounts of alcohol depresses the ability to control thought processes and muscular movements.…

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Strict Lockout Law

    • 975 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Increased alcohol consumption, over two standard drinks per day, seriously increases the risk of chronic illness, injury or death (NHRMC, 2009; AIHW, 2013). In 2010, 2.7% of Australasia’s disease burden was cause by alcohol use (AIHW, 2013). With a higher burden on the health care system, vital services are stretched to accommodate for risky drinkers, putting other patient’s health at risk. Although high levels of alcohol consumption have decreased since 2010, young adults are still more likely to consume alcohol at risky levels in a single situation; binge drinking (AIHW, 2013). An increase in high levels of alcohol use leads to greater risk of chronic illness, especially with long term exposure at high levels.…

    • 975 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Consuming large amounts of alcohol over time does affect your health, including, brain damage, liver damage, heart damage, and increases your chances of developing breast cancer.…

    • 99 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Introduction This paper will analyze the most detrimental drug to American Society. Alcohol is a liquid that is consumed orally. This drug alters the mind and the body. Alcohol is highly addictive.…

    • 383 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is therefore no wonder that alcoholics are considered failures in life (Doyle, 2012). They often get derogatory terms and get unequal treatment due to their condition. Even then, in the face of all the stigma and segregation, alcohol consuming has been shown to have a positive side to it. Research has demonstrated that moderate consumption of alcohol has numerous benefits accruing to it. For instance, one research has revealed that moderate consumption of alcohol is good for the heart and general body health.…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the National Association for Children of Alcoholics research article, the organization emphasis the importance of research into the problems faced by children of parents with alcohol problems. The article also states that, “Alcohol was found to be the most harmful drug in a recent study that ranked 20 drugs according to the harm they cause to the user and to others” (NACOA). Those effected the most by this substance abuse are primary children. The research article continues by saying, “Parental alcohol problems are associated with negative outcomes in children, e.g. poorer physical and psychological health (and therefore higher hospital admission rates), poor educational achievement, eating disorders and addiction problems, many of which persist into adulthood” (NACOA). This relates back…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Drinking Age The percent of alcohol consumption in the United States by underage drinkers is 11.4 percent (11 Facts). Underage drinking is common and most people think it is inadequate. Though it has its negatives, alcohol also has many benefits.…

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Binge Drinking: Main Cause of Death in U.S. Binge drinking spiked in the mid-to-late 90s (“Making Sense of the Stats on Binge Drinking”), in 2006 alone it cost the United States $223.5 billion (“Fact Sheets - Binge Drinking”). Some people think binge drinking should be defined as anyone who is overly intoxicated which leads to harmful or destructive behaviors (Hanson). Binge drinking among men is more common than among women (“Fact Sheets - Binge Drinking”), but statistics show 23,000 deaths of both women and girls are caused by drinking each year (“Making Sense of the Stats on Binge Drinking”). Statistics clearly indicate that alcohol dependency increases alcohol related crimes and health risks.…

    • 1683 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (2015) is helping teenagers to understand the problems they may face if drinking is involved in their lives before the age of 21. They present these problems by using facts, one of them being, “Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth. More kids try alcohol than try cigarettes and a substantial number of young people begin drinking at very young ages.” Once alcoholism is confirmed to a person, symptoms become incurable. Without therapeutic doctor visits, it is very hard for the disease to become…

    • 1276 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although it may be fun have you ever wondered that drinking alcohol could cause long term effects on development? Well it does, alcohol plays a big role in your development when you're binge drinking in the adolescent age. People may not realize it but it is true. I think people shall not drink under the age of 21 due to developmental issues. In fact adolescents drink less but more at one time than younger and older adults.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Juvenile Drinking Underage drinking has become problematic nation wide. Colleges, campus police and police in general, all around the United States, deal with underage drinkers on a daily basis. Many young drinkers are unaware of the outcome alcohol can do to their body in the outcome. Not only the physical harm that alcohol can do to their body but also the fluctuation in emotions, and the risk they have in ruining their lives with just one mistake of being drunk under the age of 21.…

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Due to the loss of coordination, accidents and falls become more likely to occur. B. Another effect of alcohol abuse is weight gain. 1. Alcohol causes weight gain because it is full of calories. 2.…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The amount is in direct correlation with size in gender as well. Alcohol is exited in small amounts through urine and breath. Bone damage is just one of the many problems as well. Alcohol causes bones to become brittle due to loss of calcium. Liver damage is apparent because the liver filters the toxins out of the body, and alcohol is a poison to the system.…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Alcohol can cause mouth cancer Pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, Laryngeal cancer, Breast cancer Bowel cancer, and Liver cancer. Cancerresearch.com says that 13,000 die from alchol caused cancer every year. Without alcohol, 4% of cancer death is become obsolete. That means they can come closer to a cancer cure because the death rate will decrease by 4%. Alcohol not only can be a health hazard to one but it can also be a health hazard to those around that person.…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Alcohol can cause pancreatic and liver disease, including alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. “Heavy drinking is linked to higher rates of many cancers, including cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.” (Gale, 2015). Drinking excessively can create damage to heart muscles and rise in blood pressure. Alcohol can also interfere with sleep and interact dangerously with prescription medications.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays