Controversies of Alcohol Drinking - Essay Example

Drinking alcohol Introduction Drinking alcohol is associated with negative impacts, which have never had a higher outline within policy and public debates. This is because alcohol drinking has turned to a huge business all over the world. Projections show that alcohol is one of the products that have the highest turnover in the world’s economy. Many people around the world have always had alcohol as the occasional drink, but in the recent years, it has been accepted way of socializing especially among the youths. However, alcoholism is a worrying and serious condition that needs to be addressed effectively. This is because many of people are amazed to realize that many drugs related deaths among young people, the drugs involved are not illegal bit it is alcohol. The fact that alcohol is available everywhere and is widely advertised in the media as the source of having a fabulous time and enjoyment has assisted in disguising the reality that it is also a drug with potential of causing harm. Therefore, alcohol is one of the common consumed drugs across the globe. At least one in ten people across the globe can be termed as binge drinkers. It is estimated that about 6 percent of all adult in the world abuse alcohol or are dependent. In addition, about one in every four people are problem drinkers suggesting they drink more than the recommended limits. This is despite the documentation that too much alcohol consumption leads to severe health, economic and social problems. Moreover, alcohol drinking is also associated with crime, body disorder, and anti-social behaviors. This paper work focuses on controversies surrounding the drinking of alcohol. This is in an effort to determine why too much drinking is not good. Discussion Controversies of alcohol drinking Many young people and their parents across the world do not realize the risks possessed by alcohol drinking. This is depicted by the fact that alcohol use by youth and young adults has increased risk of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. It is not surprising that majority drug responsible for most motor vehicle accidents involving youths across the world is alcohol. Additionally, young people who drink are also prone of engaging in dangerous sexual behaviors and committing suicide and homicide (salvos.org.au 5). Consumption of alcohol has emerged as a key political issue since early 1900s. This is because governments from various countries in the world have steered careful courses between twin policy objectives to protect public health and pursue urban renaissance through endorsement of the night economy (salvos.org.au 6). This has made a lot of young people become binge drinkers posing them to serious health risks and damage to their brains. Moreover, youths who develop alcohol addiction at their young age have a high risk of developing memory loss later in their life. Moreover, alcohol is also a substantial contributor factor of violent crimes. This is so because 44 percent violence victims across the world are believed their attackers were under alcohol’s influence. Additionally, it is thought that alcohol is a factor to at least half of all domestic violence incidences. Therefore, alcohol drinking contributes to violence across the world despite various strategies to combat these problems. Researchers estimate that 47 percent of all those committing violent offense and 43 percent of criminal victims are always drunk prior to their actions (salvos.org.au 6). On the contrary, most of domestic violence is triggered by consumption of alcohol. It is evidenced that families with alcohol drinkers experience higher domestic violence than non-drinker families. Therefore, many people who abuse alcohol or binge drinkers end up in jail, get injury or even die. Heavy alcohol drinking is also associated with serious health risks and fitness of drinkers. Many people in the world are hospitalized and other die as a result of excess alcohol drinking. Medical researchers indicate that consumption of alcohol for a long time causes serious diseases to an individual. Some of the long term health risks associated with alcohol is brain damage, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, stroke, liver and heart damage. In addition, alcohol can also lead to loss of sexual ability in men and infertility in women (salvos.org.au 7). Brain Damage is one of the major effects of excess consumption of alcohol thus lowering their mental ability and social interaction. Studies indicate that the longer an individual consume alcohol, the more likelihood of getting brain and mental damage in their entire lifetime. This is proofed by medical researches, which indicate that alcoholic drinkers exhibit toxic substances in their brains compared to no-drinkers. This means that alcohol is dangerous to individuals’ health equivalent to other illicit drugs (salvos.org.au 8). On the other hand, alcohol drinking contributes to various health problems such as alcoholic dependence syndrome, alcohol related dementia and psychosis. Moreover, in the long-run heavy alcoholic drinkers are also affected by hazardous conditions such as anxiety and depression (Mason 7). Additionally, excess consumption of alcohol is linked with impaired or marred prospective memory. Marred cognitive ability causes increased failure to perform an intended assignment, for instance, a person under the influence of alcohol may forget to lock the door of a house or the door of a car. The same person may also forget to post a letter on time. If one consumes large volumes of alcohol over a long period of time, he or she is under the risk of experiencing severe impairments (Dasgupta 10). In France, for instance, twenty percent of people admitted due to mental complications are related to cognitive impairment associated with alcohol. Chronic consumption of excess alcohol is linked with some severe cognitive decline. It is also linked with a range of neuropsychiatric ramifications (Mason 7). The mental status of the elderly is highly affected by excessive consumption of alcohol over a long time. Conversely, some studies show that small amount of alcohol consumed in early adulthood stage may help in curbing dementia and cognitive decline in later stages of life. Despite these studies, moderate consumption of alcohol does not reduce cognitive decline in older people (Mason 9). Scientific research shows that there is production of acetaldehyde by liver after consumption of ethanol. However, if a person has genetic deficiency in converting the acetaldehyde into acetic acid, then the person may be prone to Alzheimer’s diseases (Dasgupta 11). Some people consume alcohol with an intention of inducing sleep; however, this may cause insomnia. This is chronic sleeplessness. Frequent moving in between sleep stages may occur accompanied by awakenings caused by diaphoresis and severe headaches. Reducing chronic alcohol consumption may cause profound sleep disturbances with some vivid dreams. Research shows that persistent alcohol consumption may relate with some stages of the NREM and REM sleep suppression. It may also cause fragmentation of the REM sleep. NREM is a state of recurring sleep in which rapid movements of the eye do not occur and dreaming do not occur. Conversely, REM is a state of sleep whereby there is rapid movement or shifting of eye movements and dreaming occurs (Blane & Kenneth 21). While research proves that alcohol at first aids social panic symptoms, persistent consumption of excess alcohol may deteriorate these social panic symptoms. Additionally, people may develop panic disorder and to an extent worsen it especially during intoxication of alcohol. There are some drugs like the benzodiazepines that are prescribed to alcoholics as tranquillizers. The alcoholics who have anxiety disorders like the social phobia or panic disorder have to depend on benzodiazepines to minimize these disorders. Different persons have different reactions to alcohol consumption. Some people would suffer less with moderate consumption of alcohol, while others would experience much anxiety disorders and have to be put under medication. An alcoholic suffering from alcoholic toxic effects might not benefit from medications or other therapies, as they do not state the source of the symptoms (Mason 13). Constant consumption of alcohol causes acute and chronic pancreatitis. This habit may cause excessive damage to the pancreas that might cause serious chronic pains. This may later lead to pancreatic cancer. This chronic pancreatitis mostly results to malabsorption difficulties and diabetes (Dasgupta 17). Liver disease is another health risk linked with excess consumption of alcohol. According to the World Health Organization reports, liver cancer caused by alcohol consumption has risen drastically across the world leading to high death rate. In addition, women associates with excess consumption of alcohol have high risks of getting breast cancer. A review made by World Cancer Council indicates that one alcoholic drink in women per day is linked to 11 percent increase in risk of getting breast cancer compared to non- drinkers. All these diseases indicate that alcohol consumption is not fit for individuals’ health status (salvos.org.au 9). Alcohol drinking can also contribute to the depletion and ruin of individuals’ appearance. This is because it interferes with major nutrients in the body that are vital in the appropriate operation of body organs. Most of the body parts such as the skin, eyes, bones and joints, are affected by alcohol consumption due to dehydration. Heavy alcohol drinkers have scaly red spots on their skin due to dehydration caused by alcoholic drinks. On the other hand, alcohol leads to loss of nutrient such as zinc and B1 (salvos.org.au 14). Lack of these nutrients causes optic neuritis condition, which lead to blindness in the long-term. Additionally, heavy alcohol drinking is also associated with gout. This is a painful condition experienced on the joints and bones when they become inflamed and swollen. All these are some of the conditions of excess alcohol drinking leading to depletion of appearances. Conversely, in recent days, the health benefits of consuming alcohol in moderate volumes and frequency, has been celebrated widely by drinkers. Research shows that health benefits are only accompanied by moderate drinking. However, this moderate consumption is not recommended for pregnant women and young people below the age of 21 years. Scientists have proved that moderate drinking minimizes the chances of developing heart diseases. Dr Mukamai found out from a research he conducted that those men who took beer three to five days a week had minimal chances of developing heart diseases than those who took it only once (Dasgupta 21). Studies also indicate that alcohol reduces cholesterol levels in human beings. It works on blood vessels the ensuring free flow of blood through the arteries which acts as path ways for the flow of blood to the heart. Alcohol also acts as a blood thinner. Moderate consumption of alcohol also reduces the chances of developing diabetes in both men as well as women. Studies also prove that beer improves the sensitivity of the body to insulin. It lowers the levels of insulin. For older people in their mid 70’s, moderate consumption of alcohol reduces risks of dementia (Mason 23). Conclusion The argument depicted in discussion indicates that consumption of alcohol is harmful. This is so because it is linked with enormous health, physical and social effects. Although alcohol is commonly used for socialization it has a numerous negative effects. Therefore, harms and negatives effects of alcohol have outweighed its benefits. This is because there are no health benefits associated by alcohol consumption. On the other hand, alcohol is consumed by massive magnitude of youths and adults in various countries. Although alcohol does not cause significant problems to many drinkers, it is associated with abundant negative effects to heavy drinker and the entire society. Majority of excess alcoholic drinkers experience serious health problems such as heart diseases, liver and breast cancers and brain damages. In addition, high rates of crime and domestic violence are associated with alcohol drinking. All these effects show that consumption of alcohol has more damage than good and thus should be avoided. Work cited Blane, Howard T, and Kenneth E. Leonard. Psychological Theories of Drinking and Alcoholism. New York [u.a.: Guilford Press, 1999. Print. Dasgupta, Amitava. The Science of Drinking: How Alcohol Affects Your Body and Mind. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011. Print. Mason, Paul. Know the Facts About Drinking and Smoking. New York: Rosen Central, 2010. Print. Salvos.org.au. "The facts of Binge drinking and alcohol abuse." August 2006. 10 October 2012 . Read More