Alcohol is one of the most frequently abused legalized drugs the world over is alcohol with Belarus having the highest level of alcohol consumption with an average of 17.5 Litres per capita annually. For this reason, it is vital to examine the drug to determine its classification, origin and the frequency of its use in the US. Besides, it is imperative to determine how alcohol affects the brain and the treatment options available for overcoming addiction. Finally, it is essential to understand the laws that regulate its abuse.
Methodology
To conduct this study, the researcher performed a systematic review of authority websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Besides, the researcher used books and peer-reviewed journal articles to test the credibility of information and to add more weight to the study. Furthermore, the researcher was keen to use materials that are not more than five years old and hence the findings are relevant.
Analysis
Classification of Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant since as it slows down vital body functions. Notably, depressants diminish the normal functioning of the brain and the central nervous system making it possible for an individual to perform normal tasks (Sacks et al. 2015). Types of alcohol include beer, wine, and liquor. Beer is brewed from cereal grains while is made from grapes. On the other hand, liquor is made from the distillation of liquid drinks that have undergone fermentation (CDC, 2017).
History of Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks have their origins in the ancient periods given that archeologists have found beer jugs illustrating that beer production started in Neolithic period around 10,000 B.C from berries and honey (Sacks et al. 2015). Notably, the Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Chinese are amongst the earliest communities to produce and consume alcohol. Alcohol had a central role in the lives of the ancient Egyptians since they would offer it to their gods and at the time, they made 17 varieties of beer and 24 varieties of wine (Sacks et al. 2015). Babylonians on their side adopted alcohol in around 2700 B.C while the Chinese considered alcohol a spiritual beverage as early as 1, 116 B.C.
Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption in the United States
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), nearly 14 million adults abuse alcoholic substances meaning that one in 13 adults is a regular alcohol consumer (CDC 2017). Also, CDC reveals that 62% of high school students have been drunk at some point. This trend reveals that drinking problem affects both adults and children and as one might expect, the economic costs are astounding. In 2017, excessive alcohol caused more than 88,000 deaths, and the financial costs of excessive alcohol consumption was $249 Billion in 2010 (CDC, 2017). The high prevalence of alcohol in the United States and the economic and social costs mean that there is dire need to implement effective intervention strategies to address this problem.
The Most Popular Way Alcohol is Used
Most drinks ar in liquid form, and therefore the most common way of consumption is ingestion (Ciccarelli et al., 2013). Ingestion is the consumption of a product through the mouth into gastrointestinal tract through either eating or drinking. Thus, alcohol is consumed through drinking. Other less popular ways of alcohol consumption are injection with dehydrated alcohol.
Symptoms that Alcohol Consumers Experience
The side effects of alcohol depend on how much one has taken and their physical and mental state. Immediate side effects of alcohol include blurred vision, slurred speech and memory lapses (CDC, 2017). Besides, alcohol leads to decreased perception and coordination resulting in staggering. Furthermore, one experiences distorted hearing and impaired judgment as the immediate effects of alcohol consumption (Ciccarelli et al., 2013). For instance, a man could be a good loving husband but when they consume alcohol, they become brutal and abuse their wives, and this is due to the impaired judgment which occurs when the nervous system is adversely affected. Other symptoms of alcohol consumption include nausea, vomiting, and loss of bladder and bowel control (Ciccarelli et al., 2013).
How Alcohol Consumption Affects the Brain
Alcohol consumption has adverse effects on the normal functioning of the body. One of the major effects of alcohol consumption on the brain is blackout where an individual cannot recall key details of events or entire events (Ciccarelli et al., 2013). The degree of memory impairment hugely depends on the amount of alcohol consumption, and it is no longer habitual drinkers are more at risk of experiencing blackouts than people who drink alcohol less frequently. Besides, alcohol consumption leads to recklessness in an individual as a result of impaired cognitive ability. For instance, CDC states that 29% of all traffic-related deaths in 2015 were caused by drunk drivers illustrating how reduced cognitive function leads to reckless driving and ultimately accidents (CDC, 2017). Besides, alcohol consumption leads to reduced concentration span meaning that one cannot sustain a conversation for long without veering off the topic.
Whether Alcohol is Dangerous and the Level that is Considered Lethal
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, excessive and regular drinking of alcohol can have a terrible toll on one’s health as it might lead to heart, brain, liver and pancreas conditions (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2017). For instance, the increased consumption of alcohol increases the risk of liver disease and pancreatic cancer. One can overdose alcohol consumption if one takes into account that CDC states that over 88,000 lives are lost annually due to excessive alcohol consumption (CDC, 2017). In men, alcohol overdose occurs when an individual consumes more than four drinks a day while in women, taking more than three drinks a day is considered an overdose.
Treatment Options to Overcome Addiction to Alcohol
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests three major treatment options for alcohol addicts (NIAA, 2017). The first option is behavioral treatments that focus on changing the behavior of alcohol addict by addressing the stimuli that lead to consumption. Secondly, medications such as naltrexone help the alcohol addict to reduce craving (NIAA, 2017). Thirdly, mutual support groups provide peer support for people quitting alcohol thus helping them to face the drinking problem as one.
Regulation of Alcohol Consumption in the United States
Alcohol consumption in the States is regulated by the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act which states that the minimum drinking age is 21 years (CDC, 2017). Therefore, it is illegal for a retailer to sell alcohol to persons below the age of 21. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also sets other policies that regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol as well as the blood alcohol control, limits for machine operators. For instance, the NIAA BAC limit for operators of recreational watercraft is 0.08 (NIAA, 2017).
Summary of Findings and Conclusion
In a nutshell, the analysis above has revealed that alcohol is a depressant that is commonly used in the United States. The most popular way of alcohol consumption is ingestion, and some of the symptoms of alcohol consumption include blurred vision and staggering. Besides, the analysis has revealed that alcohol consumption leads to adverse effects on the brain leading to memory loss and blackouts. The treatment options available for alcohol addicts include behavioral treatment, medication, and mutual support groups. Given the prevalence of alcohol consumption in the United States, there is dire need to establish ways to address drinking problem in the country effectively.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Fact Sheets - Alcohol Use and Your Health. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
Ciccarelli, S. K., White, J. N., Fritzley, V. H., " Harrigan, T. (2013). Psychology: an exploration.
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2017). Alcohol Effects on the Body. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2017). Alcohol. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol
Sacks, J. J., Gonzales, K. R., Bouchery, E. E., Tomedi, L. E., " Brewer, R. D. (2015). 2010 national and state costs of excessive alcohol consumption. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(5), e73-e79.
