Alcoholism Amidst the Youth - Term Paper Example

Topic: Alcoholism Amidst the Youth It goes without saying that alcoholism is the most dangerous phenomenon that continues to threaten the health of human beings and their existence on earth. It is indeed a bad habit in which only some people engage into seeking either joy or a fake relaxation that lasts for a short span of time. Various definitions have been given to alcoholism according to the angles from which it has been looked at. So, while some religions see alcoholism as something that is permissible, other religions devise firm laws of punishing whosoever gets addicted to it. Put simply, alcoholism is something prohibited in other faiths; drunkards will end up in jail given their dedication to such a bad habit. In this paper, I will be trying to tackle the issue of alcoholism in the United States and elsewhere and the way it has affected the lives of the youth, more precisely in families and the community at large. The following questions will constitute the backbone of the present research: to what extent is alcoholism harmful to youngsters? What are the main causes and symptoms of alcoholism? Also, are there any remedies to put an end to such a hazardous phenomenon? Before answering these afore-stated questions, I should outline from the very beginning that alcoholism refers to drinking and sipping beverages that are loaded with alcohol to a high degree that is most likely to bring about one’s loss of reasoning and thinking in a very normal and natural way. Although it leads to many serious health and family problems, it is noticeable that alcoholism is still spreading in many developed and undeveloped countries like America, Germany, France, Morocco and Egypt, … etc. Certain people, due to certain reasons, resort to alcoholism and drink in spite of the awful consequences that is most likely to cause in their private and social lives. Needless to mention that alcoholism has been a highly debatable issue discussed amongst academics, scholars and experts of contemporary medicine. This phenomenon is in fact characterized by excessive drinking of alcohol and losing one’s control over oneself. As Dr. Mark Wellinbring puts it, “Alcoholism is characterized by craving alcohol and losing control over drinking, along with a physical dependence (meaning that the person experiences withdrawal symptoms when not drinking) and a tolerance for alcohol (meaning the person needs to drink greater amounts to feel “good”).1 Most people who are strongly addicted to alcohol admit they don’t have problems. More than that, they sometimes speak more wisely and eloquently than those who don’t yield themselves to alcohol. Many scientists claim that alcoholism is a kind of drug addiction and it can be classified into two different categories. There is both physical and mental dependence on alcohol.2 This means that there are some who take up alcohol just to escape from the burdens of life and some problems which they cannot solve themselves. Consequentially, alcohol is for them like a means via which they come up with a temporary fake calmness and tranquility. In an article in the New York Times, Dr. Mark Willenbring speaks of the challenge of alcohol addiction and meanwhile points out that “The most severe drinking behavior includes long drinking binges that lead to mental or physical problems. Some people are able to gain control over their dependence in earlier phases before they totally lose control. But no one knows which heavy drinkers will be able to regain control and which will not.”3 In the same vein, statistics have demonstrated that more than 18 million people in the United States abuse alcohol.4 These statistics also suggest almost more than 70 million Americans have taken up alcoholism in their families. 5 Known as alcohol dependence, alcoholism is actually a disabling addictive disorder, exerting many negative repercussions not only on the lives of individuals but on the society at large. In the last years, it should be highlighted that certain people find great pleasure in drinking alcohol because the latter constitutes an essential part of their life. Others, however, drink some alcohol to celebrate and commemorate certain happy events such as birthday parties and some religious and national ceremonies. Hence, doctors believe that alcohol of all sorts is dangerous for ones’ health and even a small amount of it can lead one to death. Certain countries don’t allow it and severely punish those who drive and they are under the effect of alcohol. In point of fact, the causes of alcoholism amongst the adolescents and the youngsters are various. Studies have demonstrated that family problems, adolescence, bad companies, lack of good education and failure in the marital life are probably the main causes leading to alcoholism. Accordingly, those children whose parents used to drink are also destined to drink when they grow up given the transfer of this “disease” through blood. Very often, a wide range of factors contribute to the spread of alcoholism. These factors waver between social and psychological ones. The influence of families, one’s friends, as we have pointed somewhere, the accessibility of alcohol may impel and compel people to become heavy drinkers of alcohol. With respect to psychological factors, they have to do mainly with tension, anger and a high level of stress. Sometimes, we may also talk of some cultural factors so long as drinking alcohol is portrayed in the Mass Media, particularly in advertising, as being something good and equated with one’s dignity. This of course has a tremendous impact on laymen who could take for granted what they see in T.V channels. Remarkably, alcoholics lean towards forgetfulness though they may not share the same drinking patterns. Thus, while some may drink for example monthly or weekly, others are seen as daily drinkers and they cannot abdicate such bad habit very easily. Lots of choices of alcoholic beverages are available for them such as vodka, beer, wine…etc with different quantities and qualities. The present paper attempts to clearly demonstrate that alcoholism is a treatable disease; it is not something which people do because they have a strong desire or a liking for. So, after showing the probable causes why people surrender themselves to alcoholism, it will henceforth tackle the effects of alcoholism on people’s health. I shall therefore back up my claims drawing on a dismal experience which a relative of mine has undergone during his adolescence and how he was able to dispose of alcoholism. Irrespective of the fact that alcoholism may harm drinkers, they still exhibit a certain affinity for it. So, besides causing serious health problems, alcoholism can lead drinkers to the loss of their careers. Even worse, it can cause automobile crashes and heart attacks. Verily, a plethora of assumptions have been adopted by many doctors concerning alcoholism. The first assumption is diminishing in popularity and it argues that alcoholism is a “moral weakness”. Consequently, with little will power, drinkers could easily stop being addicted to alcohol. Whereas, other assumptions contend that whoever drinks for a long time is most likely to turn out to be an alcoholic. There is also another assumption that thinks that alcoholism is the result of the environment. In other words, the surrounding is said to influence the development of alcoholism. For example, some jobs prompt people to drink too much alcohol. These jobs may include sailing in the sea, singing and dancing and the like. Among the symptoms of alcoholism, we can mention that alcoholics are prone to drink for many months and years. However, when they want to stop, they find great difficulties in doing so. They sometimes show some aggressive kinds of behavior and they have a tendency to fight with other people and even with their most loved ones. What is more is that they can miss their work and lose their interest in social activities. Furthermore, they may end up committing suicide owing to their experience of paranoia and bad feelings. Worse than that, they find great confusion in taking quick decisions since they are unable to think clearly. With respect to sleep, alcoholics don’t sleep a lot and they roam the streets day and night screaming and even making an outcry about a given awful situation they have outlived. At the physical level, they face some abdominal pain. Accordingly, they may throw up all the food which they have eaten their eyes turn out to be red and their teeth become ruined by alcohol. Also, they are subject to some weakness and numbness in their extremities. By this, we can say that alcoholism has a complete bad effect on alcoholics’ body parts. A large dose of it can boost blood pressure and may lead to heart problems. Yet, it is commonly assumed that symptoms may vary from one person to another. In all cases, if an alcoholic is having these pre-mentioned symptoms, s/he is required to follow a physical examination. S/he should see the doctor, who can provide the alcoholic with the rightest and the most appropriate diagnosis to guide the alcoholic find out which kind of treatment will prove to be most effective and efficient. If one is experiencing symptoms associated with alcoholism, one should see the doctor. The latter can help make a diagnosis and guide one in determining which treatment will work best. Doctors may ask alcoholics to drink with moderation in order not to harm their health. Campaigns inside and outside schools should sensitize teenagers and adolescents not to drink too much so that they could not face serious health problems in the future. From this perspective, Dr. Mark Wellenbring assumes that “Many people with alcohol problems dont recognize when their drinking gets out of hand. In the past, treatment providers believed that alcoholics should be confronted about their drinking problems, but now research has shown that compassion and empathy are more effective.”6 In the same vein , he adds that “The ideal approach is to help people realize the negative impact alcohol abuse is having on their life, and on the lives of those around them. They can aim for a personal goal of leading a more fulfilling and sober life.”7 In fact, alcoholics should confess all the reasons that urge them to drink. Family members and friends can be so much helpful in affording the necessary help to alcoholics to give up such dangerous addiction. This terrible story which my cousin has experienced with alcohol will spot the light on all what we have said so far. It seeks to explore the bad effects of alcohol and how my cousin managed to overcome such a serious predicament. The story goes as follows: “James was his name. He found himself so much anxious, especially after his father’s sudden death. He lost all his friends and classmates because he becomes bad-disciplined at school. He is no longer that studious student he used to be. Many bad marks almost at all school subjects, a fact which led to his failure. As a helpless widow, his mother could not bear this horrible mode of life wherein James gets engaged all suddenly. She communicated his problem to his aunt who was working as a psychologist in the suburbs of London. She promised to help James and to treat him as if he were her son. Consequently, the mother and Jame’s aunt would usually call on the places which James frequent from time to time. To their surprise, they found that James recently had made the acquaintance of some drug dealers and they spend the whole night in taverns drinking a huge amount of alcohol after selling hashish and opium amongst youngsters in the streets of London. The boss who had been chased by the police for many years could not show up to these young drug dealers like James and his fellows. He was settling in Ireland, giving his followers some instructions and tricks through which they could deceive and dupe the police. Clever as she was, Linda, the psychologist, made up her mind to inform the police of these outcasts and they agreed that James and those boys of his age were but victims of these highly professional criminals. They disguised themselves as alcoholics and they befriended with James just to convince him stop blindly serving these drug dealers. The plan was successful because James was convinced not to work for them anymore. Thus, he was affiliated to a club of football and he caught the attention of his peers and the coach. Though he stopped frequenting taverns and distributing drugs in the streets, James was unable to easily abandon alcohol. He would secretly get a beer and sit by himself sipping it. His aunt remarked that his eyes were not in a good trim and she kindly ask him to drink the amount he wants but not to leave any bad smell in his mouth because neither his companies at the football club nor his mother nor his aunt could stand such disgusted smell. Thereupon, James realized that his aunt was consecrating all her efforts just to help him become a good man of whom all people, especially his mother, can be proud. He asked her to bring him an orange juice everyday to keep fit and healthy because his abdomen started already to hurt him. Then, James was advised to consult a doctor and he was examined. Fortunately, there isn’t a big amount of alcohol in his blood. Thanks to those people who love him and strongly care for him, James was able to surmount this plight and to get rid of alcohol. The story I have deliberately introduced into my essay aims at showing that nothing is impossible if there is a strong determination and a will to stop bad drinking habits. Also, it reveals and unveils that those people who surround us and who love us can greatly change our lives positively. Read More