Alcohol Abuse in Men - Essay Example

"Alcohol Abuse in Men" is a wonderful example of a paper on addiction. Alcohol abuse has been one of the major concerns of countries in the world. Alcohol abuse is defined as continued indulgence in alcohol despite the underlying negative consequences to the individual (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2005). The main point of concern is the increased dependence on alcohol and the increased rate of consumption in the population. Moreover, alcohol abuse has become a serious concern for many healthcare providers. The concern has been due to a higher rate of alcohol problems arising from increased dependency. In fact, most of the social workers have encountered many problems relating to alcohol abuse. As a result, alcohol incidences have increased and at the same time have had a huge impact on society (NIAAA, 2005). Therefore, there needs to be strategies for reducing the problem from escalating. A reflection on alcohol incidences among men helps in understanding the impact of the given population and ways of reducing such impacts.

The rate of alcohol consumption and abuse is different based on one's gender. For example, the rate of alcohol consumption in the United States has been rated high among men as compared to women (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2013). A survey carried out for one month showed that over 60% of men had taken alcohol for the last 30 days (CDC, 2013). Moreover, the problems arising from excessive consumption are also higher in men as compared to women (CDC, 2013).  

Alcohol abuse affects men in various ways. First, excessive use leads to injuries and death (CDC, 2013). Most injuries and death occur once the minimum level of alcohol is exceeded. For example, driving when one is drunk may lead to accidents leading to injury or death. Moreover, challenges arising due to dependence on alcohol may lead to depression and eventually committing suicide (CDC, 2013). Additionally, excessive consumption may interfere with men's sexual function. The effects occur due to alteration of sex hormones leading to infertility, impotence, and male sex characteristics (CDC, 2013). Moreover, excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of some chronic diseases (CDC, 2013). Such diseases include cancer and diabetes as vital organs are affected in the body such as the pancreas and liver.

Various population-based strategies can help in addressing issues of alcohol abuse. One of the primary strategies that can help address the problem is improving awareness. In this aspect, the public will be educated on the harmful effect of alcohol abuse in society (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 1997). The other strategy that may help is the passing of legislation curtailing the use of alcohol (NIDA, 1997). For example, the legislation may define the minimum age required for the consumption of alcohol and the minimum amount that needs to be taken. In the secondary stage, it is advantageous to encourage the responsible use of alcohol and at the same time encourage the appropriate use of alcohol (NIDA, 1997). Moreover, taxes may be increased on alcohol, and this will help in discouraging consumption. On the other hand, the tertiary strategy may incorporate treatment and rehabilitation programs (NIDA, 1997).    Read More