Alcoholism is defined as the body's dependence of alcohol consumption. An estimated 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholics (Alcohol). Addiction to alcohol was not always known as alcoholism, it was formerly known as intemperance, habitual drunkenness, and inebriety (Keller).
Intoxication tests are used by the police to test if a person has been drinking and how much they have been drinking. The Drunkometer was the very first intoxication test to be invented (Staff). It was the invention of Dr. Rolla N. Harger, he invented the test in 1931 and was awarded the patent five years later (Staff). Dr. Harger was chosen to be on a subcommittee called, National Safety Council which partnered with the American Medical Association to conduct …show more content…
Consumption is about 20-50% of the cause for liver failure(cirrhosis), epilepsy, poisonings, and several types of cancer. The most common disorder/illness due to alcohol is liver failure. A person may not show signs of liver failure even if he/she drinks a lot, sometimes the symptoms of liver failure show up just when the liver is about to completely fail. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver tissue mostly caused by hepatitis and or chronic alcohol use. Chronic alcohol use is the most common cause of cirrhosis. If alcohol is the reason for cirrhosis, then the best treatment would be to stop drinking. After cirrhosis is diagnosed any drop of alcohol is extremely toxic to the liver. Cirrhosis can cause other problems in the body, for example it could cause swelling due to excessive fluid in the body, hypertension, which could lead to severe bleeding, makes the body more prone to infections, gives a higher risk for liver cancer. Another alcohol caused disorder is when an expecting mother consumes alcoholic beverages this is known as, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(3). FAS disrupts brain development while the fetus is in the womb. After birth, the brain has decreased plasticity which is the brains ability to grow and remodel itself. FAS lowers intelligence, causes facial abnormalities, organ system malfunctions(mostly heart, liver, and lungs), and growth deficiency(5). FAS is a preventable cause of mental …show more content…
Scientists have seen an association between alcohol consumption and violence/aggression. Violence falls under a category of aggression. Aggression includes threatening, hostile, or damaging behaviors in a non physical way. A study counted violent offenders who were intoxicated during their offense, 86% homicide offenders, 37% assault offenders, 60% sexual offenders, 13% child abusers and 57% men and 27% women in marital violence. Forty two percent of violent crimes reported to the police involved alcohol. Proper brain function is disrupted by drinking alcohol thus encouraging aggression/violence. Alcohol also weakens brain mechanisms that usually control impulsive behaviors such as inappropriate aggression, by making the drinker misjudge the situation causing them to overreact. Some violent behaviors can be treated while others are preventable. For example in marital violence one treatment is therapy, levels of violence could be decreased going to regular sessions and remaining sober after(4). In 1980, after her 13 year old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Candace Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a nonprofit organization in the United States. This organization seeks to stop drunk driving, gives support to the ones affected by drunk drivers, helps prevent underage drinking, and tries to make policy for driving while intoxicated stricter. A high school
Intoxication tests are used by the police to test if a person has been drinking and how much they have been drinking. The Drunkometer was the very first intoxication test to be invented (Staff). It was the invention of Dr. Rolla N. Harger, he invented the test in 1931 and was awarded the patent five years later (Staff). Dr. Harger was chosen to be on a subcommittee called, National Safety Council which partnered with the American Medical Association to conduct …show more content…
Consumption is about 20-50% of the cause for liver failure(cirrhosis), epilepsy, poisonings, and several types of cancer. The most common disorder/illness due to alcohol is liver failure. A person may not show signs of liver failure even if he/she drinks a lot, sometimes the symptoms of liver failure show up just when the liver is about to completely fail. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver tissue mostly caused by hepatitis and or chronic alcohol use. Chronic alcohol use is the most common cause of cirrhosis. If alcohol is the reason for cirrhosis, then the best treatment would be to stop drinking. After cirrhosis is diagnosed any drop of alcohol is extremely toxic to the liver. Cirrhosis can cause other problems in the body, for example it could cause swelling due to excessive fluid in the body, hypertension, which could lead to severe bleeding, makes the body more prone to infections, gives a higher risk for liver cancer. Another alcohol caused disorder is when an expecting mother consumes alcoholic beverages this is known as, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(3). FAS disrupts brain development while the fetus is in the womb. After birth, the brain has decreased plasticity which is the brains ability to grow and remodel itself. FAS lowers intelligence, causes facial abnormalities, organ system malfunctions(mostly heart, liver, and lungs), and growth deficiency(5). FAS is a preventable cause of mental …show more content…
Scientists have seen an association between alcohol consumption and violence/aggression. Violence falls under a category of aggression. Aggression includes threatening, hostile, or damaging behaviors in a non physical way. A study counted violent offenders who were intoxicated during their offense, 86% homicide offenders, 37% assault offenders, 60% sexual offenders, 13% child abusers and 57% men and 27% women in marital violence. Forty two percent of violent crimes reported to the police involved alcohol. Proper brain function is disrupted by drinking alcohol thus encouraging aggression/violence. Alcohol also weakens brain mechanisms that usually control impulsive behaviors such as inappropriate aggression, by making the drinker misjudge the situation causing them to overreact. Some violent behaviors can be treated while others are preventable. For example in marital violence one treatment is therapy, levels of violence could be decreased going to regular sessions and remaining sober after(4). In 1980, after her 13 year old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Candace Lightner founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a nonprofit organization in the United States. This organization seeks to stop drunk driving, gives support to the ones affected by drunk drivers, helps prevent underage drinking, and tries to make policy for driving while intoxicated stricter. A high school