alcoholism :: essays research papers

For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant accompani custodyt to social activities. Moderate alcohol useup to two drinks per sidereal day for men and one drink per day for women and older peopleis not harmful for most adults. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or jackpot of either beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) Nonetheless, a large number of people get into serious trouble be name of their drinking. Currently, nearly 14 million Americans1 in every 13 adultsabuse alcohol or ar alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in equivocal drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. These patterns include binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular basis. In addition, 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem. The consequences of alcohol misuse are seriousin many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. In addition, drinking increases the risk of death from automobile crashes as well as inexpert and on-the-job injuries. Furthermore, both homicides and suicides are more likely to be committed by individuals who have been drinking. In purely economic terms, alcohol-related problems cost society well-nigh $185 billion per year. In human terms, the costs cannot be calculated. Many people wonder why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot. nonpareil important reason has to do with genetics. Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may develop alcoholism. Genes, however, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in a persons environm ent influence whether a person with a genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. A persons risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on the persons environment, including where and how he or she lives family, friends, and culture peer pressure and even how easy it is to get alcohol. Any concerns you may have about discussing drinking-related problems with your health charge provider may stem from common misconceptions about alcoholism and alcoholic people.