The risks of alcohol abuse - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages Is there relationship between age at onset of alcohol use and subsequent development of alcohol use and dependence? 3. What it the contribution of individuals’ genetics, social and environmental factors such as culture, per influence, alcohol availability and stress on alcohol abuse? 4. What is the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the current alcohol abuse screening instruments in determining alcohol abuse and dependence? 5. Which age group is mostly affected by alcohol abuse and dependence? The objective of this study will be to explore the risk factors involved in alcohol abuse and dependence. This will be done through administering of questionnaires and also through literature review. A control group obtained from non alcohol individuals will be included for comparison purposes. Risks of alcohol abuse Alcohol abuse has long term physical and psychological effects. Women are more susceptible to medical complications of drinking than men as they achieve high blood alcohol concentrations than men after they have consumed an equivalent amount of alcohol doses. Women also have elevated mortality than men (Katharine) .About 2000 people under the age of 20 years die annually due to car accidents in which drinking is involved. Research has also shown that, about half of all violent deaths involving teens, alcohol is involved (alcohol abuse and alcoholism).The increased domestic violence is also associated with alcohol use. Studies have also shown that heavy alcohol use contributes to liver diseases in the setting of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which causes cirrhosis. Excessive drinking is also associated with detrimental effects of the cardiovascular system such as vasoconstriction, hyperlipidaemia, cardiomyopathy and also arterial hypertension....
The paper tells that alcohol abuse has long term physical and psychological effects. Women are more susceptible to medical complications of drinking than men as they achieve high blood alcohol concentrations than men after they have consumed an equivalent amount of alcohol doses. Women also have elevated mortality than men. About 2000 people under the age of 20 years die annually due to car accidents in which drinking is involved. Research has also shown that, about half of all violent deaths involving teens, alcohol is involved (alcohol abuse and alcoholism).The increased domestic violence is also associated with alcohol use. Studies have also shown that heavy alcohol use contributes to liver diseases in the setting of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which causes cirrhosis. Excessive drinking is also associated with detrimental effects of the cardiovascular system such as vasoconstriction, hyperlipidaemia, cardiomyopathy and also arterial hypertension. Research has also shown that alcohol exhibits both acute and chronic effects on the heart. There are risks of heritability of alcoholism. Studies have shown that biological siblings of alcoholics are three to five times likely to develop alcohol dependence than those individuals from families without alcoholism history. Genetic factors are involved in the different dimensions in which a substance is taken. The genes involved includes those that are in; dopaminergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, Opioidergic, serotoninergic, cannabinoid, noradrenaline and circadian rhythm systems. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More