Alcohol Abuse and Dependence - Essay Example

Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Alcohol addiction is a serious problem in today’s society as it contributes to multiple health problems and is a commonfactor in violent altercations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Alcohol as an addiction, a risk to health and a mood altering substance which can cause poor and dangerous decision making. The short and long term effects of alcohol will also be discussed. Alcohol is essentially a mood altering drug, and though regulated, is a legal substance. It is often used in social situations as it causes individuals to feel less inhibited and more at ease. How an individual is effected by alcohol depends largely on the individual’s size, weight and sex. The food content that the individual has consumed or not consumed at the time of drinking alcohol, is also pertinent to how the individual will be effected. Alcohol is in liquid form and can be purchased in many different varieties of beer, liquors and wines. Different varieties of alcoholic beverages contain different levels of alcohol concentrations. The more alcohol one consumes, the more altered one becomes. Even small amounts of alcohol can effect one’s ability to operate machinery or drive a car. In many cases, when individuals have consumed large amounts of alcohol, they become violent leading often times to domestic abuse as well as child abuse. Drinking alcohol is also known as ethanol, as its molecular structure begins with a single carbon (eth) with an alcohol group attachment. Ethanol is metabolized primarily in the liver but can also effect and damage other organs of the body. (Edenberg, 2007). Once undergoing metabolism, alcohol converts (or oxidizes) to acetaldehyde. All chemical reactions within living organisms require catalysts called enzymes. One of the enzymes responsible for alcohol metabolism and conversion to acetaldehyde, is called alcohol dehydrogenases. (Edenberg, 2007). There are still other metabolic reactions that take place involving other enzymes which are encoded by genes. The finished product of the metabolism of ethanol is an intoxicated individual incapable of making sound, responsible decisions. Alcohol is a depressant but also causes a sense of euphoria disarming an individual of their inhibitions or better judgment. Long term use of alcohol is defined as alcohol abuse and can lead to what is called alcohol dependence. When an individual uses alcohol over a long period of time, their body begins to depend on it. One of the reasons for this is explained by proteomics, the study of proteins. It is our genetic material that is used as a template for cell division resulting in the making of new cells. Essentially, genetic material within cells is used to produce proteins. Every three alleles on a chromosome is an amino acid, amino acids are the building blocks for proteins. Protein production over time, can be altered by frequent and consistent alcohol consumption, particularly in the brain, “chronic alcohol abuse produces persistent changes in brain function that result in tolerance, physical dependence, craving, and other behavioral changes. These changes in brain function likely result from alterations in gene and protein expression that cause the cells to adapt to chronic alcohol exposure (Anni and Israel 2002; Nestler 2000)” (Sturmhofel et al, 2008). Alcohol, once consumed, travels to the stomach and is absorbed by the small intestines. It is then released into the blood stream where it makes its way to organs like the kidneys, liver and brain. It is also absorbed several different tissue types depending on its concentration. Alcohol also depletes the body of cerebral spinal fluid, thus causing dizziness and headaches. Alcohol also dehydrates the body resulting in excessive thirstiness, headache and fatigue, the day after drinking heavily. These symptoms as well as nausea and vomiting are common and are called a “hangover”. Studies have shown that alcohol effects the brain in a number of ways, “chronic alcohol exposure leads to a wide range of changes in brain function. On the one hand, alcohol damages neurons in various brain regions, leading to cognitive impairment and other abnormalities in brain function in alcoholics” (Sturmhofel et al, 2008). Because of the ways in which alcohol affects brain activities and impairs cognitive function, it causes the body to become dependant such that when the individual dependant on alcohol suddenly stops consuming it, their body goes into a state of withdrawals. Withdrawals are characterized by extreme anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, body aches, shaking and cravings for alcoholic beverages. Certain medications can be used to treat symptoms of alcohol withdrawals such as Ativan (valium), Lorazipam, and Xanax. These medications are used to treat anxiety but are also successful in easing the symptoms of withdrawals for recovering alcoholics. There are many ways in which alcohol abuse can damage one’s health or even lead to death. It is estimated that in the United States alone, as many as 10% of men and 3% of women suffer from diseases or health issues related to alcoholism. (Worman, 1998). One of the most severe conditions caused by alcohol abuse is cirrhosis of the liver. It is a fact that one of the ten leading causes of death in America is alcohol related liver failure resulting from cirrhosis. Autopsies conducted on individuals who were alcoholics prior to their death, have indicated that nearly 15% of alcoholics actually had cirrhosis of the liver. It is unclear why some individuals who are alcoholics are more prone to developing cirrhosis of the liver than others, but most physicians agree that genetics plays a part in how likely an alcoholic is to develop cirrhosis. Individuals with hepatitis C also seem to have a higher propensity for developing cirrhosis if they are alcoholics, than alcoholics who are not positive for Hepatitis C. (Worman, 1998). Alcoholism can also lead to other type of liver disease such as fatty liver disease which is essentially a build up of fatty molecules within hepatocytes. Hepatocytes are the main type of cell that the liver is composed of. A third type of liver disease which can be attributed to alcohol abuse is chronic hepatitis. Liver disease caused by alcohol consumption can result in jaundice, liver failure and death. The liver, nervous system and brain are not the only aspects of an individual that can be adversely affected by alcohol abuse. In addition to medical complications, alcohol abuse can cause psychological and social disorders as well. (Worman, 1998). Sadly, there are nearly 100,000 alcohol related deaths each year within the United States alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 45% of traffic related fatalities are alcohol related in some way. Sadly, there are many other situations in which alcohol can cause serious injuries and death. Pregnant women that consume alcohol run the risk of causing serious birth defects to their unborn child as well as spontaneous abortion. Women that drink during their pregnancy may also give birth to babies with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This is an alcohol induced condition that lowers the IQ and attention span of the child as well as causes many physical impairments and deformities. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may also consist of facial deformities, blindness, deafness, memory and leaning problems as well as behavioral problems. Sadly, most of these birth defects are irreversible. According to the Center For Disease Control, there is no time in which a woman is pregnant, that alcohol consumption is safe. When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the alcohol is able to pass through the placental barrier into the body of the unborn baby. Therefore, if a pregnant woman becomes intoxicated, her unborn baby does as well. (Hazelden, 1993). Alcoholism continues to be a major national and even global crisis. It is not only detrimental to the health of the individuals who suffer from it, but also to the safety and well being of their families and to those around them. Drunk Driving costs the U.S an estimated $51 annually. In addition, “alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and non fatally injure someone every two minutes (NHTSA 2006)” (Center For Disease Control, 2007). Alcohol consumption does not just affect the individual who is doing the drinking, but those closest to that individual as well as on a community level. Every year, pedestrians, children on bikes or on foot, and non drunk drivers are killed by drivers who are intoxicated, as earlier stated. Certainly the law provides for punishment of those who drive while intoxicated but that does not reverse the damage to families who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers. Fortunately, there are treatment facilities and hot lines nation wide to provide rehabilitation and treatment for those suffering from alcoholism. In addition, there are support networks available to the family and friends of alcoholics. References: Center For Disease Control and Prevention, (2007) Impaired driving Facts, retrieved from website May 15, 2008 at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drving.htm Edenberg Ph.D., Howard., (2007) Genetics of Alcohol Metabolism, Alcoholic Research and Health, retrieved from website May 15, 2008 at: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh301/5-13.pdf Hiller-Sturmhofel, Ph.D, Susanne., Sobin, Josip., Mayfield Ph.D, R. Dayne. (2008) Proteomic Approaches for Studying Alcoholism and Alcohol Induced Organ Damage, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, retrieved from website May 15, 2008 at: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh311/36-48.htm Mablin, Diane., (1993) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Hazelden, Center City Minnesota Worman M.D, Howard J., Alcoholic Liver Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, retrieved May15 from website at: http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/gi/alcohol.html Zakhari Ph.D., Samir., (2007) Overview: How Is Alcohol Metabolized By the Body? Retrieved from website May 15, 2008 at: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh294/245-255.pdf Read More