ALCOHOLISM Student: Tuleneva Mary Form 11 B School 317 Teacher: Kapasheva K.G. Moscow 2008

My aim is to show that alcohol is our enemy ! Alcoholism destroys lives of people!

Reasons for choosing this topic Alcoholism is very actual social problem. Alcoholism is often called a family disease because it hurts the lives of family members and others who are close to the alcoholic. Alcoholism can happen after a month or years of drinking. It is a disease that gets worse the more the person keeps drinking. Without treatment, it can destroy both emotional and physical health and can lead to death.

One sage said: Wine brings four qualities to everyone, who drinks it. In the beginning, a person starts looking like a peacock- he puffs, his motions are smooth and dignified. Then, he gains a nature of a monkey and begins jesting and playing with everyone. Afterwards, he likens himself with a lion and becomes proud, sure of his power. But at the end he changes into a pig and wallows in dirt.

Though all people know the truth about the unprecedented guile of alcohol drinks, many of them fall in its skilfully set up traps. This is because of the character of alcohol, which can force to like itself, despite its harmful, sick and dissolute nature.

What is alcohol? The active ingredient in all alcoholic beverages is ethyl ethanol (alcohol). Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows down body functions such as heart rate and respiration. Small quantities of alcohol may induce feelings of well being and relaxation; but in larger amounts, alcohol can cause intoxication and even death.

There are three types of alcoholic beverages: Beer is fermented from grains and contains three to six percent alcohol. Wine is fermented from fruit and normally contains 12 to 14 percent alcohol. Liquor is made from distilled (boiled off) alcohol and contains 40 to 50 percent alcohol

Factors that influence alcohols effect Drinking has different effects on different people, and the same amount of alcohol can affect the same person differently on different occasions. Four factors influence how alcohol affects people: Amount of Alcohol. The more alcohol, the stronger the effects. Body Weight. People who weigh more are less affected by the same amount of alcohol than people who weigh less. Food. Alcohol "goes to the head" more slowly if one has just eaten or if one eats while drinking. Attitudes. What a person expects to happen after drinking has a lot to do with what does happen. A drinker who expects to get drunk is more likely to feel or act drunk. In one study, an experienced group of drinkers was given a glass of something non-alcoholic but was told it contained alcohol. Most of the group still got drunk.

Immediate effects of alcohol When consumed, alcohol goes right to the stomach and passes through to the small intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. It takes about 30 seconds for the first amounts of alcohol to reach the brain after ingestion. Once there, alcohol acts primarily on nerve cells deep in the brain.

What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is a disease in which a person drinks alcohol even though drinking hurts his or her life. Alcoholics often find that they have problems with people close to them, with school or work, and with other parts of their lives. It is one of the most common medical illnesses seen by physicians. If you are dependent on alcohol, you feel or show a need for it when it is stopped. Alcoholism is a chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is progressive and fatal.

Currently there are three different theories to explain alcoholism: * Genetic Theory defines alcoholism as the result of a predisposed reaction to alcohol due to chromosomes, genes or hormonal deficiencies. * Psychological Theory defines alcoholism as a condition that exists in which people have a preset disposition or personality that sets off a reaction to alcohol. * Sociological Theory defines alcoholism as a learned response and believes that addiction is a result of the influences of society.

Behavioural symptoms of people who are dependent on alcohol may include: Trying to hide evidence of drinking Promising to give up drinking Drinking stronger alcoholic beverages or starting to drink earlier in the day Having long periods of intoxication Drinking alone Problems at work Missing work Blacking out Loss of interest in food Mood changes (anger, irritability, violent outbursts) Personality changes (jealousy, paranoia) Repeatedly driving under the influence Injuring self or others while intoxicated Carelessness about appearance Slower thought processes, lack of concentration, confusion, trouble remembering things Financial problems caused by drinking.

Physical symptoms may include: Nausea or shaking in the morning Poor eating habits Abdominal pain Chronic cramps or diarrhoea Numbness or tingling sensations Weakness in the legs and hands Red eyes, face, and/or palms Unsteady walking or falls New and worsening medical problems.

Treating alcoholism. The sooner alcoholism is detected, the better the chances of recovery. Treatment for alcoholism can be different for each person, and what works for one person may not work for another. Many options should be explored when seeking help.

Treatment often begins with "detox," or detoxification, which is the body's withdrawal from alcohol. After the body is clean of alcohol, the alcoholic enters a counseling program. The goal of counseling is to help the alcoholic and to learn ways to stop drinking. Medications may be given to curb a physical craving for alcohol. Treatment programs can last from a few weeks to years. Places for treatment include hospitals, clinics, and counseling offices.

Statistics data

Serious drinking often starts in adolescence; approximately 40 percent of alcoholics develop their first symptoms between 15 and 19 years of age.

The question about drinking alone as one of a symptom of alcoholism brought up the results of 50% of male students who could do this, and only 29% of female who have also chosen this answer.

Unfortunately, as much as 85% of men and 64% of women do not need a normal reason for drinking like celebrating some party, etc.

Theres no question that years of heavy drinking can seriously damage health and even kill. But some of the dangers wont wait. Тeens who drink can be injured or killed, even the first time they try alcohol. In fact, alcohol is linked with an estimated 5,000 deaths in people under age 21 each year

Mixing drinking with swimming or boating can be fatal. Four out of 10 teens who drown have been drinking alcohol. Underage drinking has also been linked with deaths and injuries from burns, falls, alcohol poisoning, and suicide.

The conclusion From my point of view, these results are awful.Alcohol became an integral part of peoples live. We need to understand the harmful effects of alcohol, because it can be fatal. Screening for problem drinking and alcoholism needs to become an integral part of the routine health screening questionnaire for adolescents and all adults, particularly women of child-bearing age, because of the risk of fatal alcohol syndrome.