Title: Alcohol Addiction and It's Bad Impacts

Title : Alcohol Addiction and its Bad Impacts
1.0 Introduction
Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a widespread disease that affects people of all
walks of life. In this modern days, socioeconomic problem has become the major factor that
may predispose someone to alcohol addiction, it appears that it has no singular cause and can
afflict anyone. Furthermore, in the medical community, alcohol addiction has long been
considered a psychosomatic condition. This means that social, psychological, genetic, and
behavioral factors can all contribute to the disease. However, its important to note that it is a
real disease, and once addicted, an alcoholic may physically be unable to control his or her
actions. Research has shown that addiction, including alcohol addiction, causes physical changes
to the brain and neurochemistry of an addict.
Alcohol addiction can show itself in a variety of ways. The severity, frequency of use or
type of alcohol consumed varies from one person to the next. Some may drink heavily all day,
while others binge drink for a period and then stay sober until their next bender. The type of
alcohol a person drink doesnt preclude them from alcoholism. Regardless of how the addiction
looks, alcoholism is usually present if a person heavily relies on drinking and cant stay sober for
a long period of time. In another point of view, many of the researcher found that treating
alcohol addiction is a complex matter and challenging. This is due to the alcoholic must highly
aspires and good discipline to stop taking that kind of beverages. In order for treatment to
work, the alcoholic must want to get sober. Usually, you cant force a person to stop drinking or
consider treatment if they arent ready. Success depends on the individuals personal drive to
get better. The recovery process for an alcoholic is a lifetime commitment.
2.0 Bad Impacts
Generally, there were many bad impacts if a person taking alcohol for a long period where
excessive alcohol will impaired prospective memory. This impaired cognitive ability leads to
increased failure to carry out an intended task at a later date. For example, forgetting to lock
the door or to post a letter on time. The higher the volume of alcohol consumed and the longer
consumed, the more severe the impairments. One of the organs most sensitive to the toxic
effects of chronic alcohol consumption is the brain. In France, its approximately 20% of
admissions to mental health facilities are related to alcohol-related cognitive impairment, most
notably alcohol-related dementia. Chronic excessive alcohol intake is also associated with
serious cognitive decline and a range of neuropsychiatric complications. The elderly are the
most sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol on the brain.
There is some inconclusive evidence that small amounts of alcohol taken in earlier adult
life is protective in later life against cognitive decline and dementia. However, a study
concluded, "Our findings suggest that despite previous suggestions, moderate alcohol
consumption doesnt protect older people from cognitive decline". Acetaldehyde is produced
from ethanol metabolism by the liver. The acetaldehyde is further metabolized by the enzyme
acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. A deficiency of this enzyme is not uncommon in individuals from
Northeastern Asia as pointed out in a study from Japan. This study has suggested these
individuals may be more susceptible to late-onset Alzheimer's disease, however this higher risk
is associated with the enzyme deficiency not with alcohol consumption. Individuals with this
defect generally dont drink alcohol.
High rates of major depressive disorder occur in heavy drinkers and those who abuse
alcohol. Whether it is more true that major depressive disorder causes self-medicating alcohol
abuse, or the increased incidence of the disorder in alcohol abusers is caused by the drinking, is
not known though some evidence suggests drinking causes the disorder. Alcohol misuse is
associated
with a number
of mental health disorders and alcoholics have a very
high suicide rate. A study of people hospitalised for suicide attempts found that those who
were alcoholics were 75 times more likely to go on to successfully commit suicide than nonalcoholic suicide attempters. In the general alcoholic population the increased risk of suicide
compared to the general public is 5-20 times greater. About 15% of alcoholics commit suicide.
Abuse of other drugs is also associated with an increased risk of suicide. Social skills are
significantly impaired in people suffering from alcoholism due to the neurotoxic effects of
alcohol on the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex area of the brain. The social skills that
are impaired by alcohol abuse include impairments in perceiving facial emotions, prosody
perception problems and theory of minddeficits; the ability to understand humour is also
impaired in alcohol abusers
3.0 Conclusion
To sum up, the excessive alcohol consumption give many negative impact rather that its
benefits. Alcohol is a type of beverages that might be as addictive for long consumption and
people should aware to take control of it for a their good health. In a long period, excessive
alcohol will effect on a persons health that leads to death.
4.0 References
Mercadante, S., Porzio, G., Caruselli, A., Aielli, F., Adile, C., Girelli, N.,& Casuccio, A. (2014). The
Frequency of Alcoholism in Patients wtih Advanced Cancer Admitted to an Acute Palliative Care
Unit and a Home Care Program. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
Lee, S. Y., Chen, S. L., Chang, Y. H.,& Lu, R. B. (2014). Variation of types of Alcoholism: Review
and Subtypes Identified in Han Chinese. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry, 48(1): 36-40.
Waldron, M., Vaughan, E. L., Bucholz, K., et al. (2014). Risks for early Substance Involvement
associated with Parental Alcoholism and Parental Separation in an Adolescent Female Cohort.
Journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 138 (1): 130-136.

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2.0 Bad Impacts

of mental health disorders and alcoholics have a very

Psychiatry, 48(1): 36-40.

Journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 138 (1): 130-136.

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