Alcoholism / alcohol abuse
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol in alcoholic beverages acts as a depressant of the
central nervous system used in small amounts. Users feel more relaxed from
anxiety, and become more self confident2.
Some of the symptoms of alcoholism are as follows:
- Craving—A
strong need, or urge, to drink.
- Loss of
control—not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
- Physical
dependence—Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and
anxiety after stopping drinking.
- Tolerance—the
need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect.
Physiological effect of consuming alcohol
- Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal
tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood4. It can be
absorbed through the stomach walls.
- Can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think
clearly and move with coordination4.
- Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single
occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:
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- Cardiomyopathy
– Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
- Arrhythmias
– Irregular heart beat
- Stroke
- High blood
pressure4
- Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances
that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling
of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion4
- Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of
developing certain cancers, including cancers of the: Mouth, Oesophagus, and
Throat, liver or breast.
- Weakened immune system 4
-Affects male and female reproductive systems
Social effects alcohol abuse
- Family problems:
Arguments over someone's drinking can cause family and relationship problems
that may lead to divorce/ break up.
- Work problems: Drinking alcohol at work and hangovers can
lead to poor performance and accidents at work, while illness can result in
absenteeism5.
-increase risk of sexual abuse: Approximately one-half of those cases (rape)
involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim, or both. Alcohol
contributes to sexual assault through multiple pathways, often exacerbating
existing risk factors6.
Economic
Problems of alcohol Abuse
-lost of
employment
-Besides
income money spent on alcohol, a heavy drinker also suffers other adverse
economic effects. These include lowered wages (because of missed work and decreased
efficiency on the job), lost employment opportunities, increased medical
expenses for illness and accidents
-High
cost of health care, due to alcohol related illnesses
-Less
productivity at workplace (either drunk or absent)
References
1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001945.htm
2. Anne Tindale,
Biology: A concise revision course for CXC. Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd.
3. Caribbean Examination Council. Biology, Resource for
teachers. Book 5
4.
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body
5.
http://www.adf.org.au/policy-advocacy/alcohol-and-its-effects
6. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-1/43-51.htm
7.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/cocaine-use-and-its-effects
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