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Effects of Alcohol Abuse

When thinking of drugs, alcohol is one that is often wrongly ignored, mainly due to its common use in public society; but this is a drug that has led to serious social problems in many different cultures around the world due to uncontrollable excessive drinking.

Produced by the fermenting or distilling of fruits, vegetables and grains, alcohol affects people differently depending on their sex, build and metabolism. Other determining factors include the amount of alcohol drunk in a given time and the amount and type of food in the stomach when alcohol is consumed. Slurred speech, a loss of inhibitions and distorted judgement are common effects of consuming this drink. Heavy intoxication of this drug leads to vomiting or incontinence, a drop in blood pressure and troubled breathing. Severe alcohol poisoning may also occur, which can lead to the user being in a coma or death.

Once drunk, the bloodstream absorbs alcohol quickly from the small intestine and at a lesser speed from the stomach and colon. It is the amount of alcohol in the blood that determines it effects on people and can reduce activity in the brain and spinal cord.

Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short space of time can result in a ‘hangover’ which is due in part to poisoning from the drink and in part to the body reacting to the withdrawal of alcohol. Symptoms of a hangover include a headache, dehydration and sickness.

People who drink alcohol on a regular basis develop a certain tolerance to many of the side effects alcohol induces and even when drinking more, never seem to be inebriated.

Dependence to alcohol occurs physically and psychologically in regular heavy drinkers. As peoples bodies get used to the presence of alcohol they will suffer withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking including sleeplessness, lack of appetite, sweating and in extreme cases tremors known as ‘the shakes’, hallucinations or fits.

Psychologically people can become dependant on alcohol through regular use or through small amounts on a daily basis. This kind of dependence can mean users needing to feel the psychological effects of alcohol, for example, allowing them to feel confident or relaxed in social environments.

Alcohol abuse can have a negative effect on people’s lives, in some cases leading them to becoming violent and destroying personal relationships. It can also hinder a drinkers work and social life leading to depression and a compulsion to drink further.

The long term health risks of alcohol abuse can cause liver and brain damage and an increase in the chance of heart disease.