The pungent sweet taste of slow
self-destruction



Alcohol is an organic compound in which
the hydroxyl functional group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom.
It has a long history of several uses worldwide and is found
in alcoholic beverages sold to adults, as fuel, and also has many
scientific, medical, and industrial uses. Some consumers of
some commercially prepared products may view alcohol as an
undesirable ingredient, particularly in products intended for
children.
Alcoholic beverages have been produced and consumed by
People drink to socialize, celebrate, and relax. Alcohol often
has a strong effect on people – and throughout history, we’ve
struggled to understand and manage alcohol’s power.



Why does alcohol cause us to act and feel differently?
How much is too much?
Why do some people become addicted while others don’t?
These matters have constantly been looked into and along
with them there also were many other questions about
alcohol. Here’s what is known so far:
Alcohol’s effects vary from person to person, depending on a
variety of factors, including:

How much you drink;

How often you drink;

Your age;

Your health status;

Your family history.
Alcoholism is a broad term for
problems with alcohol, and is generally
used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled
consumption of alcoholic beverages,
usually to the detriment of the drinker's
health, personal relationships, and social
standing.
It is medically considered a disease,
specifically an addictive illness.
In psychiatry several other terms
have been used, specifically "alcohol
abuse", "alcohol dependence," and "alcohol
use disorder" which have slightly different
definitions.
Alcohol misuse has the potential to
damage almost every organ in the body,
including the brain. The cumulative toxic
effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause
both medical and psychiatric problems.
A complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors influences
the risk of the development of alcoholism. Genes that influence the metabolism
of alcohol also influence the risk of alcoholism, and may be indicated by a
family history of alcoholism. One paper has found that alcohol use at an early
age may influence the expression of genes which increase the risk of alcohol
dependence. Individuals who have a genetic disposition to alcoholism are also
more likely to begin drinking at an earlier age than average.
Also, a younger age of onset of drinking is associated with an
increased risk of the development of alcoholism, and about 40 percent of
alcoholics will drink excessively by their late adolescence. It is not entirely clear
whether this association is causal, and some researchers have been known to
disagree with this view.
Severe childhood trauma is also associated with a general increase in
the risk of drug dependency. Lack of peer and family support is associated
with an increased risk of alcoholism developing. Genetics and adolescence are
associated with an increased sensitivity to the neurotoxic effects of chronic
alcohol abuse. Cortical degeneration due to the neurotoxic effects increases
impulsive behaviour, which may contribute to the development, persistence
and severity of alcohol use disorders.
There is evidence that with abstinence, there is a reversal of at least
some of the alcohol induced central nervous system damage.
WHILE DRINKING ALCOHOL IS ITSELF NOT
NECESSARILY A PROBLEM – DRINKING TOO MUCH CAN
CAUSE A RANGE OF CONSEQUENCES, AND INCREASE YOUR
RISK FOR A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS.
Alcohol enters your
bloodstream as soon as you take
your first sip. Alcohol’s immediate
effects can appear within about 10
minutes. As you drink, you
increase your blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) level, which is
the amount of alcohol present in
your bloodstream. The higher your
BAC, the more impaired you
become by alcohol’s effects.













Reduced inhibitions;
Slurred speech;
Motor impairment
Confusion;
Memory problems;
Concentration problems;
Coma;
Breathing problems;
Car crashes and other
accidents;
Risky behavior;
Violent behavior;
Suicide and homicide;
Death.
Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over
time – can take a serious toll on your health. Here’s
how alcohol can affect your body:
Cirrhosis.
Pancreas:
Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic
Brain:
substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a
Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood
pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion.
works. These disruptions can change mood and
behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move
Cancer:
with coordination.
Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of
Heart:
developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:
Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a Mouth;
single occasion can damage the heart, causing
Esophagus;
problems including:
Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart Throat;
muscle;
Liver;
Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat;
Breast.
Stroke;
High blood pressure.
Immune System:
Drinking too much can also weaken your immune
system, making your body a much easier target for
Liver:
Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract
Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead todisease.
diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people
a variety of problems and liver inflammations
who do not drink too much.
including:
Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s
Steatosis, or fatty liver;
ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after
Alcoholic hepatitis;
getting drunk.
Fibrosis;
The social problems arising from alcoholism are serious, caused by the
pathological changes in the brain and the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Alcohol
abuse is associated with an increased risk of committing criminal offences,
including child abuse, domestic violence, rape, burglary and assault.
Alcoholism is associated with loss of employment, which can lead to financial
problems. Drinking at inappropriate times, and behavior caused by reduced
judgment, can lead to legal consequences, such as criminal charges for drunk
driving or public disorder, or civil penalties for tortious behavior, and may lead to a
criminal sentence.
An alcoholic's behavior and mental impairment, while drunk, can profoundly
affect those surrounding them and lead to isolation from family and friends. This
isolation can lead to marital conflict and divorce, or contribute to domestic violence.
Alcoholism can also lead to child neglect, with subsequent lasting damage to
the emotional development of the alcoholic's children. For this reason, children of
alcoholic parents can develop a number of emotional problems. For example, they
can become afraid of their parents, because of their unstable mood behaviors. In
addition, they can develop considerable amount of shame over their inadequacy to
liberate their parents from alcoholism. As a result of this failure, they develop
wretched self-images, which can lead to depression.

Moderate alcohol consumption, according to the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, is up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.

Moderate alcohol consumption may also have beneficial effects on
health. These include decreased risk for heart disease and mortality due to heart
disease, decreased risk of ischemic stroke (in which the arteries to the brain
become narrowed or blocked, resulting in reduced blood flow), and decreased risk
of diabetes.

In most Western countries where chronic diseases such as coronary heart
disease (CHD), cancer, stroke, and diabetes are the primary causes of death,
results from large epidemiological studies consistently show that alcohol reduces
mortality, especially among middle-aged and older men and women—an association
which is likely due to the protective effects of moderate alcohol consumption on
CHD, diabetes, and ischemic stroke.

It is estimated that 26,000 deaths were averted in 2005 because of
reductions in heart disease, stroke, and diabetes from the benefits attributed to
moderate alcohol consumption.

Expanding our understanding of the relationship between moderate
alcohol consumption and potential health benefits remains a challenge, and
although there are positive effects, alcohol may not benefit everyone who drinks
moderately.
Although many people enjoy moderate drinking, defined as 1 drink per day for women or
2 for men, drinking too much can lead to an overdose. An overdose of alcohol occurs when a
person has a blood alcohol content (or BAC) sufficient to produce impairments that increase
the risk of harm. Overdoses can range in severity, from problems with balance and slurred
speech to coma or even death.
Underage drinkers may be at particular risk for alcohol overdose. Research shows that
people under age 20 typically drink about 5 drinks at one time. Drinking such a large quantity
of alcohol can overwhelm the body’s ability to break down and clear alcohol from the
bloodstream.
Critical Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning:






Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or inability to wake up;
Vomiting;
Seizures;
Slow breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute);
Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths);
Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.
What should I do If I suspect someone has alcohol poisoning?




Know the danger signals;
Do not wait for someone to have all the symptoms;
Be aware that a person who has passed out may die;
If you suspect an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help;
What can happen to someone with alcohol poisoning that goes
untreated?
Choking on his or her own vomit;

Breathing that slows, becomes irregular, or stops;

Heart that beats irregularly or stops;

Hypothermia (low body temperature);

Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar), which leads to seizures;

Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting, which can cause seizures,
permanent brain damage, and death.
At the hospital, medical staff will manage any breathing problems, administer
fluids to combat dehydration and low blood sugar, and flush the drinker’s stomach
to help clear the body of toxins.
The best way to avoid an alcohol overdose is to drink responsibly if you choose to
drink.

Total recorded alcohol per capital consumption
in litres of pure alcohol.
Treatment of alcoholism takes several steps. Because of the
medical problems that can be caused by withdrawal, alcohol
detoxification should be carefully controlled and may involve
medications such as benzodiazepines such as diazepam.
People with alcoholism also sometimes have other addictions,
including addictions to benzodiazepines, which may complicate this
step.
After detoxification, other support such as group therapy or
self-help groups are used to help the person remain sober.Thombs
(1999) states according to behavioural sciences alcoholism is described
as a “maladaptive behaviour”. He explains this must not be confused
with “misbehaviour”. Behavioural scientists explain that addicts have
a behaviour pattern that may lead to destructive consequences for
themselves, their families and society. This does not label addicts as
bad or irresponsible.
Compared with men, women are more sensitive to alcohol's
harmful physical, cerebral, and mental effects.