alcoholism effect essay

Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms

Introduction, causes of alcoholism, effects of alcoholism, works cited.

The term alcoholism may be used to refer to a wide range of issues associated with alcohol. Simply put, it is a situation whereby an individual cannot stay without alcohol. An alcoholic usually drinks alcohol uncontrollably and persistently.

Alcoholism usually leads to ill health, and it affects relationships between the individual and the people around him. It may also be considered as a disease and may be referred to as an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse may also cause damage to vital organs in the human body, including the brain and heart (Mukamal et al. 1965). Therefore, it may lead to psychiatric and medical issues. Psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, may occur.

Others include phobias, dysthymia, mania, and depression. Alcoholism may also cause neurologic deficits. These deficits may be manifested through certain impairments such as brain damage and memory loss. Such individuals also have difficulty executing certain functions and may experience issues with body balance and gait.

The brain might be affected as certain changes occur in its structure and chemistry. With time, a person develops physical dependence and tolerance. This causes the inability to stop drinking and causes complications as one tries to stop the habit.

This is particularly referred to as alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Identifying alcoholics for the purpose of treatment may be difficult since such individuals may avoid seeking help due to stigmatization. However, certain factors influence the risk for the condition.

These factors include mental health, depression, age, gender, ethnicity, and family history (Mukamal et al. 1965). This paper will discuss the genetic and environmental factors that cause alcoholism and highlight the complications, conditions, and diseases associated with the disorder.

The main causes of this disorder may be categorized into two. These include genetic and environmental factors. The genetic material that determines the metabolism of the drink also influences the risk of the disorder. Persons with a family history of the disorder may also develop it.

A particular study argued that the expression of genes was influenced if an individual started using alcoholic beverages at an early stage in life (Agrawal et al. 69). This increased the risk of alcohol dependence among such individuals.

Persons with a genetic disposition to the disorder would most probably start drinking at an early stage. Individuals who start drinking at an early stage are also more likely to develop alcoholism. It is also argued that 40% of alcoholics misuse alcohol by the time they are in their late adolescent stage. However, certain researchers disagree with this idea (Schwandt et al., 74).

Individuals who do not receive support from family and friends are highly likely to develop alcoholism. Therefore, some social and emotional factors may cause an ex-drinker to start drinking again. For example, mental and emotional stress can contribute to alcoholism.

An individual under the influence of alcohol may not be able to feel the pain associated with stress. With the normal alcohol intake, an individual’s brain might be at some equilibrium. When the individual tries to quit, the brain responds. This response may come in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

These feelings cause chemical imbalances that force an alcoholic to go back to drinking in order to feel better. Social and cultural pressures from media and other sources may also affect the drinking habits of an individual. The media’s portrayal of alcohol as a pleasurable and beneficial drink may encourage individuals to start drinking or cause ex-drinkers to return to their old habits (Bierut et al. 237).

The damaging effect of alcohol on the nervous system is more profound among adolescents and those with a genetic disposition to the disorder. These effects may cause the degeneration of the cerebral cortex. Consequently, this increases impulse behavior that may lead to alcoholism.

Despite the severe damages to the central nervous system due to alcoholism, it is possible to reverse some of the damages through withdrawal from the drug. Another risk factor is the availability of alcohol. This drug is most commonly abused. In terms of popularity, beer may come next after water and tea.

The difference in genetic characteristics also determines the risk of developing the disorder. This is mainly because different races have certain different genetic characteristics.

Therefore, they differ in terms of alcohol metabolism. The difference in genetic makeup may explain the difference in the rate of alcohol dependence among the different races.

The genetic component that determines the rate at which alcohol metabolizes is referred to as the alcohol dehydrogenase allele. The Native Americans and African Americans are said to have an allele that is not highly associated with alcohol dependence. The Native Americans, on the other hand, are more likely to develop alcohol dependence.

The effects of alcohol abuse are diverse. Consumption of excess alcohol may lead to several diseases and complications. For example, it may lead to the inflammation of the pancreas, liver disease, and cancers. Alcohol-related cancers are believed to form as the elements in the alcoholic drink are converted into acetaldehyde. This is a potent carcinogen.

Different parts of the body may host the cancerous cells. These areas include the liver, breast, and mouth. The larynx and the throat are also likely to be affected. Alcoholics who take tobacco have an increased risk of cancers (Bierut et al. 237).

Liver cirrhosis is another condition that may occur as a result of excessive drinking of alcohol. This is manifested through the scarring of the organ to such an extent that it cannot perform its functions. However, some individuals who drink moderately have also been shown to suffer from the disease (Mukamal et al. 1965).

Pregnant alcoholic mothers may also cause problems for the unborn. Fetal alcohol syndrome may result from such habits. Excessive use of alcohol may cause impaired brain development and brain shrinkage. Although the brain normally shrinks in old age, excessive use of alcohol increases this rate. With the increased rate, such individuals are likely to develop dementia and have memory issues.

Alcoholism also increases the risk of cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Excessive use of the beverage may cause an increase in the level of toxic amino acid in the plasma. This may be the reason why some individuals suffer from withdrawal seizures.

Alcohol abuse may also cause issues with memory and may impair learning. Alcoholism may also greatly affect the brain. For example, brain lesions are likely to occur. Alcohol-related brain damage comes about due to a combination of several factors.

Alcoholism may also cause heart attacks and strokes. Abuse of alcohol increases the risks of a heart attack. Some studies have shown that drinking alcohol in moderation may offer some level of protection to individuals against heart attack (Mukamal et al. 1965).

This applies specifically to individuals who had suffered a heart attack before. Prolonged use of alcohol in large quantities also causes alcohol cardiomyopathy. This disease affects the muscles of the heart. As the heart muscles fail, this may lead to heart failure.

Alcoholism is also associated with alcohol-related death. Many deaths worldwide have been attributed to the excessive use of alcohol (Doll et al. 199). Individuals who use alcohol excessively are at a higher risk of death than those who take alcohol moderately. Individuals with diseases that may be augmented by the excessive use of alcohol are also at great risk of alcohol-related death. Such diseases include oral cancers and liver disease.

Another effect of alcoholism is anemia. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages causes a reduction in the number of erythrocytes. This condition is referred to as anemia. Since red blood cells are used to transport oxygen around the body, the low level of oxygen due to low numbers of the cells leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Alcoholism may either be caused by genetic or environmental factors. Persons with a genetic disposition to the disorder are likely to start drinking and become alcoholics. Genetic variations may determine the difference in alcohol metabolism.

The environmental factors that may cause alcoholism include the availability of alcohol and sociocultural pressures. Certain environmental factors lead to depression that may encourage alcoholism. The effects of alcoholism are diverse. Alcoholism may lead to diseases such as liver disease, heart disease, and cancers. Excessive use of alcohol may affect almost all vital organs of the body and may eventually lead to death.

Agrawal, Arpana, et al. “Evidence for an interaction between age at 1 st drink and genetic influences on DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms.” Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research 33.12 (2010): 67-80. Print.

Bierut, Laura, et al. “Co-occurring risk factors for alcohol dependence and habitual smoking.” Alcohol Research & Health 24.4 (2000): 233-241. Print.

Doll, Richard, et al . “Mortality in relation to alcohol consumption: A prospective study among male British doctors.” International Journal of Epidemiology 34.1 (2005): 199-204. Print.

Mukamal, Kenneth, et al. “Prior alcohol consumption and mortality following acute myocardial infarction.” JAMA 285.15 (2001): 1965-1970. Print.

Schwandt, Melanie, et al. “Alcohol response and consumption in adolescent rhesus macaques: Life history and genetic influences.” International Biomedical Journal 44.1 (2010): 67-80. Print.

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How Does Alcohol Affect Society?

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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• Financial Cost
• Aggression and Violence
• Impact on the Family

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among U.S. adults. Alcohol use is associated with a wide range of health risks and other problems for individuals. But the costs of alcohol don't just affect the person drinking. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use costs the U.S. almost a quarter trillion dollars a year. Economic costs are one part of the toll, but there are also other societal issues that are tied to alcohol use.

At a Glance

The real-world impact of alcohol abuse reaches far beyond the financial costs. When a loved one has a problem with alcohol, it can affect their marriage and their extended family. There's also a larger impact on the community, schools, the workplace, the healthcare system, and society as a whole.

How Alcohol Affects Society

Alcohol use can affect society in terms of:

• Economic costs linked to increased healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and legal costs
• Health consequences caused by health problems caused by alcohol as well as accidents, injuries, and violence connected to alcohol use
• Legal consequences , including increased crime, drunk driving accidents, and other issues related to law enforcement and criminal justice
• Family effects , including child abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence, and substance use problems in children
• Educational costs associated with worse academic performance and achievement

Such costs are often linked to those who have alcohol use disorders. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 29.5 million people over the age of 12 (10.6% of the population) had an alcohol use disorder in the past year. Estimates suggest that approximately 13.9% of people in the United States will meet the criteria for severe alcohol use disorder in their lifetimes.

However, it's not necessarily people with alcohol addiction having the biggest impact on these figures. It's estimated that 77% of the cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S. is due to binge drinking , and most binge drinkers are not alcohol dependent.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that 140,000 people die each year due to alcohol-related causes. Alcohol is the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.

Financial Costs of Alcoholism

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cost of excessive alcohol use in the U.S. alone reaches $249 billion annually. Around 77% of that is attributed to binge drinking , defined as four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men.

The CDC estimates that 40% of the cost of binge drinking is paid by federal, state, and local governments.

The CDC suggests that the most significant economic costs of alcohol use are due to the following:

• Lost workplace productivity (72% of the total cost)
• Healthcare expenses (11% of the total cost)
• Criminal justice expenses (10% of the total cost)
• Motor vehicle crash expenses (5% of the total cost)

The CDC estimates that these figures are all underestimated because alcohol's involvement in sickness, injury, and death is not always available or reported. These figures also do not include some medical and mental health conditions that are the result of alcohol abuse.

Also not included in these figures are the work days that family members miss due to the alcohol problems of a loved one.

Healthcare Expense of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor in numerous chronic diseases and conditions, and alcohol plays a significant role in certain cancers, psychiatric conditions, and numerous cardiovascular and digestive diseases. Additionally, alcohol consumption can increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

An estimated $28 billion is spent each year on alcohol-related health care.

Alcohol-Related Aggression and Violence

Along with unintentional injury, alcohol plays a significant role in intentional injuries as a result of aggression and violence. Alcohol has been linked to physical violence by a variety of research studies.

On top of the healthcare cost of alcohol-related intentional violence in the United States, the estimated annual cost to the criminal justice system is another $25 billion.

Impact of Alcoholism on the Family

The social impact of alcohol abuse is a separate issue from the financial costs involved, and that impact begins in the home, extends into the community, and often affects society as a whole, much like the financial impact does.

Research on the effects of alcohol abuse on families shows that alcohol abuse and addiction play a role in intimate partner violence, cause families' financial problems, impair decision-making skills, and play a role in child neglect and abuse.

Long-term alcohol use leads to changes in the brain that affect decision-making, emotional processing, and self-control, making people who drink more susceptible to aggression and violence. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, alcohol makes intimate partner violence more frequent and severe.

As with the financial costs of alcohol abuse, studies have found occasional binge drinking can also affect families. Research suggests that the risk of intimate partner violence rises not only in the context of frequent drinking but also when a partner has consumed a large volume of drinks in one sitting.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database .

Alcohol Abuse and Children

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common direct consequences of parental alcohol use in the United States, caused by alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy. Children with FAS display various symptoms, many of which are lifelong and permanent.

Children who grow up in a home with a loved one dealing with alcohol addiction may be affected as well; they are at significant risk of developing alcohol use disorders themselves.

Growing up in a home where at least one parent has a severe alcohol use disorder can increase a child's chances of developing psychological and emotional problems.

The Bottom Line

Alcohol's effects go beyond it's effects on individual health and well-being; it also has steep economic and societal costs. The excess use of alcohol leads to billions in lost productivity and healthcare costs. It also has a heavy strain on families, communities, and society as a whole. Increased violence, injuries, accidents, child abuse, and intimate partner violence are all linked to alcohol use.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excessive drinking is draining the U.S. economy .

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic characteristics .

Grant BF, Goldstein RB, Saha TD, et al. Epidemiology of DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III . JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(8):757-766. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0584

Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS. Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009-2011 . Prev Chronic Dis. 2014;11:E206. doi:10.5888/pcd11.140329

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol-related emergencies and deaths in the United States .

Rehm J. The Risks Associated With Alcohol Use and Alcoholism . Alcohol Res Health . 2011;34(2):135-143.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cost of excessive alcohol use .

Wilson IM, Graham K, Taft A. Alcohol interventions, alcohol policy and intimate partner violence: a systematic review .  BMC Public Health. 2014;14:881. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-881

Lander L, Howsare J, Byrne M. The impact of substance use disorders on families and children: From theory to practice . Soc Work Public Health . 2013;28(3-4):194-205. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.759005

Sontate KV, Rahim Kamaluddin M, Naina Mohamed I, et al. Alcohol, aggression, and violence: From public health to neuroscience .  Front Psychol . 2021;12:699726. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.699726

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Who facts on: Intimate partner violence and alcohol .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Basics about FASDS .

Moss HB. The impact of alcohol on society: A brief overview . Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(3-4):175-177. doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.758987

Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD. 2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption . Am J Prev Med . 2015;49(5):e73-e79. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.05.031

By Buddy T Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

Alcoholism cause and effect essay

Table of Contents

Introduction

There are several terms that have been developed to define alcoholism, including alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. As Roh (2015) demonstrates, today alcoholism is referred to as alcohol use disorder that occurs when a person consumers so much alcohol that the body becomes addicted and dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism manifests through addition, which makes alcohol the most important thing in the life of the alcoholic. Inasmuch as the negative consequences of alcohol use disorder are well defined, people with the disorder continue to consume alcohol, a factor that leads to negative effects on their overall livelihoods.

This is a research paper whose theme is alcoholism. This paper aims at answering the following research questions: What are the statistical facts related to alcoholism? Which body systems are affected by alcoholism? Based on the statistics on the prevalence and information on the body systems affected by alcoholism, what are the interventions that can be implemented to reduce the effects and prevalence of alcoholism? By answering these questions, this research aims at proving that there is a relationship between multidisciplinary approaches to alcohol abuse prevention and successful interventions to minimize alcoholism.

There have been several studies that have been conducted to determine the exact causes of alcoholism. Across these studies, Powers, Berger, Fuhrmann and Fendrich (2017) highlighted that there are no specific emergent causes of alcoholism, though the risk factors of alcoholism continue to be defined. According to Roh (2015), there is a thin line between moderate alcohol consumption and excessive consumption, with the latter being attributed to addiction. In an attempt to ascertain this, Allamani (2012) classified males who consume more than 15 drinks weekly and women who take more than 12 drinks weekly as highly at risk of alcoholism. However, Opačić, Oreb and Radat (2017) explained that alcoholism can purely be linked to social and psychological issues. Peer pressure is among the leading social issues associated with alcoholism, while depression, anxiety and mental abuse are the psychological issues that are attributed to alcoholism.

As of 2015 in the US, alcohol use disorder was prevalent across 6.2% of the population aged above 18 years, based on the report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The prevalence of this disorder was higher among men (8.4%) compared to women (5.3%). On the other hand, 2.5% of youths aged between 12 and 17 were reported to have alcohol use disorder (niaaa.nih.gov, 2018). However, the disorder was prevalent among the females in this age group (2.7%) compared to the 2.3% of the males. The NIAAA further reports that approximately 88,000 deaths occur annually due to alcoholism. Men constitute the larger proportion of these deaths. On the global scale, there are 3.3 million deaths annually that accrue from alcoholism, translating to nearly 6% of the total deaths globally.

The effects of alcoholism on the body have been well documented by Bernstein (2012), who writes that inculcated behavior of excessive alcohol consumption leads to disorders of the digestive system, the circulatory system, the central nervous system and the endocrine system. The most common body part affected by alcoholism is the liver. In 2015, nearly 47% of the liver disease deaths in the USA were attributed to alcoholism (niaaa.nih.gov, 2018). Besides, alcohol has been identified as a leading cause of cirrhosis, a chronic disease of the liver that manifests through inflammation and cell degeneration. Alcoholism was identified by the NIAAA as the major cube of the cirrhosis deaths, as it contributed 48% of these deaths in 2015.

The statistics of alcoholism prevalence and the effects of alcoholism on the body paint a picture of the need to develop appropriate interventions to prevent it. According to Opačić, Oreb and Radat (2017), the prevention measures of alcoholism are aimed at reducing the abuse of alcohol as well as its consequences. As such, legislators, healthcare providers, the community and the potential addicts should all be included in the efforts directed towards preventing alcoholism. Legislators play a critical role in reducing alcohol consumption through increasing the taxes levied on alcohol and increasing the minimum age that is legally accepted for drinking. Besides, legislators also create laws that oblige alcohol manufacturers to inform and warn the drinkers of the effects of alcohol abuse.

Health care providers play the role of promoting the recovery efforts of those diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. Doctors and nurses are influential in enabling the addicts overcome the effects of withdrawal, while psychological health experts enable the addicts to develop a positive attitude towards life. The communities are pivotal in developing programs and educational interventions for saving the lives of the addicts. The communities include the citizen advocacy groups, media, business enterprises, the police and schools. In all these interventions, the input of addicts should be embedded, as Roh (2015) demonstrates that such inclusion increases the suitability of the programs among the populations at high risk of alcoholism.

In this discussion, the statistics of alcoholism prevalence have been provided, indicating that alcoholism is highly prevalent among men than women. The study also establishes that the liver is the body organ that is largely affected by alcoholism, an argument that is supported from the data detailing the number of liver disease deaths associated with alcoholism. The solutions to alcoholism listed in this paper include policy interventions, healthcare prevention approach and community based programs. In conclusion, there is a relationship between multidisciplinary approaches to alcohol abuse prevention and successful interventions to minimize alcoholism.

• Allamani, A. (2012). Alcohol Consumption Policies and the Prevention of Alcohol Consumption-Related Problems: Needs, Duties, and Responsibilities*.  Substance Use & Misuse ,  47 (12), 1252-1259. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2012.716483
• Bernstein, D. (2012). Alcoholic Liver Disease.  Clinics In Liver Disease ,  16 (4), xiii-xiv. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cld.2012.09.009
• niaaa.nih.gov. (2018).  Alcohol Facts and Statistics | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) .  Niaaa.nih.gov . Retrieved 29 January 2018, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
• Opačić, A., Oreb, T., & Radat, K. (2017). Characteristics and Significance of Professional-Led Support Groups in the Treatment of Alcoholism.  Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly ,  35 (4), 359-371. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2017.1350541
• Powers, G., Berger, L., Fuhrmann, D., & Fendrich, M. (2017). Family history density of substance use problems among undergraduate college students: Associations with heavy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.  Addictive Behaviors ,  71 (9), 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.02.015
• Roh, S. (2015). New Directions in Healthcare for Alcohol Use Disorder.  Health Care : Current Reviews ,  03 (02). http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2375-4273.1000144
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The effects of alcohol use on academic achievement in high school

Ana i. balsa.

a Research Professor, Center for Applied Research on Poverty, Family, and Education, Department of Economics, Universidad de Montevideo; Prudencio de Pena 2440, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay; Phone: (+598 2) 707 4461 ext 300; Fax: (+598 2) 707 4461 ext 325; yu.ude.mu@aslaba

Laura M. Giuliano

b Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, United States; [email protected]

Michael T. French

c Professor of Health Economics, Health Economics Research Group, Department of Sociology, Department of Economics, and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, United States; ude.imaim@hcnerfm

This paper examines the effects of alcohol use on high school students’ quality of learning. We estimate fixed-effects models using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Our primary measure of academic achievement is the student’s GPA abstracted from official school transcripts. We find that increases in alcohol consumption result in small yet statistically significant reductions in GPA for male students and in statistically non-significant changes for females. For females, however, higher levels of drinking result in self-reported academic difficulty. The fixed-effects results are substantially smaller than OLS estimates, underscoring the importance of addressing unobserved individual heterogeneity.

1. Introduction

In the United States, one in four individuals between the ages of 12 and 20 drinks alcohol on a monthly basis, and a similar proportion of 12 th graders consumes five or more drinks in a row at least once every two weeks ( Newes-Adeyi, Chen, Williams, & Faden, 2007 ). Several studies have reported that alcohol use during adolescence affects educational attainment by decreasing the number of years of schooling and the likelihood of completing school ( Chatterji & De Simone, 2005 ; Cook & Moore, 1993 ; Gil-Lacruz & Molina, 2007 ; Koch & McGeary, 2005 ; McCluskey, Krohn, Lizotte, & Rodriguez, 2002 ; NIDA, 1998 ; Renna, 2007 ; Yamada, Kendrix, & Yamada, 1996 ) Other research using alternative estimation techniques suggests that the effects of teen drinking on years of education and schooling completion are very small and/or non-significant ( Chatterji, 2006 ; Dee & Evans, 2003 ; Koch & Ribar, 2001 ).

Despite a growing literature in this area, no study has convincingly answered the question of whether alcohol consumption inhibits high school students’ learning. Alcohol consumption could be an important determinant of how much a high school student learns without having a strong impact on his or her decision to stay in school or attend college. This question is fundamental and timely, given recent research showing that underage drinkers are susceptible to the immediate consequences of alcohol use, including blackouts, hangovers, and alcohol poisoning, and are at elevated risk of neurodegeneration (particularly in regions of the brain responsible for learning and memory), impairments in functional brain activity, and neurocognitive defects ( Zeigler et al., 2004 ).

A common and comprehensive measure of high school students’ learning is Grade Point Average (GPA). GPA is an important outcome because it is a key determinant of college admissions decisions and of job quality for those who do not attend college. Only a few studies have explored the association between alcohol use and GPA. Wolaver (2002) and Williams, Powell, and Wechsler (2003) have studied this association among college students, while DeSimone and Wolaver (2005) have investigated the effects of underage drinking on GPA during high school. The latter study found a negative association between high school drinking and grades, although it is not clear whether the effects are causal or the result of unobserved heterogeneity.

Understanding the relationship between teenage drinking and high school grades is pertinent given the high prevalence of alcohol use among this age cohort and recent research on adolescent brain development suggesting that early heavy alcohol use may have negative effects on the physical development of brain structure ( Brown, Tapert, Granholm, & Delis, 2000 ; Tapert & Brown, 1999 ). By affecting the quality of learning, underage drinking could have an impact on both college admissions and job quality independent of its effects on years of schooling or school completion.

In this paper, we estimate the effects of drinking in high school on the quality of learning as captured by high school GPA. The analysis employs data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative study that captures health-related behaviors of adolescents in grades 7 through 12 and their outcomes in young adulthood. Our analysis contributes to the literature in several ways. First, we focus on the effect of drinking on academic achievement during high school. To date, and to the best of our knowledge, only one other study in the literature has analyzed the consequences of underage drinking on high school GPA. Second, rather than rely on self-reported GPA, we use objective GPA data from academic transcripts, reducing the potential for systematic biases in the estimation results. Third, we take advantage of the longitudinal nature of the Add Health data and use fixed-effects models to purge the analysis of time invariant unobserved heterogeneity. Fixed-effects techniques are superior to instrumental variables (IV) estimation when the strength and reliability of the instruments are suspect ( French & Popovici, 2009 ). Finally, we explore a variety of mechanisms that could underlie a detrimental effect of alcohol use on grades. In addition to analyzing mediators related to exposure to education (days of school skipped), we investigate the effect of drinking on students’ ability to focus on and adhere to academic objectives.

2. Background and significance

Behavioral research has found that educational performance is highly correlated with substance abuse (e.g., Bukstein, Cornelius, Trunzo, Kelly, & Wood, 2005 ; Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992 ). Economic studies that look at the link between alcohol use and educational outcomes have customarily focused on measures of educational attainment such as graduation (from high school or college), college matriculation, and years of school completed (e.g., Bray, Zarkin, Ringwalt, & Qi, 2000 ; Chatterji, 2006 ; Cook & Moore, 1993 ; Dee & Evans 2003 ; Koch & Ribar, 2001 ; Mullahy & Sindelar, 1994 ; Renna, 2008 ; Yamada et al., 1996 ). Consistent with the behavioral research, early economic studies found that drinking reduced educational attainment. But the most rigorous behavioral studies and the early economic studies of attainment both faced the same limitation: they were cross-sectional and subject to potential omitted variables bias. Some of these cross-sectional economic studies attempted to improve estimation by using instrumental variables (IV). Cook and Moore (1993) and Yamada et al. (1996) found that heavy or frequent drinking in high school adversely affects high school and college completion. Nevertheless, the validity and reliability of the instruments in these studies are open to debate ( Chatterji, 2006 ; Dee & Evans, 2003 ; French & Popovici, 2009 ).

By contrast, more recent economic studies that arguably use better estimation methods have found that drinking has modest or negligible effects on educational attainment. Dee and Evans (2003) studied the effects of teen drinking on high school completion, college entrance, and college persistence. Employing changes in the legal drinking age across states over time as an instrument, they found no significant effect of teen drinking on educational attainment. Koch and Ribar (2001) reached a similar conclusion applying family fixed effects and instrumental variables to NLSY data. Though they found that drinking had a significant negative effect on the amount of schooling completed among men, the effect was small. Finally, Chatterji (2006) used a bivariate probit model of alcohol use and educational attainment to gauge the sensitivity of the estimates to various assumptions about the correlation of unobservable determinants of these variables. She concluded that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between alcohol use and educational attainment when the correlation coefficient is fixed at plausible levels.

Alcohol use could conceivably affect a student’s quality of learning and academic performance regardless of its impact on school completion. This possibility is suggested by Renna (2008) , who uses a research design similar to that used by Dee and Evans (2003) and finds that although binge drinking does not affect high school completion rates, it does significantly increase the probability that a student graduates with a GED rather than a high school diploma. Drinking could affect learning through a variety of mechanisms. Recent neurological research suggests that underage drinking can impair learning directly by causing alterations in the structure and function of the developing brain with consequences reaching far beyond adolescence ( Brown et al., 2000 ; White & Swartzwelder, 2004 ). Negative effects of alcohol use can emerge in areas such as planning and executive functioning, memory, spatial operations, and attention ( Brown et al., 2000 ; Giancola & Mezzich, 2000 ; Tapert & Brown, 1999 ). Alcohol use could also affect performance by reducing the number of hours committed to studying, completing homework assignments, and attending school.

We are aware of five economic studies that have examined whether drinking affects learning per se. Bray (2005) analyzed this issue indirectly by studying the effect of high school students’ drinking on subsequent wages, as mediated through human capital accumulation. He found that moderate high school drinking had a positive effect on returns to education and therefore on human capital accumulation. Heavier drinking reduced this gain slightly, but net effects were still positive. The other four studies approached the question directly by focusing on the association between drinking and GPA. Three of the GPA studies used data from the Harvard College Alcohol Study. Analyzing data from the study’s 1993 wave, both Wolaver (2002) and Williams et al. (2003) estimated the impact of college drinking on the quality of human capital acquisition as captured by study hours and GPA. Both studies found that drinking had a direct negative effect on GPA and an indirect negative effect through reduced study hours. Wolaver (2007) used data from the 1993 and 1997 waves and found that both high school and college binge drinking were associated with lower college GPA for males and females. For females, however, study time in college was negatively correlated with high school drinking but positively associated with college drinking.

To our knowledge, only one study has looked specifically at adolescent drinking and high school GPA. Analyzing data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, DeSimone and Wolaver (2005) used standard regression analysis to estimate whether drinking affected high school GPA. Even after controlling for many covariates, they found that drinking had a significant negative effect. Their results showed that the GPAs of binge drinkers were 0.4 points lower on average for both males and females. They also found that the effect of drinking on GPA peaked for ninth graders and declined thereafter and that drinking affected GPA more by reducing the likelihood of high grades than by increasing the likelihood of low grades.

All four GPA studies found that drinking has negative effects on GPA, but they each faced two limitations. First, they relied on self-reported GPA, which can produce biased results due to recall mistakes and intentional misreporting ( Zimmerman, Caldwell, & Bernat, 2006 ). Second, they used cross-sectional data. Despite these studies’ serious efforts to address unobserved individual heterogeneity, it remains questionable whether they identified a causal link between drinking and GPA.

In sum, early cross-sectional studies of educational attainment and GPA suggest that drinking can have a sizeable negative effect on both outcomes. By contrast, more recent studies of educational attainment that use improved estimation methods to address the endogeneity of alcohol use have found that drinking has negligible effects. The present paper is the first study of GPA that controls for individual heterogeneity in a fixed-effects framework, and our findings are consistent with the more recent studies of attainment that find small or negligible effects of alcohol consumption.

Add Health is a nationally representative study that catalogues health-related behaviors of adolescents in grades 7 through 12 and associated outcomes in young adulthood. An initial in-school survey was administered to 90,118 students attending 175 schools during the 1994/1995 school year. From the initial in-school sample, 20,745 students (and their parents) were administered an additional in-home interview in 1994–1995 and were re-interviewed one year later. In 2001–2002, Add Health respondents (aged 18 to 26) were re-interviewed in a third wave to investigate the influence of health-related behaviors during adolescence on individuals when they are young adults. During the Wave 3 data collection, Add Health respondents were asked to sign a Transcript Release Form (TRF) that authorized Add Health to identify schools last attended by study participants and request official transcripts from the schools. TRFs were signed by approximately 92% of Wave 3 respondents (about 70% of Wave 1 respondents).

The main outcome of interest, GPA, was abstracted from school transcripts and linked to respondents at each wave. Because most of the in-home interviews during Waves 1 and 2 were conducted during the Spring or Summer (at the end of the school year) and alcohol use questions referred to the past 12 months, we linked the in-home questionnaires with GPA data corresponding to the school year in which the respondent was enrolled or had just completed at the time of the interview.

The in-home questionnaires in Waves 1 and 2 offer extensive information on the student’s background, risk-taking behaviors, and other personal and family characteristics. These instruments were administered by computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) and computer assisted self-interview (CASI) techniques for more sensitive questions such as those on alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. Studies show that the mode of data collection can affect the level of reporting of sensitive behaviors. Both traditional self-administration and computer assisted self-administered interviews have been shown to increase reports of substance use or other risky behaviors relative to interviewer-administered approaches ( Azevedo, Bastos, Moreira, Lynch, & Metzger, 2006 ; Tourangeau & Smith, 1996 ; Wright, Aquilino, & Supple, 1998 ). Several measures of alcohol use were constructed on the basis of the CAPI/CASI questions: (1) whether the student drank alcohol at least once per week in the past 12 months, (2) whether the student binged (drank five or more drinks in a row) at least once per month in the past 12 months, (3) the average number of days per month on which the student drank in the past 12 months, (4) the average number of drinks consumed on any drinking day in the past 12 months, and (5) the total number of drinks per month consumed by the student in the past year.

Individual characteristics obtained from the in-home interviews included age, race, gender, grade in school, interview date, body mass index, religious beliefs and practices, employment status, health status, tobacco use, and illegal drug use. To capture environmental changes for respondents who changed schools, we constructed indicators for whether the respondent attended an Add Health sample school or sister school (e.g. the high school’s main feeder school) in each wave. We also considered family characteristics such as family structure, whether English was spoken at home, the number of children in the household, whether the resident mother and resident father worked, whether parents worked in blue- or white-collar jobs, and whether the family was on welfare. Finally, we took into account a number of variables describing interview and household characteristics as assessed by the interviewer: whether a parent(s) or other adults were present during the interview; whether the home was poorly kept; whether the home was in a rural, suburban, or commercial area; whether the home environment raised any safety concerns; and whether there was evidence of alcohol use in the household.

Respondents to the in-home surveys were also asked several questions about how they were doing in school. We constructed measures of how often the respondents skipped school, whether they had been suspended, and whether they were having difficulties paying attention in school, getting along with teachers, or doing their homework. We analyzed these secondary outcomes as possible mediators of an effect of alcohol use on GPA.

Our fixed-effects methodology required high school GPA data for Waves 1 and 2. For this reason, we restricted the sample to students in grades 9, 10, or 11 in Wave 1 (N=22,792) who were re-interviewed in Waves 2 and 3 (N=14,390), not mentally disabled (N=13,632), and for whom transcript data were available at Wave 3 (N=10,430). In addition, we excluded 1,846 observations that had missing values on at least one of the explanatory or control variables. 1 The final sample had 8,584 observations, which corresponded to Wave 1 and Wave 2 responses for 4,292 students with no missing information on high school GPA or other covariates across both waves. Male respondents accounted for 48% of the sample.

Table 1 shows summary statistics for the analysis sample by wave and gender. Abstracted GPA averages 2.5 for male students and 2.8 for female students, 2 with similar values in Waves 1 and 2. Approximately 9% of males and 6% of females reported drinking alcohol at least one time per week in Wave 1. The prevalence of binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in a single episode) at least once a month is slightly higher: 11% among males and 7% among females. On average, the frequency of drinking in Wave 1 is 1.34 days per month for male respondents and 0.94 days per month for female respondents, while drinking intensity averages 2.8 drinks per episode for males and 2.2 drinks per episode for females. By Wave 2, alcohol consumption increases in all areas for both males and females. The increases for males are larger, ranging from an 18% increase in the average number of drinks per episode to a 55% increase in the fraction who binge monthly.

Summary Statistics

Note : Based on responses to survey questions regarding most recently completed school year.

Of the Wave 1 respondents, 87% of males and 90% of females had skipped school at least once in the past year, with males averaging 1.47 days skipped and females averaging 1.37 days. Further, 11% of males and 7% of females had been suspended at least once. Regarding the school difficulty measures, 50% of male respondents in Wave 1 reported at least one type of regular difficulty with school: 32% had difficulty paying attention, 15% did not get along with their teachers, and 35% had problems doing their homework. Among females, 40% had at least one difficulty: 25% with paying attention, 11% with teachers, and 26% with homework.

Table 2 tabulates changes in dichotomous measures of problem drinking by gender. Among males, 82.6% did not drink weekly in either wave; 8.1% became weekly drinkers in Wave 2; 4.8% stopped drinking weekly in Wave 2; and the remaining 4.5% drank weekly in both waves. Among females, 88.5% did not drink weekly in either wave; 5.3% became weekly drinkers in Wave 2; 3.7% stopped drinking weekly in Wave 2; and 2.5% drank weekly in both waves. The trends in monthly binging were similar, with the number of students who became monthly bingers exceeding that of students who stopped bingeing monthly in Wave 2. The proportion of respondents reporting binge-drinking monthly in both waves (6.6% and 3.4% for men and women, respectively) was higher than the fraction of students who reported drinking weekly in both waves.

Tabulation of Changes in Dichotomous Measures of Alcohol Use By Gender

4. Empirical methods and estimation issues

We examined the impact of adolescent drinking on GPA using fixed-effects estimation techniques. The following equation captures the relationship of interest:

where GPA it is grade point average of individual i during the Wave t school year, A it is a measure of alcohol consumption, X it is a set of other explanatory variables, c i are unobserved individual effects that are constant over time, ε it is an error term uncorrelated with A it and X it , and α, β a , and β x are parameters to estimate.

The coefficient of interest is β a , the effect of alcohol consumption on GPA. The key statistical problem in the estimation of β a is that alcohol consumption is likely to be correlated with individual-specific unobservable characteristics that also affect GPA. For instance, an adolescent with a difficult family background may react by shirking responsibilities at school and may, at the same time, be more likely to participate in risky activities. For this reason, OLS estimation of Equation (1) used with cross-sectional or pooled longitudinal data is likely to produce biased estimates of β a . In this paper, we took advantage of the two high school-administered waves in Add Health and estimated β a using fixed-effects techniques. Because Waves 1 and 2 were only one year apart, it is likely that most unobserved individual characteristics that are correlated with both GPA and alcohol use are constant over this short period. Subtracting the mean values of each variable over time, Equation (1) can be rewritten as:

Equation (2) eliminates time invariant individual heterogeneity ( c i ) and the corresponding bias associated with OLS estimation of Equation (1) .

We estimated Equation (2) using different sets of time-varying controls ( X it ). 3 We began by controlling only for unambiguously exogenous variables and progressively added variables that were increasingly likely to be affected by alcohol consumption. The first set of controls included only the respondent’s grade level, indicators for attending the sample school or sister school, and the date of the interview. In a second specification, we added household characteristics and interviewer remarks about the household and the interview. This specification includes indicators for the presence of parents and others during the interview and thus controls for a potentially important source of measurement error in the alcohol consumption variables. 4 The third specification added to the second specification those variables more likely to be endogenous such as BMI, religious beliefs/practices, employment, and health status. A fourth specification included tobacco and illegal drug use. By adding these behavioral controls, which could either be mediators or independent correlates of the drinking-GPA association, we examined whether the fixed-effects estimates were influenced by unmeasured time variant individual characteristics.

The fifth and sixth specifications were aimed at assessing possible mechanisms flowing from changes in alcohol use to changes in GPA. Previous research has found that part of the association between alcohol consumption and grades can be explained by a reduction in study hours. Add Health did not directly ask respondents about study effort. It did, however, ask about suspensions and days skipped from school. These school attendance variables were added to the set of controls to test whether an effect of alcohol use on human capital accumulation worked extensively through the quantity of, or exposure to, schooling. Alternatively, an effect of alcohol use on grades could be explained by temporary or permanent alterations in the structure and functioning of an adolescent’s developing brain with resulting changes in levels of concentration and understanding (an intensive mechanism). To test for the mediating role of this pathway, we added a set of dichotomous variables measuring whether the student reported having trouble at least once a week with each of the following: (i) paying attention in school, (ii) getting along with teachers, and (iii) doing homework.

Finally, we considered the number of days the student skipped school and the likelihood of having difficulties with school as two alternative outcomes and estimated the association between these variables and alcohol use, applying the same fixed-effects methodology as in Equation (2) . To analyze difficulties with school as an outcome, we constructed a dichotomous variable that is equal to one if the student faced at least one of the three difficulties listed above. We estimated the effect of alcohol use on this variable using a fixed-effects logit technique.

Separate regressions were run for male and female respondents. The literature shows that males and females behave differently both in terms of alcohol use ( Ham & Hope, 2003 ; Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2007 ; Schulenberg, O’Malley, Bachman, Wadsworth, & Johnston, 1996 ; Wechsler, Davenport, Dowdall, Moeykens, & Castillo, 1994 ) and school achievement ( Dwyer & Johnson, 1997 ; Jacob, 2002 ; Kleinfeld, 1998 ). These gender differences are clearly evident in the summary statistics presented in Table 1 . Furthermore, the medical literature suggests that there may be gender differences in the impact of alcohol consumption on cognitive abilities (e.g. Hommer, 2003 ).

In addition to examining differential effects by gender, we tested for differential effects of alcohol use along three other dimensions: age, the direction of change in alcohol use (increases vs. decreases), and initial GPA. These tests, as well as other extensions and robustness checks, are described in Section 6.

Table 3 shows the fixed-effects estimates for β a from Equation (2) . Each cell depicts a different model specification defined by a particular measure of alcohol use and a distinctive set of control variables. Rows (a)-(d) denote the alcohol use variable(s) in each specification, and Columns (1)-(6) correspond to the different sets of covariates. Control variables are added hierarchically from (1) to (3). We first adjusted only by grade level, sample school and sister school indicators, and interview date (Column (1)). We then added time-varying household characteristics and interviewer assessments (Column (2)), followed by other individual time-varying controls (Column (3)). Column (4) adds controls for the use of other substances, which could either be correlates or consequences of alcohol use. Columns (5) and (6) consider other potential mediators of the effects found in (1)-(3) such as days skipped, suspensions from school, and academic difficulties.

Fixed effects Estimates; Dependent Variable = GPA

Notes : See Table 1 for list of control variables in each model specification. Robust standard errors in parentheses;

The results for males provide evidence of a negative yet small effect of alcohol use on GPA. No major changes were observed in the estimates across the different specifications that incrementally added more controls, suggesting that the results are probably robust to unmeasured time-varying characteristics. In what follows, therefore, we describe the results in Column (3), which controls for the greatest number of individual time-varying factors (with the exception of tobacco and illicit drug use). Weekly drinking and monthly binge drinking are both negatively associated with GPA, but neither of these coefficients is statistically significant (Rows (a) and (b)). The continuous measure of alcohol consumption has a statistically significant coefficient (Row (c)), suggesting that increasing one’s alcohol intake by 100 drinks per month reduces GPA by 0.07 points, or 2.8% relative to the mean. The results in Row (d) suggest that variation in both the frequency and the intensity of alcohol use contributes to the estimated effect on grades. An increase of one day per month in drinking frequency reduces GPA by 0.005 points, and consumption of one additional drink per episode reduces GPA by 0.004 points.

Columns (4)-(6) report the estimates of interest after controlling for use of other substances, days skipped or suspended from school, and difficulties with school. Relative to the effects identified in Column (3), controlling for tobacco and illegal drug use reduces the negative effect of total number of drinks on GPA by 9% or 0.006 GPA points (see row (c), Column (4)). Adding the school attendance variables to the set of controls in Column (3) results in a point estimate of −0.06 or 0.01 GPA points below the coefficient in Column (3) (see Column (5)). Adding the school difficulty variables results in a reduction in GPA of 0.007 GPA points or a 10% decrease relative to the estimate in Column (3). While not shown in the table, the inclusion of both school difficulty and attendance variables as controls explains approximately 20% of the effect of alcohol use on grades, with the alcohol use estimates remaining statistically significant at the 10% level.

For females, the estimated coefficients are much smaller than those for males, and for two measures (binge-drinking and drinking frequency), the estimates are actually positive. However, none of the coefficients are statistically significant at conventional levels. 5 Interestingly, after controlling for substance use, difficulties with school, and school attendance, the estimates become less negative or more positive. But they remain statistically non significant.

Table 4 shows the effect of alcohol use on the number of school days skipped during the past year. These results are qualitatively similar to the findings for GPA, suggesting some small and statistically significant effects for males but no significant effects for females. For males, increasing the number of drinks per month by 100 leads to an additional 0.72 days skipped (p<0.10) when controlling for household features, interviewer comments, and individual characteristics such as body mass index, religiosity, employment, and health status (see Column (3), Row (c)). Controlling for tobacco and illegal drug use reduces the coefficient slightly to 0.69 days. The results in Row (d) suggest that this effect is driven mainly by variation in drinking intensity, with an additional drink per episode resulting in an increase of 0.06 days skipped.

Fixed-effects Estimates; Dependent Variable = School Days Skipped

Notes : Robust standard errors in parentheses;

Table 5 contains estimates of the relationship between alcohol use and our dichotomous measure of having difficulty in school. For males, we found one small but statistically significant effect: consumption of an additional 100 drinks per month is associated with a 4% increase in the probability of having trouble in school. For females, the estimated coefficients are all positive and larger than those found for males, and four out of five are statistically significant. The probability of having trouble in school is roughly 11% higher for females who drink weekly relative to those who do not, and there is a similar effect for monthly binge drinking (Rows (a) and (b)). Furthermore, the likelihood of difficulties increases by 7% with an additional 100 drinks per month (Row (c)). These findings suggest that female students suffer adverse consequences from alcohol consumption, even if these effects do not translate into lower grades. Finally, in Row (d), we see that these adverse effects are driven by increases in drinking frequency rather than drinking intensity.

Fixed-effects Logit Estimates; Dependent Variable = Difficulty with School

Notes : Dependent variable is a dummy variable equal to one if respondent had trouble at least once a week with one or more of the following: (1) paying attention in school, (2) getting along with teachers, or (3) doing homework. Robust standard errors in parentheses;

Our main results thus far point to two basic conclusions. After controlling for individual fixed effects, alcohol use in high school has a relatively minor influence on GPA. But there are also some interesting gender differences in these effects. For males, we find small negative effects on GPA that are partially mediated by increased school absences and difficulties with school-related tasks. For females, on the other hand, we find that alcohol use does not significantly affect GPA, but female drinkers encounter a higher probability of having difficulties at school.

Our basic estimates of the effects of drinking on GPA complement those of Koch and Ribar (2001) , who find small effects of drinking on school completion for males and non-significant effects for females. However, our analysis of school-related difficulties suggests that females are not immune to the consequences of drinking. Namely, females are able to compensate for the negative effects of drinking (e.g., by working harder or studying more) so that their grades are unaffected. This interpretation is consistent with Wolaver’s (2007) finding that binge drinking in college is associated with increased study hours for women but with reduced study hours for men. It is also reminiscent of findings in the educational psychology and sociology literatures that girls get better grades than boys, and some of this difference can be explained by gender differences in classroom behavior ( Downey & Vogt Yuan, 2005 ) or by greater levels of self-discipline among girls ( Duckworth & Seligman, 2006 ).

When interpreting our results, there are some important caveats to keep in mind. First, we must emphasize that they reflect the contemporaneous effects of alcohol use. As such, they say nothing about the possible cumulative effects that several years of drinking might have on academic performance. Second, we can only examine the effect of alcohol use on GPA for those students who remain in school. Unfortunately, we cannot address potential selection bias due to high school dropouts because of the high rate of missing GPA data for those students who dropped out after Wave 1. 6 Third, we acknowledge that our fixed-effects results could still be biased if we failed to account for important time-varying individual characteristics that are associated with GPA differentials across waves. It is reassuring, however, that our results are generally insensitive to the subsequent inclusion of additional time-varying (and likely endogenous) characteristics, such as health status, employment, religiosity, tobacco use, and illicit drug use. Finally, we cannot rule out possible reverse causality whereby academic achievement affects alcohol use. Future research using new waves of the data may provide further insight on this issue. In the next section, we discuss some additional issues that we are able to explore via robustness checks and extensions.

6. Robustness checks and extensions

6.1. ols versus fixed effects.

In addition to running fixed-effects models, we estimated β a using OLS. Separate regressions were run by gender and by wave. We first regressed GPA on measures of alcohol use and the full set of time-varying controls used in the fixed-effects estimation (see Column (3), Table 3 ). Next, we added other time-invariant measures such as demographics, household characteristics, and school characteristics. Finally, we controlled for tobacco and illegal drug use. The comparison between fixed-effects and OLS estimates (Appendix Table A1 ) sheds light on the extent of the bias in β ^ a OLS . For males, OLS estimates for Wave 1 were 3 to 6 times larger (more negative) than fixed-effects estimates (depending on the measure of alcohol use), and OLS estimates in Wave 2 were 3 to 4 times larger than those from the fixed-effects estimation. The bias was even more pronounced for females. Contrary to the results in Table 3 , OLS estimates for females were statistically significant, quantitatively large, and usually more negative than the estimates for males.

OLS Cross-sectional Estimates; Dependent Variable = GPA

6.2. Outlier analysis

Concerns about misreporting at the extreme tails of the alcohol use distributions led us to re-estimate the fixed-effects model after addressing these outliers. A common method for addressing extreme outliers without deleting observations is to “winsorize” ( Dixon, 1960 ). This technique reassigns all outlier values to the closest value at the beginning of the user-defined tail (e.g., 1%, 5%, or 10% tails). For the present analysis, we used both 1% and 5% tails. As a more conventional outlier approach, we also re-estimated the models after dropping those observations in the 1% tails. In both cases we winsorized or dropped the tails using the full Wave 1 and Wave 2 distribution (in levels) and then estimated differential effects.

After making these outlier corrections, the estimates for males became larger in absolute value and more significant, but the estimates for females remained statistically non-significant with no consistent pattern of change. 7 For males, dropping the 1% tails increased the effect of 100 drinks per month on GPA to −0.15 points (from −0.07 points when analyzing the full sample). Winsorizing the 5% tails further increased the estimated effect size to −0.31 points.

We offer two possible interpretations of these results for males. First, measurement error is probably more substantial among heavier drinkers and among respondents with the biggest changes in alcohol consumption across waves, which could cause attenuation bias at the top end. 8 Second, the effect of drinks per month on GPA could be smaller among male heavier drinkers, suggesting non-linear effects. Interestingly, neither of these concerns appears to be important for the analysis of females.

6.3. Differential effects

Thus far we have reported the differential effects of alcohol use on GPA for males and females. Here, we consider differential effects along three other dimensions: age, direction of change in alcohol use (increases vs. decreases), and initial GPA. To examine the first two of these effects, we added to Equation (2) interactions of the alcohol use measure with dichotomous variables indicating (i) that the student was 16 or older, and (ii) that alcohol use had decreased between Waves 1 and 2. 9 For males, the negative effects of drinking on GPA were consistently larger among respondents who were younger than 16 years old. None of the interaction terms, however, were statistically significant. We found no consistent or significant differences in the effect of alcohol consumption between respondents whose consumption increased and those whose consumption decreased between Waves 1 and 2. All results were non-significant and smaller in magnitude for females. It should be noted, however, that the lack of significant effects could be attributed, at least in part, to low statistical power as some of the disaggregated groups had less than 450 observations per wave.

To examine whether drinking is more likely to affect low achievers (those with initial low GPA) than high achievers (higher initial GPA), we estimated two fixed-effects linear probability regressions. The first regression estimated the impact of alcohol use on the likelihood of having an average GPA of C or less, and the second regression explored the effect of drinking on the likelihood of having a GPA of B- or better. For males, we found that monthly binging was negatively associated with the probability of obtaining a B- or higher average and that increases in number of drinks per month led to a higher likelihood of having a GPA of C or worse. Frequency of drinking, rather than intensity, was the trigger for having a GPA of C or worse. For females, most coefficient estimates were not significant, although the frequency of drinking was negatively associated with the probability of having a GPA of C or worse.

6.4 Self-reported versus abstracted GPA

One of the key advantages of using Add Health data is the availability of abstracted high school grades. Because most educational studies do not have such objective data, we repeated the fixed-effects estimation of Equation (2) using self-reported GPA rather than transcript-abstracted GPA. To facilitate comparison, the estimation sample was restricted to observations with both abstracted and self-reported GPA (N=2,164 for males and 2,418 for females).

The results reveal another interesting contrast between males and females. For males, the results based on self-reported grades were fairly consistent with the results based on abstracted grades, although the estimated effects of binging and drinking intensity were somewhat larger (i.e., more negative) when based on self-reported grades. But for females, the results based on self-reported grades showed positive effects of alcohol consumption that were statistically significant at the 10% level for three out of five consumption measures (monthly binging, total drinks per month, and drinks per episode). Furthermore, with the exception of the frequency measure (drinking days per month), the estimated effects were all substantially larger (i.e., more positive) when based on self-reported GPA. This suggests that females who drink more intensively tend to inflate their academic performance in school, even though their actual performance is not significantly different from that of those who drink less. Males who drink more intensely, on the other hand, may tend to deflate their academic accomplishments.

6.5. Analysis of dropouts

In Table 3 , we estimated the effects of alcohol consumption on GPA conditional on being enrolled in school during the two observation years. While increased drinking could lead an adolescent to drop out of school, reduced drinking could lead a dropout to re-enroll. Our GPA results do not address either of these possible effects. Of those who were in 9 th grade in Wave 1, roughly 2.3% dropped out before Wave 2. Of those who were in 10 th and 11 th grades in Wave 1, the dropout rates were 3.7% and 5.0%, respectively. Our core estimates would be biased if the effect of alcohol use on GPA for non-dropouts differed systematically from the unobserved effect of alcohol use on GPA for dropouts and re-enrollers in the event that these students had stayed in school continuously.

To determine whether dropouts differed significantly from non-dropouts, we compared GPA and drinking patterns across the two groups. Unfortunately, dropouts were much more likely to have missing GPA data for the years they were in school, 10 so the comparison itself has some inherent bias. Nevertheless, for those who were not missing Wave 1 GPA data, we found that mean GPA was significantly lower for dropouts (1.11) than for those students who stayed in school at least another year (2.66). Dropouts were also older in Wave 1 (16.9 vs. 15.9 years old) and more likely to be male (54% vs. 48%). They also consumed alcohol more often and with greater intensity in the first wave. While there is evidence of differences across the two groups in Wave 1, it is unclear whether dropouts would have differed systematically with respect to changes in GPA and in drinking behavior over time if they had stayed in school. Due to the small number of dropout observations with Wave 1 GPA data, we could not reliably estimate a selection correction model.

6.6. Attrition and missing data

As described in the data section, a large fraction of the Add Health respondents who were in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade in Wave 1 were excluded from our analysis either because they did not participate in Waves 2 or 3, did not have transcript data, or had missing data for one or more variables used in the analysis. (The excluded sample consisted of 7,104 individuals out of a total of 11,396 potentially eligible.) Mean characteristics were compared for individuals in the sample under analysis (N=4,292) and excluded respondents (N=7,104) in Wave 1. Those in the analysis sample had higher GPAs (both self-reported and abstracted, when available) and were less likely to have difficulties at school, to have been suspended from school, or to have skipped school. They were less likely to drink or to drink intensively if they drank. They were more likely to be female and White, speak English at home, have highly educated parents, have a resident mother or father at home, and be in good health. They were less likely to have parents on welfare, live in commercial areas or poorly kept buildings, and smoke and use drugs.

The above comparisons suggest that our estimates are representative of the sample of adolescents who participated in Waves 2 and 3 but not necessarily of the full 9 th , 10 th , and 11 th grade sample interviewed at baseline. To assess the magnitude and sign of the potential attrition bias in our estimates, we considered comparing fixed-effects estimates for these two samples using self-reported GPA as the dependent variable. But self-reported GPA also presented a considerable number of missing values, especially for those in the excluded sample at Wave 2. Complete measures of self-reported GPA in Waves 1 and 2 were available for 60% of the individuals in the analysis sample and for less than 30% of individuals in the excluded sample.

As an alternative check, we used OLS to estimate the effects of alcohol use on self-reported GPA in Wave 1 for the excluded sample, and compared these to OLS coefficients for our analysis sample in Wave 1. The effects of alcohol use on self-reported grades were smaller for individuals excluded from our core analysis. Because the excluded individuals tend to consume more alcohol, the finding of smaller effects for these individuals is consistent with either of the two explanations discussed in Section 6.2 above. First, the effect of consuming alcohol on GPA could be smaller for those who drink more. And second, measurement error is probably more serious among heavier drinkers, potentially causing more attenuation bias in this sample.

To summarize, the analysis described above suggests that some caution should be exercised when extrapolating the results in this paper to other populations. Due to missing data, our analysis excludes many of the more extreme cases (in terms of grades, substance use, and socioeconomic status). However, our analysis suggests that the effects of alcohol use on grades are, if anything, smaller for these excluded individuals. It therefore supports our main conclusions that the effects of alcohol use on GPA tend to be small and that failure to account for unobserved individual heterogeneity is responsible for some of the large negative estimates identified in previous research.

7. Conclusion

Though a number of investigations have studied the associations between alcohol use and years of schooling, less is known about the impact of adolescent drinking on the process and quality of learning for those who remain in school. Moreover, studies that have examined the impact of drinking on learning have faced two important limitations. First, they have relied on self-reported grades as the key measure of learning and are therefore subject to potential biases that result from self-reporting. Second, they have relied on cross-sectional data and suffer from potential biases due either to unobserved individual heterogeneity or to weak or questionable instrumental variables.

In the present study, we contribute to the existing literature by exploiting several unique features of the nationally representative Add Health survey. First, we measure learning with grade point averages obtained from the respondents’ official school transcripts. Second, we exploit Add Health’s longitudinal design to estimate models with individual fixed effects. This technique eliminates the bias that results from time-invariant unobserved individual heterogeneity in the determinants of alcohol use and GPA. Finally, we explore a variety of pathways that could explain the association between alcohol use and grades. In particular, we examine the effects of alcohol consumption on both the quantity of schooling—as measured by days of school skipped—and the quality—as measured by difficulties with concentrating in school, getting along with teachers, or completing homework.

The main results show that, in general, increases in alcohol consumption result in statistically significant but quantitatively small reductions in GPA for male students and in statistically non-significant changes for females. For both males and females, comparisons of the fixed-effects models with standard cross-sectional models suggest that large biases can result from the failure to adequately control for unobserved individual heterogeneity. Our findings are thus closely aligned with those of Koch and Ribar (2001) and Dee and Evans (2003) , who reach a similar conclusion regarding the effects of drinking on school completion.

Our analysis also reveals some interesting gender differences in how alcohol consumption affects learning in high school. Our results suggest that for males, alcohol consumption has a small negative effect on GPA and this effect is partially mediated by increased school absences and by difficulties with school-related tasks. For females, however, we find that alcohol use does not significantly affect GPA, even though it significantly increases the probability of encountering difficulties at school. Gender differences in high school performance are well documented in the educational psychology and sociology literatures, yet no previous studies have estimated gender differences in high school learning that are directly associated with alcohol use. Our study is therefore unique in that regard.

Finally, our study also highlights the potential pitfalls of using self-reported grades to measure academic performance. Not only do we find evidence that use of self-reports leads to bias; we also find that the bias differs by gender, as drinking is associated with grade inflation among females and grade deflation among males. Hence, the conceptual discoveries uncovered in this research may be as important for future investigations as the empirical results are for current educational programs and policies.

Acknowledgements

Financial assistance for this study was provided by research grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01 AA15695, R01 AA13167, and R03 AA016371) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (RO1 DA018645). This research uses data from Add Health, a program project directed by Kathleen Mullan Harris and designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and funded by grant P01-HD31921 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with cooperative funding from 23 other federal agencies and foundations. Special acknowledgment is due Ronald R. Rindfuss and Barbara Entwisle for assistance in the original design. Information on how to obtain the Add Health data files is available on the Add Health website ( http://www.cpc.unc.edu/addhealth ). No direct support was received from grant P01-HD31921 for this analysis. We gratefully acknowledge the input of several colleagues at the University of Miami. We are also indebted to Allison Johnson, William Russell, and Carmen Martinez for editorial and administrative assistance. The authors are entirely responsible for the research and results reported in this paper, and their position or opinions do not necessarily represent those of the University of Miami, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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1 Due to a significant fraction of missing responses, we imputed household income and household welfare status using both predicted values on the basis of other covariates and the sample mean for households that were also missing some of the predicting covariates. We added dummy variables to indicate when an observation was imputed.

2 Grades and numerical grade-point equivalents have been established for varying levels of a student’s academic performance. These grade-point equivalents are used to determine a student’s grade-point average. Grades of A, A-, and B+ with respective grade-point equivalents of 4.00, 3.67, and 3.33 represent an “excellent” quality of performance. Grades of B, B−, and C+ with grade-point equivalents of 3.00, 2.67, and 2.33 represent a “good” quality of performance. A grade of C with grade-point equivalent of 2.00 represents a “satisfactory” level of performance, a grade of D with grade-point equivalent of 1.00 represents a “poor” quality of performance, and a grade of F with grade-point equivalent of 0.00 represents failure.

3 Note that some demographics (e.g., race, ethnicity) and other variables that are constant over time do not appear in Equation (2) because they present no variation across waves.

4 Of particular concern is the possibility that measurement error due to misreporting varies across waves—either because of random recall errors or because of changes in the interview conditions. (For example, the proportion of interviews in which others were present declined from roughly 42% to 25% between Wave 1 and Wave 2.) Such measurement error could lead to attenuation bias in our fixed-effects model. On the other hand, reporting biases that are similar and stable over time are eliminated by the fixed-effects specification.

5 We tested the significance of these differences by pooling males and females and including an interaction of a gender dummy with the alcohol consumption measure in each model. We found statistically significant differences in the effects of monthly bingeing, drinks per month, and drinking days per month.

6 If alcohol use has small or negligible effects on school completion - as found by Chatterji (2006) , Dee and Evans (2003) , and Koch and Ribar (2001) - then such selection bias will also be small.

7 These results are not presented in the tables but are available from the authors upon request.

8 Examination of the outliers showed that only 15% of those who reported a total number of drinks above the 95th percentile of the distribution did so in both waves.

9 These fixed-effects regressions were adjusted by the same set of controls as in Table (3) , Column (3).

10 More than two-thirds of those who dropped out between Waves 1 and 2 were missing Wave 1 GPA data

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Alcohol's Effects on Health

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Alcohol's effects on the body.

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:

Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination .  

Heart: Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:

• Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
• Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat
• High blood pressure  

Liver: Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including:

• Steatosis, or fatty liver
• Alcoholic hepatitis

Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis , a dangerous inflammation in the pancreas that causes its swelling and pain (which may spread) and impairs its ability to make enzymes and hormones for proper digestion . 

Cancer: According to the National Cancer Institute: "There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer. In its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen.

"The evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks–particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time–the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. Even those who have no more than one drink per day and people who binge drink (those who consume 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in one sitting) have a modestly increased risk of some cancers. Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5% of cancer deaths in the United States (about 19,500 deaths were alcohol related."

Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and increased risks of certain types of cancer:

• Head and neck cancer, including oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx cancers.
• Esophageal cancer, particularly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, people who inherit a deficiency in an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol have been found to have substantially increased risks of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma if they consume alcohol.
• Liver cancer.
• Breast cancer: Studies have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer in women with increasing alcohol intake. Women who consume about 1 drink per day have a 5 to 9 percent higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not drink at all.
• Colorectal cancer.

For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute's webpage " Alcohol and Cancer Risk " (last accessed October 21, 2021).

Immune System: Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease.  Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much.  Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

For more information about alcohol's effects on the body, please visit the  Interactive Body feature  on NIAAA's  College Drinking Prevention website .

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Addictions — Alcoholism

Alcoholism Essay Examples

When it comes to writing an essay on alcoholism, choosing the right topic is crucial. The chosen topic will determine the direction of the essay and the depth of research required. It is important to select a topic that is not only interesting but also relevant and meaningful.

Alcoholism is a serious issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Writing an essay on this topic provides an opportunity to raise awareness and educate others about the dangers of alcoholism. It can also shed light on the various causes, effects, and treatment options available. By choosing the right topic, one can make a significant impact in addressing this issue.

When choosing a topic for an alcoholism essay, it is important to consider the target audience and the purpose of the essay. It is also crucial to select a topic that is well-researched and has sufficient information available to support the arguments. Additionally, selecting a topic that is relevant and timely can make the essay more engaging and impactful.

Below is a list of recommended alcoholism essay topics, categorized for ease of reference:

Causes of Alcoholism

• The role of genetics in predisposing individuals to alcoholism
• The impact of family and upbringing on the development of alcoholism
• The influence of peer pressure and social environment on alcoholism
• The genetic predisposition to alcoholism
• The correlation between childhood trauma and alcoholism
• The impact of mental health disorders on alcoholism

Effects of Alcoholism

• The physical health effects of long-term alcohol abuse
• The psychological and emotional impact of alcoholism on individuals and families
• The societal and economic consequences of alcoholism
• The mental health effects of alcoholism
• The impact of alcoholism on family dynamics
• The economic impact of alcoholism on society
• The correlation between alcoholism and crime

Treatment and Recovery

• The effectiveness of different treatment options for alcoholism
• The role of support groups and counseling in the recovery process
• The challenges and successes of alcoholism recovery programs

Prevention and Education

• The role of education and awareness in preventing alcoholism
• The impact of alcohol advertising and marketing on alcoholism rates
• The effectiveness of government policies and regulations in addressing alcoholism
• The importance of early intervention in preventing alcoholism
• The correlation between alcoholism and underage drinking

Special Populations

• Alcoholism among adolescents and young adults
• Alcoholism in the elderly population
• Alcoholism in specific cultural or ethnic groups

Alcoholism and Co-Occurring Disorders

• The relationship between alcoholism and mental health disorders
• The connection between alcoholism and substance abuse
• The impact of alcoholism on individuals with chronic health conditions

Social and Cultural Aspects

• The portrayal of alcoholism in the media
• The stigma associated with alcoholism
• The impact of cultural norms on alcoholism
• The role of alcohol in social gatherings and events
• The correlation between alcoholism and gender

By choosing a topic from the above categories, writers can explore different aspects of alcoholism and contribute to the ongoing conversation about this important issue.

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The Impact of Alcoholism on Insomnia and Other Sleep Disturbances

Diagnostic criteria for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, alcohol consumption and why it should not be available after 11pm, health and wellness for alcoholics in treatment, a reflection on my experience visiting open aa meetings, aa meeting: a reflection paper, treatment of alcohol and drug addicts, case study: an individual whose addiction has adversely affected his life, the effects of alcohol-related content of social media on society, the story of bill wilson, co-founder of alcoholics anonymous (aa), how cocaethylene impacts the development of psychosis, how the drug enforcement commission (dec) cope with the problem of alcohol & drugs abuse among zambian children, a critical reflection on visiting aa meetings, group observation report: aa meeting, advertisements related to alcohol or tobacco, relationships between social control, psychedelics and alcohol, discussing the causes of alcoholism in teenagers, review of risks of moderate drinking, applying the social cognitive theory as intervention for alcohol abuse, america's drinking problem: the impact of alcohol consumption.

Not planning to discuss the poetic words of Omar Khayyam when speaking of wine and wisdom, we can say that the problem of alcoholism has always been a menacing part of civilization. It can be approached as the side of culture, yet at the same time, it is a dumb side of human life where aggression, drunk behavior, drunk driving, and grief reflect in many sides of life. When a college student plans to discuss the topic of alcoholism, it becomes an important social issue where a person tries to find the causes like poverty or access to luxury, which seems to plaque both sides of our complex equation.

Of course, the topic of drinking has always been a part of history through decades and generations. It must be noted that even if we approach this problem as the history or anthropology specialists by taking the United States or any other country, we can see that the art of drinking has been dimmed negatively. Is drinking a good practice? It is seen as a form of alcoholism even through the feasts and celebrations. Speaking of our modern times, we can see that this problem is more persistent than ever because we have greater access to alcoholic drinks even among the younger generation. One can take the drinking bans throughout history or research the present times, yet in both cases, we can see that there is no recreational drinking or any apologetics.

We can see many people who have battled drinking in the past. There are such personalities as Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, Ben Affleck, Michael Phelps, Tim McGraw, and many others. We can also add Naomi Campbell and Jessica Simpson as famous female persons. It should be added that all these celebrities came out to talk that alcoholism is often a problem that is brought beneath the carpet to hide and ignore. Just like drug addiction, this problem should not be silenced because it requires help and guidance. It is also one of those topics that a college student should approach to find a solution and provide educational norms to make a positive change.

• As we think about why do people drink, we can see some argument that it helps to relax
• It leads to a mental breakdown.
• It is an addiction that distorts your physical image.
• It is a mind-altering substance that makes a person lost and tortured.
• It takes away the life of a person and the lives of those who are around.
• It often resorts to violence and anger.

The pains of alcoholism can only be battled with the help of a different culture, social work, and education. As many modern students grew up in alcoholic households or saw their friends grow up in one, we all have some story to tell. It is sufficient to say that the problem of alcoholism must be addressed from helping the addicts to educating young people about the dangers. For example, by choosing this topic an average student can create a social program that would help people in the local community. Likewise, you can write about the economical side of alcoholism since it also helps certain people earn by promoting alcohol in ads and the mass culture.

It will always depend on your initial subject. You can write about the causes of alcoholism and notice that both poor and rich people can become trapped in this unfortunate circumstance. Your college essay can be reflective by telling about your experience or tell about how dangerous it is to drive drunk after a college party. You can take a look at our free samples that relate to alcoholism as you think about some good subjects. The most important is to provide statistics and keep your writing argumentative to make your alcoholism paper reliable!

It can be approached with the help of special educational projects and studying the shelters for alcoholics. At the same time, your college professor may ask you to write about alcoholism in the 1970s when compared to the present times. It is important to see how American society approached alcohol in the past. An important aspect is seeing how the same methods still remain helpful, including education, talks at school, and the family culture. Uniting various techniques that take root in Psychology, Healthcare, and Education, any student can make a positive change in battling alcoholism.

Relevant topics

• Alcohol Abuse
• Eating Disorders
• Drug Addiction
• Physical Exercise

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Psychology Discussion

Essay on alcoholism.

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After reading this essay you will learn about Alcoholism:- 1. Meaning of Alcoholism 2. Classification of Alcoholism 3. Consequence 4. Causes 5. Current Methods to Treatment Alcoholism 6. Psychosocial Measures.

• Psychosocial Measures of Alcoholism

Essay # 1. Meaning of Alcoholism:

The problem of alcoholism has posed a serious threat to modern civilization for the very fact that around the world and particularly in the west very swiftly teenagers are turning alcoholics. It is stated that out of every 20 persons in the U.S.A., at least one is an alcoholic.

In India, a study sponsored by the Dep’t of Social Welfare, Govt., of India, in 6 states, Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad, Madras, Varanasi and Jaipur on a sample of 35,000 showed that the most commonly abused drugs were alcohol, tobacco and pain killers.

In the revised edition of DSM III-R there is no specific diagnostic category called “Alcoholism”. Alcoholism is classified under the general term of “Psychoactive substance use disorder” and the specific syndrome that relate to alcoholism.

Alcohol is the major Psychotic drug used worldwide. Only in the U.S. there are estimated more than 13 million people who are diagnosed as alcoholics. DSM III-R reports that according to the community study approximately 13 per cent of the adults had alcohol abuse or dependence at some point of their life.

Following heart disease and cancer alcoholism is the third largest health problem in the U.S. today. As estimated by DSM III-R about 35 per cent of the American adults abstain, 55 per cent drink less than three alcoholic drinks a week and only 11 per cent drink an average of one ounce or more alcohol a day.

Drinking pattern also vary with age and sex. It is thus obvious that a small percentage of the population consume 20% of the total and 30% of the drinkers consume 80 per cent and 10 per cent of the drinkers consume 50 per cent.

Alcoholism is linked with many social evils including automobile and train accidents, murder, rape, physical assault, molestation, industrial accidents and also homicide and suicide. It disrupts social and familial life.

Cancer and heart diseases occur due to heavy drinking. It is also responsible for lowered efficiency and absenteeism among industrial workers. It is considered as the third major cause of death in U.S.A. The average life span of an alcoholic is 12 years less than of a normal person.

The W.H.O. (1969) has defined alcoholics as excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that they show noticeable mental disturbance or an interference with their mental and bodily health, their interpersonal relations and their smooth social and economic functioning, or who show the prodromal (beginning) signs of such developments.

Alcohol is a depressant drug which affects the central nervous system immediately. It no doubt produces some stimulation and reduces tension and brings relaxation. But when larger amounts are consumed, sensory motor coordination, balance, vision, speech, thought processes and perceptions are affected.  

Essay # 2. Classification of Alcoholism:

I. the alpha alcoholics:.

It is the beginning stage. The alpha alcoholic depends upon alcohol to reduce or relieve emotional tension or physical pain. It does not lose control after the use of the drug. But when he finds that use of alcohol is more important than communicating with others, his interpersonal relationship deteriorates.

ii. The Beta Alcoholics:

In addition to interpersonal difficulties physical problems arise by the excessive use of alcohol like cirrhosis of liver and ulcers, heart troubles. But in this type there is no physical or psychological dependence.

iii. The Gamma Alcoholics:

The gamma drinkers lose control of their drinking and exhibit significant signs of physical, psychological and social deterioration. The physiological dependence in the gamma drinkers is such that when they stop drinking physiological withdrawal symptoms are found.

iv. The Delta Alcoholics:

The delta alcoholic is the most severe type among the four. The drinkers drink right from the morning continuously without any break and cannot abstain from drinking for any period of time. He neglects his food and becomes weak. He is never found to be sober. When the drinking is cleared, it leads to severe physiological withdrawal symptoms.

Essay # 3. Consequences of Alcoholism:

A Japanese proverb says “First the man takes the drink, then the drink takes the man.” The physiological, social, psychological familial and occupational disturbances arise due to the adverse consequences of alcoholism.

Physiological damages include damage of the liver, endocrine glands, heart failure and hypertension etc. The physical effects are so adverse that according to Talbolt (1974) withdrawal from alcohol may lead to death in certain cases. It is also psychologically unpleasant. Hallucinations occur.

There is physical pain. Vision and speech are affected. The nervous system may not automatically continue functioning, breathing may stop and convulsions may occur. When this stage is somehow passed, the person gets back his normal life to some extent and many of the symptoms may disappear. But alcoholic toxicity is still present and needs medical care.

Delirium tremens are the most important psychological symptoms associated with withdrawal of alcohol. These tremens occur in people who are over 30 years age and drinking consistently at-least for 4 years. It is caused by a suaden drop in the intake of alcohol. The symptoms of delirium tremens are restlessness, sleeplessness, night mares, hallucinations, and delusions of terrifying nature.

After the delirium Korsakeff’s psychoses may also occur; with the symptoms of amnesia, disorientation in time and place, distortion of memory or pseudo memory. Due to pseudo memory, the person talks about things that never happened to him and this occurs in women alcoholics more frequently.

Alcohol being a central nervous system depressant like the other anaesthetics, when 0.05 per cent alcohol is found in the blood, thought, judgment and restraints are loosened and sometimes disrupted. Voluntary motor actions by and large become visibly clumsy at a concentration of 0.10 per cent.

When the level of alcohol in blood reaches 0.20 per cent, the function of the entire motor area of the brain is significantly depressed and the parts of the brain controlling emotional behaviour is likely to be affected. At 30 per cent a person is usually confused and may become stuporaous.

At 40 to 50 per cent the alcoholic is in coma and at more higher levels, centres of the brain controlling breaching and rate of heart beat are affected leading to possibility of death. Alcohol also decreases REM sleep and causes insomnia.

Alcoholic paramecia also may occur in some who are predisposed to faulty adjustment and suspicion. Abuse of alcohol may also lead to all sorts of maladaptive characters like jealousy, hatred, fault finding and the adjustive capacity of the person becomes weak day by day.

Essay # 4. Causes of Alcoholism:

It is said that alcohol tends to induce a pleasant feeling tone, brings relaxation, reduces tension and provides physical and mental stimulation to work. Pointing out the physiological effects of wine, a Roman poet wrote, “It discloses secrets, ratifies and confirms our hopes, thrusts the coward forth the battle, ceases the anxious mind from its burden and instructs in arts.”

However, the alcoholic has strong craving for alcohol and this makes him unfit for any job in the sense that his attention is centred around alcohol only.

Why a person becomes alcoholic while others not?

It has several causes.

i. Biological Factors :

Some believe that alcoholism or the tendency for alcohol may be inherited. Findings of the studies by Erickson (1968), Rodgers (1966) and Schlesinger (1966) show certain evidences of the presence of certain genetic components in the occurrence of alcoholism.

Winokur (1970) found that alcoholism does tend to run in families. In a study of 259 hospitalized alcoholics he found that more than 40 per cent had a parent who was an alcoholic. Goodwin (1973, 1974) on the basis of their findings viewed that “it was being born to an alcoholic biologic parent rather than being raised by one that increases the risk of the son becoming an alcoholic.”

It is said that children of alcoholics become alcoholics about 4 times more often than children of non-alcoholics even when they are not brought up by their own parents. In a 30 year longitudinal Swedish study of adopted male children who subsequently become alcoholics, it was found that about 25 per cent had biological fathers who were also alcoholics.

Another Swedish study revealed that monozygotic twins had about twice the coincidence rate of alcoholism as dizygotic twins of the same sex. Studies also indicate a higher craving for alcoholism among dizygotic twins than among non-twin siblings.

Irwin (1968) reported that more than 50 per cent of the alcoholics had an alcoholic parent. On the other hand, Roe, Burks and Mittleman’s (1945)’s findings doubt the genetic hypotheses. Studies of Rose, Burks have supported the above study.

There are majority of cases where children of alcoholic parents do not become alcoholics. Thus Coleman (1981) says, “whether the familial incidence results from shared genes or a shared alcoholic environment is a matter of some controversy.”

The exact role of genetic factors in the causation of alcoholism is therefore not known. It is viewed that constitutional predisposition to alcoholism can be acquired as well as inherited. However, the genetic factors may play their role in predisposing causes.

ii. Psychological and Personality Factors :

Besides the physiological dependence alcohol also produces a strong psychological dependency as well because of the following factors:

(a) Psychological vulnerability:

It refers to a type of personality which makes one vulnerable or predisposed to alcohol under conditions of stress. Instead of using some other defence to adjust with or overcome the stress, these people turn to alcohol.

Personality studies of alcoholics show that they are emotionally immature, they need a lot of praise, appreciation and attention from others and they are very much hurt and disturbed by failures and frustrations.

They feel very in-secured and inferior and have low frustration tolerance. Winokur (1970), Pralt (1972) and Mcclelland (1972) have stated that many young men take to heavy drinking to prove their masculinity and to achieve feelings of adequacy and competency.

According to the findings of James (1968, 1971), Wood uff (1973), antisocial personality and depression may also have some links with heavy drinking.

In-spite of these findings it is not yet established which specific characters are responsible in the development of alcoholism. Nobody can deny that there are also many persons with identical personality characteristics and yet they have not become alcoholics.

However, the role of personality maladjustment in the causation of alcoholism cannot be denied. Since excessive drinking impairs the total life adjustment of an individual, the question arises as to what needs alcohol fulfils that the individual so much depends upon it?

According to the psychological theories alcohol takes the person away from the burdens, responsibilities, heart aches, sorrows and distresses, worries and anxieties of modern life. Alcohol is a vehicle to escape from conflicts, business worries and inferiority complexes.

It gives courage to the coward, confidence to the timid, pleasure to the unhappy and success to failure that is what those who take alcoholics say. In brief, alcohol permits a flight from the disappointments and frustrations of reality. These explanations nevertheless speak only a part of the story.

(b) Stress, tension reduction and reinforcement:

Innumerable observa­tions of the personal lives of alcoholics and quite a number of investigations point out that an alcoholic is dissatisfied with life and has very less frustration and stress tolerance capacity. They probably take it to be away from reality, a reality without hope and meaning for them.

This view has been particularly put forth by the American Medical Association Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (1969). According to Schafer, alcoholism is a conditioned response to anxiety. When the person finds that each time he takes alcohol it reduces his anxiety, stress and gives him relaxation, he is further reinforced to take it more and more until he becomes alcoholic.

Other experts on the subject reject this view and opine that alcoholism is only a learned maladaptive response which is reinforced and maintained by tension reduction.

Bandura (1969) stated that delayed consequences are very harmful and destructive for the person; yet people are more influenced and controlled by the immediate effect. The immediate reinforcement encourages them to take to drinking more and more.

(c) Marital crisis and other familial problems:

Marital problems pose many crisis for the individual. It not only hurts him, but brings in self devaluation. Divorce, separation, untimely death of children or spouse add to the extra marital relationship of one of the partners, constant quarrel and conflict between husband and wife, poverty and disease may lead to habitual drinking.

Alcohol problems are also correlated with a history of school difficulty, High School dropouts and persons with records of antisocial activity and delinquency appear to be at particularly high risk for alcoholism. Cirhosis data suggest that persons in certain occupation are more likely to develop alcoholism.

Alcoholism is estimated to be associated with at-least 50 per cent of traffic accidents, 50 per cent homicides, 25 per cent of suicides and large number of deaths in a year from alcoholic related diseases.

Persons with a harsh superego turn to alcohol as a means of reducing their unconscious stress. Some alcoholics are fixated at the oral stage of development and relieve frustration by taking substances in mouth. The alcoholic personality is described as shy, isolated, impatient, irritable, anxious, hypersensitive and sexually repressed.

iii. Sociocultural Factors:

The role of sociocultural factors in alcoholism and alcohol abuse has been emphasised by many investigators, particularly in certain societies and cultures, drinking has been considered as a social act. This sociocultural trend encourages many to drink in clubs, parties and in many other social get together.

According to Pliner and Capped (1974) liquor has come to play an almost ritualistic role in prompting gaiety and pleasant social interaction. Different cultures pose different degree of stress for the person. Horton (1943) noted that greater the insecurity level and stress in a culture, greater is the need for taking alcohol to the level of becoming an alcoholic.

Bales (1946) in a quite useful study pointed out 3 cultural factors that play a part in determining the incidence of alcoholism in a given society:

(a) The degree of stress and inner tension produced by that culture.

(b) The attitude towards drinking fostered by that culture.

(c) The degree to which the culture provides the substitute means of satisfaction and other ways of copying with tension and anxiety. To add to this, the effects of rapid social change and social disintegration in a particular culture, with which people are not able to cope, lead to further stress and anxiety.

Eskimos for instance, in many places of rural Alaska, (Time, 1974) are taking to heavy drinking mainly due to the rapid social change in their traditional values and way of life.

In comparison to other countries of the world, alcoholism is said to be a major problem in the United States and Soviet Union. An overall analysis of the various explanations of alcoholism reveals that it is not caused by a single factor. It is an outcome of multiple variables influencing simultaneously. Many more factors of alcoholism are still unknown and future research can only highlight these factors.

Alcoholism is a highly complex disorder involving multifarious causes. Thus, the appropriate approach to the treatment of alcoholism seems to be multidisciplinary. Alcoholism requires flexibility and individualisation of treatment procedures. Hospitalisation and institutionalisation of alcoholics are being treated in community clinics.

When the impairment because of alcoholism becomes severe the patient needs constant care. The risk is 35 per cent of alcoholic pregnant woman having a defective child. Excessive consumption of alcohol also causes her more imbalances leading to the risk of abnormalities.

Treatment can be most successful in patients who voluntarily come to a psychiatrist for treatment because they feel that they need help to give up alcoholism. This conscious feeling that alcohol is undesirable for them is to be aroused by someone since this realisation has a tremendous impact.

Physical punishment is an old type of treatment which does not work. In many plants, however, alcoholic employees are threatened by employers with immediate discharge from job which leads to permanent cure in some cases. Vigilance during the first week of the month may also reduce alcoholism to some extent.

Essay # 5. Current Methods to Treatment Alcoholism:

I. biological measure:.

Medical measures in detoxification include, elimination of the harmful alcoholic substances from the individuals body, treatment of withdrawal symptoms. A drug called chlordiazepoxide has helped a lot in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms like motor excitement, nausea, vomiting, delirium, tremors and convulsions.

It also alleviates tension and anxiety. After detoxification psychological measures like family counselling, employment facilities including other social readjustments are provided.

ii. Aversion Therapy :

The patient is given to drink at regular intervals mixed with emetic drugs; which have extremely uncomfortable effects. Antabuse may also be administered to prevent the return of drinking immediately. It is presumed that since each such drink makes him ill, he will become sufficiently conditioned to stop taking to alcohol.

By means of electric shock aversive conditioning, technique can be applied with success. But unless his emotional problems are solved he may again take to drinking in-spite of the uncomfortable feeling it provides and he will again continue to drink.

Davidson (1974) has viewed on the basis of extensive comparison of available studies that despite a number of positive results there was insufficient data to assess the long range effectiveness of aversion therapy on alcoholism.

iii. Brain Surgery :

Fritz, Roder and his associates (1974) from Gottingen University in Germany have opined “our research have revealed that dependence on drugs or alcohol assumes that proportions of a natural urge after a certain period and the sexual drive or urge to eat, is controlled by a certain brain centre. Neutralizing this centre which is more than 50 cubic millimetre in volume, will cure the patient for all time.”

However, to use brain surgery for the treatment of alcoholism is a controversial matter in view of its dangerous procedure.

Essay # 6. Psychosocial Measures of Alcoholism:

It involves:

(a) Group therapy,

(b) Socio-therapy,

(c) Alcoholics Anonymous.

i. Group Therapy :

The alcoholic must realise that he has a problem which needs his cooperation for its solution. This very recognition of the problem and its undesirable devastating consequences will have the way to therapy. After this through group discussion in the midst of family members and through family therapy treatment may proceed. Here each family member is given a responsibility for cooperating in treatment.

Behaviour therapy:

Through behaviour therapy the alcoholic is taught other ways and methods to reduce anxiety. By the help of relaxation training, assertiveness training, self controlled skills and new strategies to master the environment, efforts are made to reduce anxiety and tension of the alcoholic.

A number of operant conditioning techniques are also used which condition alcoholics to modify their drinking behaviour or abstain from drinking completely. The reinforces in these techniques used are monitory reward, an opportunity to live in an enriched, in-patient environment and access to pleasurable social interaction.

ii. Socio Therapy:

The therapist helps the patient to work out a solution that will give him the satisfaction he is lacking. His aversive life situations are to be alleviated. The therapist must help the patient to reopen the happy chapter of his family life once more having a congenial and cordial relationship with family members, relations and friends.

He should be helped to develop effective methods of adjustment. He should not be allowed in any way to live in high risk environments.

Thus, the aim of socio-therapy is to deal adequately with the hostility, negative attitude of the family, friends and society towards the alcoholic. Keeping this in mind currently community reinforcement approach has developed the main aim of which is to help the problem drinkers to achieve more satisfactory adjustment in personal, professional and social life.

iii. Alcoholics Anonymous:

It is a practical approach to the treatment of alcoholism which has been quite effective. It is mostly a psychotherapeutic programme in which person to person and group relationships are encouraged, spiritual development is the central point of its approach to treatment.

Discussions on the problem are made. It provides for its members an atmosphere of mutual understanding, acceptance and sympathetic fellow feeling. The alcoholics are encouraged to solve their problems without the feelings of isolation and shame.

The alcoholics anonymous technique lifts the burden of personal responsibility from the alcoholic by helping him to realise that “alcoholism like many other problems is bigger than he.

” Regarding the effectiveness of Alcoholic Anonymous Coleman (1981) states “By mutual help and reassurance through participation in a group composed of others, who have shared similar experiences, many an alcoholic acquires insight into his problems, new sense of purpose, greater ego strength and more effective coping techniques.”

Among patients who really want to be cured and whose drinking has been of recent origin, this approach to alcoholism has met with considerable success. Not only treatment, prevention of alcoholism is particularly important in India, keeping in view the widespread misery, wastage, illness and loss of life it causes.

Social consciousness through propaganda campaigns, posters, audio visual aids and education is aroused among people regarding the adverse effects of alcohol. The rural illiterate masses and the weaker sections of the society who have particularly become victims to alcohol should be given special attention.

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Essay on Alcoholism | Meaning | Causes & Effects

December 16, 2017 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

Overuse or too much of anything is not good. Addiction towards any single things will put us into trouble. We might have to face a lot of problems. It will not be easy to come out of such a situation. One has to give their full spirit in order to be free from those problems.

This overuse and addiction can be with drugs, alcohol, video games, food and many other things. We have seen that when people overuse any form of drugs, it harms them. The same thing happens with alcohol as well. In the starting people might not realize what will excessive consumption of alcohol would do them.

Sometimes no matter how much the alcohol is destroying them in different ways, people do not stop drinking it. When they over use it or rather it can be called alcohol abuse, it is known as alcoholism.  

Table of Contents

What is alcoholism ?  

When there is overuse of alcohol that state is known as alcoholism. This happens when the limit is crossed. In this state people are not able to control their drinking.

Sometimes it becomes a sort of disorder. People should learn to take alcohol in limit. Otherwise there can be many health problems due to alcohol abuse.    

Why do people drink alcohol?

At that point of time they are not bothered by any of the problems they are facing. Drinking alcohol is like a break for them from these problems. Sometimes people are very depressed or they are facing a lot of emotional problems. At such times they drink alcohol so that they are able to forget all the depressive things and be free from all sorts of emotional problems.

Alcohol has also become a part of any type of celebrations among the adults. In some of the societies, people drink alcohol so that they are able to gel with others and become popular among them.  

In India different states have different legal age for drinking. Some have 18 while some have 21. But still the underage youth go to various places and drink alcohol even though it is illegal for them. In Karnataka, some bars and restaurants have legal age as 18 while some have 21.

These ones strictly ask the customers for identity proof. But some of the places allow everyone and they do not check any identity proofs.

There have been times when some of the friends in a group would be underage. During such situations they would quietly drink from the friends who were legal to drink alcohol.  

Symptoms and signs of alcoholism 

One should know to control on their drinking habits. If a person drinks more than the limit, one can face alcoholism. There are many signs and symptoms by which people can know that they are facing alcoholism. Even if one is trying to drink less, they are failing to do that.

They are unable to control from drinking. They start to give more importance to alcohol and ignoring other work and responsibilities. One does not have focus on anything else.

They do not feel like doing any other work.  They will always feel like drinking. When they are not drinking, they carve to drink alcohol. Major expenditure is done to buy alcohol. People are not able to control their behaviour during this state.   

What can alcohol do to our body? 

All of us know that consumption of alcohol can harm our body. But there are many who do not know about it and they consume alcohol excessively. We have to face a lot of health problems when we drink a lot. There can be problems in the digestive system which will lead to complications during the later stage. Our stools will not be proper. We may vomit a lot at this time.

We can have high blood pressure, too much sweating. Our liver can get destroyed due to excessive consumption of alcohol. Liver helps to remove the harmful things from the body. When there is large content of alcohol in our body, the liver will not be able to do its function anymore.

Further, there will be many diseases of liver which is very dangerous. As the liver will not be functioning properly, the sugar level in our body will reduce. The reduction of sugar level in the body will further result in more complications. It is not only liver which will not be able to function properly but even the lungs and heart will have problems in their proper functioning.

There may be many heart problems. One has chances of getting cancer too. Alcohol affects our brain largely. This is the reason when a person is intoxicated from alcohol they are unable to speak properly. This is because the brain is not able to connect with the other parts of body.

At such times we do not think properly and take decisions which we would not take when we are in full senses. There are also chances that this can also lead to damage of the brain.

It is not safe for pregnant women to drink alcohol because it will be harmful for the baby. There will be problems with the pregnancy due to consumption of alcohol. Too much drinking can make our immune system weak. We will not be able to fight against any sort of sickness.   

Treatment of alcoholism  

This will make them lose their confidence and may also become weak. We should never be afraid from any person who is suffering alcoholism. We should always try to help them.

There are treatments which can help people to go away from alcohol. After this treatment people will learn to say no to alcohol. If any of the treatment does not work then one can go for counseling.

Alcoholism in the first stage will not be so difficult. But a person who has gone to the extremes and has almost destroyed his life. It will be extremely difficult to bring them back to normal.   

Self-written story on alcohol 

Once there was an old man in a village. He had five children. Out these five, four of them were boys and one girl. The old man lost his life after the birth of the fourth and fifth child who were twins. From then he had to take care of them. They belonged to a very poor family.

There were two eldest sons, then the daughter and after that the two twins. The youngest ones were very small. Despite of their poor economic condition, they would manage to survive by working and taking loan from other villagers. But the old man was always spending the money in drinking.

He used to drink so much that he had become too weak to work. Whatever money he would get from work he spent all of them in drinking. He never contributed in the family earnings. He could not stay without drinking. It was like drinking was more important to him than eating food.

He would often drink and play his drums.  Sometimes he would drink so much remembering his wife that he drank till he fell asleep. Due to this behaviour of the father, the daughter and the two eldest sons had to work very hard. They failed to stop their father from drinking.

The condition became worse when slowly their family started drifting apart. The daughter and two eldest sons started to be involved in wrong doings. This made the old man very upset. He did not expect this from their children. The sons never came back. But the daughter came back to the old man.

He was not ready to accept and forgive her for wrong doings. But as he had no one as his support he had to forgive her. One day the two twins were playing near the river. All of a sudden one of the twins drowned in the river. By the time people came to save him, he died.

This made the old man weaker. He felt he had lost his life. He looked as if he had no life left in himself. The old man had not come out of the loss that his daughter was again involved in wrong things. This time he was more heart-broken than before. He had only one child left with him.

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Alcohol - Effects Of Alcoholism Essay Example

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Drinking , Cancer , Body , Women , Health , Medicine , Alcoholism , Alcohol

Words: 2500

Published: 01/28/2020

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Alcohol abuse related problems contribute to numerous deaths in the United States. These involve heath and non-health related circumstances. This paper reviews alcohol related problems in a deeper perspective. It analyzes the psychological toils that prevail in an individual who abuses alcohol. Secondly, it analyzes the advanced stage of alcohol abuse which is alcohol addiction. The problems encountered by an alcoholic and the symptoms are listed to act as guidelines when analyzing an alcohol dependent individual. The psychological implications of excessive consumptions of alcohol are discussed and it is advised that if people must engage in drinking, they should only do so in small amounts. The paper also reviews the differences in alcohol disintegration in women from men and how it may lead to medical conditions. Liver diseases are thoroughly reviewed since they are the most common and life threatening medical conditions known to be associated with alcohol intake. In addition, the heart is discussed and recommendations are given. The punch line of the paper is alcohol should be avoided at all costs.

Introduction Alcohol has become a part of today’s social society. Alcohol has been known to relax people and make them enjoy more in celebration or parties. In the past century, alcohol was viewed in a more skeptical and indifferent manner compared to today when it has become an acceptable part of the modern society. In most societies, Fridays and Saturdays have become the most common drinking sessions for the working society. Many people enjoy drinking without complication but those that drink heavily repeatedly often develop complications. Sadly most alcohol related problems are quite serious and often lead to premature and painful death. Death related to alcohol might be health related where the user develops a complication or socially damage due to crime, careless driving, and other machinery related accidents. Not only does alcohol abuse because harm to an individual, but also impacts their families and society in general. Relationships and careers have been destroyed due to uncontrollable drinking and alcoholism. Since the body is a system that relies on the collective coordination of various body organs, alcohol disrupts the coordination and reliability of this function rendering all bodily functions running individually. This overworks the bodily functions thus overworking most vital organs. The most affected parts of the body resulting from excess intake of alcohol are the brain, liver, stomach, lungs, and heart.

What alcohol can lead to

Alcoholism Alcoholism is the physical dependence to alcohol in order to perform ordinary daily activities. Persons continue to drink despite the problems emanating from their families, finances, health, work, social, and the psychological complications. Problems cause by alcoholism result to psychological and not physical complications. Different people react to alcohol differently. This makes some individuals more prone to alcohol addiction compared to others. Researchers argue that certain genes act as predisposing factors for alcohol dependence (Stöppler 2011). However, amounts of alcohol taken still determine ones chances of addiction. Young adults undergoing peer pressure, depression, easy access to alcohol, low self-esteem and stress are known factors that may increase an individual’s alcohol intake. This consequently leads to addiction. Also, fifteen or more drinks for men and twelve or more drinks for women increase one’s chances of falling into addiction. Symptoms of alcohol addiction include; - Drinking alone - Violence while drinking - Unable to control one’s intake - Decreased performance in work or school - Creating excuses warranting drinking - Poor feeding habits - Hiding alcohol usage - Shaking in the morning or after long periods without alcohol - Poor grooming - Need for alcohol to get through the day Treatment for alcohol addiction is to stop using completely. Due to the rising numbers in the United States, efforts have been directed to help the patients stop completely. Programs like Alcohol Anonymous and Al-Anon are a few of support groups created to assist the patients in their recovery (Stöppler 2011).

Black outs and memory lapses

Alcohol is known to produce impairments in the memory of the user. As alcohol percentage increases, so does the memory incapacity increases. Other instances that promote alcohol memory problems are drinking large amounts of alcohol over a short period on an empty stomach. Black outs are when a user’s cognitive abilities completely collapse and they and up losing consciousness while in memory lapses, the user will appear normal but will hardly remember anything afterwards. Black outs have been known to expose individuals to rape, theft and other dangerous vices and insecurities (American Association for the Advancement of Science 2010). Memory lapses on the other hand leave the user lacking of knowledge of their activities promoting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted conditions that could have been prevented if they would have remembered. Research has revealed that over 51% of students who have consumed alcohol have suffered some form memory complication at some point in their lives (American Association for the Advancement of Science 2010). 40% reported to have experienced a blackout in the year before the survey. They also revealed that they had partaken in some form of dangerous activities that they could hardly remember. These include destruction of private property, unprotected sex, or driving while intoxicated. It was however noted that the percentage was equal to both men and women despite women’s significant low intake.

Poor judgment

Alcohol intake is widely associated to impaired judgment. Due to the relaxing abilities of alcohol, users often find themselves unable to access the part of their brain that is responsible for morality and principles. This leaves them with no guidelines or past experiences to refer to before engaging in certain activities. They find themselves with no voice of reason and thus doing things that they could not do if sober. For this reason many wake up in jail, engage in unprotected sexual activities sometimes with strangers and other actions that sometimes make an impact for a lifetime (American Association for the Advancement of Science 2010). Scores of people have testified to the same. This is because alcohol affects the central nervous system which is responsible for activity in the brain and the spine. After taking alcohol, people become more enthusiastic and with fewer reservations (American Association for the Advancement of Science 2010). The brain also slows in activity which continues to decrease with increased intake. The after effects include altered speech, difficulty in thinking, poor hearing, impaired vision, and memory impairment leading to poor judgment.

Women and alcohol

Women have been reported to be at a disadvantage compared to men in matters pertaining alcohol. The physiological make up of a woman is responsible for women feeling the effects of alcohol more than men even when they are of the same size. Researchers have also argued that women are more susceptible to alcohol related complications than men. This is because they process alcohol differently. One of the reasons that make them different is their decreased ability to dilute alcohol. An average woman has 52% water mass in their bodies compared to a man that has 61% (Public Health Agency 2009). The less body water means that men dilute alcohol faster compared to women. The second factor is their lowered ability to metabolize alcohol. A woman’s body has less dehydrogenase a liver enzyme used to break down alcohol. This lowers the ability of a woman to synthesize alcohol faster compared to men. Finally are the women’s hormonal factors. Certain premenstrual hormones make a woman more intoxicated compared to other days of her cycle. This is the hormone that is produced right before their menstrual period. Birth control medication also has the hormone estrogen which slows down the breakdown of alcohol from a woman’s body.

Different ways alcohol affects the body

Breast cancer Although breast cancer is known to occur in both sexes, it is most prevalent in women. Initially, high levels of breast cancer in women were solely associated with smoking. However, leaps in biological sciences have shown that alcohol abuse in women may be a predisposing factor to breast cancer. Research shows that alcohol intake increases the levels of Oestrogen a hormone predominant with the women productive systems. The more the alcohol intake the higher the Oestogen levels in the body (Public Health Agency 2009). At normal levels, it is essential for normal growth of the heart, bones and the functioning of the female reproductive organ. However, at higher levels, it is associated with the abnormal growth of cancer cells in the breast. Despite the fact that breast cancer is mostly uncontrollable, alcohol intake is one of the controllable factors that will reduce the chances of developing this deadly cancer. Breast cancer is the number one killing cancer in women and chances to avoid it should be taken seriously. Research conducted in 2009 shows that women who took three to five drinks in a week had a higher 15% chance of developing breast cancer (Public Health Agency 2009). In addition, women who drunk daily increased their risk by a further 10% (Public Health Agency 2009). Teenage girls who took three to five drinks a week were also found to increase their chances of developing non-cancerous lumps by 3%. Unlike in other cancer types, alcohol is argued to increase the chances of treated cancer coming back to women with previous diagnosis. Conclusively, it is safe to say, all types of drinking whether moderate, occasional, or binge drinking is a risk factor to women in the development of breast cancer.

Alcohol and liver disease

Liver disease is perhaps the most dangerous form of alcohol related complication known to man. This perilous disease is made worse by the fact that it stays for a very long time for it to manifest its symptoms. In addition, it is also because the liver is a very important organ of the body that is responsible for digestion, remove of toxins, and providing energy for the body. Due to its functions, it is the liquor controlling organ of a human. Because the liver has over 500 body functions, breaking down alcohol means more work for it (Longstreth 2013). If an individual participates in regular drinking, then the liver ends up being over worked hence damage leading to various liver diseases. When an individual drinks too much alcohol in a small period of time, they end up intoxicated due the alcohol circulating in the blood stream awaiting breakdown. The alcohol circulating to various body organs may cause harm to them. Overworking the liver may cause a fatty liver, liver inflammation, permanent scarring, or liver cancer (Longstreth 2013). Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the initial stages of liver disease. It is the less serious and more treatable form of liver disease. It is caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits on the liver after a few days of drinking. It hardly has any symptoms and is an indicator of excessive harmful drinking. If an individual stops drinking, the damage can be reversed. Alcoholic hepatitis is the more advanced stage of liver disease from fatty liver. Continuous alcohol abuse over many years may cause inflammation of the liver. This can also be caused by binge drinking. Treatment for this condition requires abandoning alcohol intake for long periods of time accompanied with drug intake (Longstreth 2013). Liver cirrhosis is the final and most dangerous form of liver disease. It is caused by the prolonged inflammation of the liver that causes scarring and loss of ability to carry out is function (Longstreth 2013). This stage of liver disease causes numerous deaths. This condition is irreversible and sometimes liver transplant may be needed. However, measures to stop drinking may lead to the gradual recovery of the liver in less serious conditions.

Alcohol and heart disease

Conventional doctors argue that light drinking may be good for the heart. Researchers argue that those who take one drink a day are less likely to suffer from heart disease compared to those that drink too much or do not drink at all. A little alcohol is said to increase good cholesterol, lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, and also artery damage. However, drinking may also cause stroke, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Today doctors will not advise patients to drink for their hearts since a little exercise and good nutrition may prevent the heart from these risks (American Heart Association 2013).

Younger and younger generations are engaging in alcohol abuse as the year’s progress. This has increased the number of complications that arise due to the damaging effects drinking. Levels of impotency and numbers of newborn complications are hitting the roofs with the advancing generations. Argent measures should be taken and more campaigns financed to educate everyone on the dangers of the intake of alcohol. In this generation, alcohol is viewed as an ordinary social part of the society and this should not be the case. Government and education institutions should crusade on the dangers of the drug that has been disguised by the rich who gain profits in producing the product. Efforts for investment should be channeled in other productive industries that promote healthy living and happier interactions with family and friends.

Recommendations

- Do not drink as your friends since everyone has a difference tolerance to alcohol determined by race, gender, nationality, weight and health. - All types of alcohol are equally harmful and intake should be regulated by the recommended intake depending on their content. - Never drink while on medication. This can lead to liver failure. - Women should drink less due to their predisposing physiological biological make up and hormonal changes. - If diagnosed with any form of liver disease, stop drinking completely to avoid further damage of the liver. - Drinking games that promote consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time should be avoided. - The safest recommended amount of alcohol is no alcohol. - Never drink when pregnant or trying to conceive. It affects and infertility and proper child growth.

American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2010) Alcohol and the human body. http://sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/alcohol/ebook/pages/human-body.htm American Heart Association. (2013) Alcohol and heart disease: alcohol and cardiovascular disease. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Alcohol-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_305173_Article.jsp# Longstreth, G. F. (2013) Alcoholic liver disease: Medline plus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000281.htm Public Health Agency. (2009) Know your limits. http://www.knowyourlimits.info/AboutAlcohol.aspx Stöppler, M. C. (2011) Alcohol abuse and alcoholism: MedicineNet.com. http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse_and_alcoholism/article.htm

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Negative Effects of Alcohol Essay, with Outline

Published by gudwriter on January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021

Effects of Alcoholism Essay Outline

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Thesis: Although praised by many as a way to pass time and relax, alcohol can affect an individually financially, socially, and psychologically.

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Financial Impact

• Alcohol drinkers may suffer other economic consequences such as low wages, loss of employment, increased medical expenses, and legal expenses.
• In some countries, alcoholics lose their eligibility for loans.
• In Cameroon, the cost of a single beer is more than the minimum daily wage of most individuals.
• In India and Malaysia, alcoholics are faced with challenges such as debt, illnesses, and injuries.
• Alcohol is closely related to poverty.

Social Impact

• The people that are most affected by alcoholism are the immediate family members.
• Impairment of an individual’s performance as a parent, partner and how he or she contributes to the normal functioning of a household.
• Heavy drinkers are known to have impaired judgement that can lead to one becoming violent.
• The social impact of alcoholism can be related to its physical effects.
• For example, for a heavily drinking mother, an unborn child may suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Read on essays examples on topics such as abortion .
• Parental drinking may lead to child abuse among other negative consequences on a child .

Psychological Impact

• One of the most significant psychological impact is an increase in suicidal tendencies.
• Alcohol has a negative impact on the brain explained through a form of liver damage referred to as hepatic encephalopathy.
• The effects of hepatic encephalopathy includes; altered sleep pattern, changes in mood and personality, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions.
• There are also cognitive effects such as a reduction in attention and issues with coordination.

Effects of Drinking Alcohol

Alcoholism is a common problem in many communities. It is persistent in many societies since alcohol consumption is considered as an attractive leisure activity by many. While this may be and actually is the case, alcohol has a negative impact on health. Its effects also often spill over to people who do not consume it when it gets to a level of addiction whereby many have to turn to relatives and loved ones to source for money with which to sustain their wasteful spending on alcoholism. Although praised by many as a way to pass time and relax, alcohol can affect an individual financially, socially, and psychologically.

The financial impact of alcohol is significant especially to the poor. In any session of alcohol consumption, heavy drinkers tend to spend a lot. Sometimes, alcohol drinkers may suffer other economic consequences such as low wages, loss of employment, increased medical expenses, and legal expenses. In some countries, alcoholics lose their eligibility for loans. In Sri Lanka for instance, a report revealed that at least 7% of men spent much on alcohol than they actually earned. In Cameroon, the cost of a single beer is more than the minimum daily wage of most individuals (Tamfuh, 2016). In India and Malaysia, alcoholics are faced with such serious challenges as debt, illnesses, and injuries (Armitage et al., 2015). Exacerbation of poverty and burden on women is another common occurrence facing most alcoholics. A majority of alcoholic men are faced with the constant need to source for extra income through such activities as stealing to sustain their behavior of alcoholism. In the long-run, their families end up in unimaginable debts and suffering.

Here, the people that are most affected by alcoholism are the immediate family members. It is proven that drinking too much alcohol impairs an individual’s performance as a parent and partner, and how he or she contributes to the normal functioning of a household. The situation can have a long lasting impact on children and partners, and is therefore a very serious one. For instance, heavy drinkers are known to have impaired judgment that can lead to them becoming violent (Kaufmann et al., 2014). Such an individual might turn against their partner or children and when this happens, it could have far-reaching effects on the lives of spouses and children.

The social impact of alcoholism can also be related to its physical effects. For example, for a heavily drinking mother, an unborn child may suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder . After birth, parental drinking may lead to child abuse among other negative consequences on a child. The child may end up suffering socially, psychologically, and economically.

There are numerous psychological effects of alcoholism . One of the most significant effect in this respect is an increase in suicidal tendencies whereby studies have shown that at least 15% of alcoholics end up committing suicide. In the same breadth, alcohol has a negative impact on the brain, explained through a form of liver damage referred to as hepatic encephalopathy. It is a disease that affects the normal functioning of the brain when the liver cannot perform its functions well. There are several psychological effects associated with this disease. Some of these effects include altered sleep patterns, changes in mood and personality, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions (Vilstrup et al., 2014). There are also cognitive effects such as a reduction in attention and issues with coordination.

Undoubtedly, alcoholism has an adverse impact on the financial, social, and psychological environment of the victim. The worst scenario is that alcoholism tends to affect others such as the immediate family members. It is a problem that has the potential to destroy families if not well checked. It can destroy the lives of children and as well interfere with the wellbeing of spouses of alcoholics. It is especially concerning that it is a problem that affects both men and women. In this respect, there is need to find ways through which the problem of alcoholism may be comprehensively addressed.

Armitage, C. J., Panagioti, M., Rahim, W. A., Rowe, R., & O’Connor, R. C. (2015). Completed suicides and self-harm in Malaysia: a systematic review.  General hospital psychiatry ,  37 (2), 153-165.

Kaufmann, V. G., O’farrell, T. J., Murphy, C. M., Murphy, M. M., & Muchowski, P. (2014). Alcohol consumption and partner violence among women entering substance use disorder treatment.  Psychology of Addictive Behaviors ,  28 (2), 313.

Tamfuh, W. Y. (2016). Drugs and drug control in Cameroon.  Pan-African Issues in Drugs and Drug Control: An International Perspective , 17.

Vilstrup, H., Amodio, P., Bajaj, J., Cordoba, J., Ferenci, P., Mullen, K. D., … & Wong, P. (2014). Hepatic encephalopathy in chronic liver disease: 2014 practice guideline by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.  Hepatology ,  60 (2), 715-735.

Undoubtedly, alcoholism has an adverse impact on the financial, social and psychological environment of the victim. The worst scenario is that alcoholism tends to affect others such as the immediate family members.

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After a 40-year hiatus, 'Happy Hours' will be legal again in Indiana. Here's what that means.

EVANSVILLE − The Indiana Legislature in March passed Indiana House Bill 1086, the so-called "Happy Hour" law that was signed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

When it takes effect on July 1, we’re going to see some changes. Here’s what that means for those of us who enjoy the occasional drink at a restaurant or bar.

According to the Indiana General Assembly website at iga.in.gov , House Bill 1086 addresses, (among other dry things pertaining to insurance and permits and so on) the following:

Things the Indiana 'Happy Hour' law will not allow

• It prohibits a retailer of alcoholic beverages from allowing a game on the premesis in which the winner is determined by how much alcohol the player consumes.
• No games may award alcohol as a prize, unless it is for charity gaming or a charity auction.
• It also prohibits selling an unlimited amount of alcohol for a fixed price − we’re looking at you, bottomless brunch mimosas.

Here is what the Indiana 'Happy Hour' law will allow

• It allows a qualified bar or restaurant to sell carry-out alcoholic beverages in “qualified” sealed, nonoriginal containers of no larger than four quarts. The container must be fully sealed, with no openings for straws or sipping. But it means that, while the law as it exists is not rich in specific details, a bar or restaurant could – potentially − sell growlers of draft beer or sealed containers of pre-mixed cocktails.
• Allows a retailer to reduce or increase the price of alcoholic beverages for part of the day. Since 1985, any specials have had to be run for the entire day. Now, Indiana may once again have happy hour, in which drinks and appetizers may be on special from, for example, 3-5 p.m. to catch the after-work crowd at a time that’s usually slow. Restaurants may not reduce prices for more than four hours in a single day nor for more than 15 hours in any one week.

Local bars are looking forward to July, but holding off on making concrete plans until the law is closer to taking effect and more details are forthcoming.

They are also looking for ways to integrate new specials into ones already being offered and ways to make more discounts a boost − not a drain − to the bottom line.

More: Evansville-area food news: 9 bites of food news for you this week

We asked a few local bar and restaurant owners and managers about what changes they see coming.

Jessica Nuffer, General Manager at Bokeh Lounge : “We don’t have all the details yet. From what I’m understanding on the Happy Hour, you can run say two-for-one drinks from say 3-6 p.m. again, not that anybody can afford to do that right now. I’m trying to get all the details on it, but I don’t think they’ve put out the fine print.

"I’ll probably do something, but it has to be cost effective and I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row.”

Lauren Burch, owner of Jennings Street Public House : “We’re not sure on the happy hour yet. We'll definitely do something, but we still have a few months to figure it out.”

Chase Oswald, owner of Bar Louie : “We are in the works of coming up with some happy hour offerings, but nothing is set in stone yet. We have several liquor, beer and wine promotions now that are available all day.

"The goal is to find an offering that doesn’t overlap with our existing promotions and is unique for that time slot.”

Tiffany Wynn, owner of Mojo’s Boneyard – “With the law not taking effect until July 1, we are still working on what we’d like to do.  We already do specialty drink days like $4 draft pint night every Thursday. And we already hold a carry-out license for bottled beer.

"During the COVID restrictions, we were able to sell growlers of draft beer and that was popular for us, until that option was repealed.  This new law would allow us to bring that back which would be good. We are still looking into what makes sense for our business model.”

170 Alcoholism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best alcoholism topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 interesting topics to write about alcoholism, 📑 good research topics about alcoholism, 📌 simple & easy alcoholism essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on alcoholism, ❓ research questions about alcohol addiction.

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• Alcohol Abuse, Behaviour, and Types of Personalities Personality type is a process that assists in the determination of people’s behavior; it however assists in the classification of people into distinct category types.
• The Main Problems of Alcoholism Despite the overall advance in treatment, alcoholism is still a challenge due to the lack of successful drug efficacy appraisals and pharmacotherapy personalization in patients with AUD.
• Alcoholism and Schizophrenia: Interconnection In addition to its physical effects on the chronic drinker’s body, alcohol is associated with a variety of mental impairments. Alcoholic dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome are among the most prominent concerns in the matter. The former is a blanket term for a variety of cognitive deficiencies caused by the substance. The latter is a two-stage […]
• Alcoholic Dementia and the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome However, this situation can be problematic because of the nature of the two conditions as well as their interactions. As such, medical practitioners struggle to prescribe treatments that are appropriate to the patient’s situation.
• Alcoholism as a Disease Recently, the scientific and medical consensus regarding alcoholism has shifted as the understanding of the underlying causes of the condition has improved.
• A Workaholic and an Alcoholic This happens due to the fact that workaholics and alcoholics both tend to neglect their responsibilities at the family level in favor of their engagements.
• Personality Issues Among Male People With Alcoholism The main message of the authors is that the personality degradation occurring during alcoholism is directly caused by problems of a socio-psychological nature.
• Counseling Theories in the Management of Alcoholics The amount of alcohol he needs to get drunk has been increasing over the years and he spends much of his income on alcohol.
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting After the analysis of a series of data collected over a fixed six months period, by the concerned members globally, in connection to that, 15% of accidents, 36% of deaths due to fire, and 26% […]
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Young People It is evident among drinkers that, when the BACs are low they develop a feeling of elation and when it rises, a feeling of friendliness begins to develop.
• Should Alcoholic Beverages Be Legalized for All Ages? Alcohol expectations vary across different cultures and this affects the mode of consumption and the age limit to which alcohol is taken. The loopholes in the law should also be amended to prevent any consumption […]
• Alcoholism as a Psychiatric and Medical Disorder He meets criteria A since he is unwilling to admit that he needs help to fight his dependence, which means that he requires the assistance of an expert to recognize the issue and, therefore, manage […]
• Intervention Techniques Focusing Drug Abuse and Alcoholism A technique of Family Intervention needs the concern, care and supremacy of love to penetrate the denial and start the treatment.
• Genetic Predisposition to Alcohol: The Appreciation and Therapy for Alcoholism Through family studies it has been established that the likelihood of alcohol dependence and similar complications happening is more in the families of the individuals who have been affected as compared to in the people […]
• Alcoholism: The Disease Is Often Progressive and Fatal According to the definition, the disease is a problem in society, but Colchado argues that if alcoholism is a problem, it cannot be considered a disease.
• Drinking and Alcoholism: Gender Divide in College In general, the purpose of the research was to arrive at evidence-based recommendations for university policy and guidance programs that could more holistically help students avoid binge drinking or alcoholism and systematically cope with the […]
• Drug & Alcohol Abuse Causes, Effects, Treatment First, it is necessary to indentify the age groups, most inclined to drug and alcohol addiction, and ascertain the major reasons for it. The research should discuss the problem of addiction from various standpoints therefore […]
• Alcoholism Is an Illness: Arguments in Favor Treating alcoholism as only a social problem is not enough because alcoholism is undeniably a very widespread and severe chronic illness that affects many people around the globe and thus should not be viewed as […]
• Genetic Basis for Alcoholism Further, Genetic studies will help you to understand more about the heritability of alcohol dependence and which will positively help you to explore the correlation of alcoholism to other disorders like major depression.
• Analysis of Alcoholic Products Market in Ireland One of the major threats to the alcoholic drinks industry in Ireland is the increase in the number of coffee shops on the high street.
• Critical Issues in Education: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism For this case, the ministry concerned has a very hard task of ensuring there are no critical issues that are left unsolved that relate to education, failure to which will affect the performance of students […]
• Alcoholism: Its Causes and Effects This is because when the levels of CYP2E1 are high, there is a greater level of lipid peroxidation within the liver, thus a lower ability of the liver to fight against the toxins that have […]
• Cirrhosis: Non- and Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 27%, is the end result of a hepatocellular injury that leads to both fibrosis and regenerative nodules throughout the liver. The main cause of alcoholic liver disease is the excessive intake of alcohol, whereas the […]
• Single Parents in the Alcoholic Classification In this category, the single parent, either the father or the mother is a chronic alcoholic and heavily uses alcohol and other substances.
• Alcoholic Fermentation and Metabolic Traits Furthermore, researchers intended to investigate the impact of human selection on strains’ food processing in addition to studying both the genetic variability and plasticity of different fermentation products between strains and food processes.
• Reducing the Alcohol Abuse Among the Youth This paper includes a brief discussion of two possible ways to improve the problem and the justification for the use of one of the options.
• Alcoholic Drinks Market Analysis Demand and supply are the foundations of economic analysis in the interaction of the two market forms. The law of demand and supply works in divergent ways in the sense that, when prices of commodities […]
• Alcoholism and Related Issues: Treatment Plan The patient is trying to get help to recover and rectify poor health conditions through medical treatment and the support of his family.
• Alcohol Abuse, Depression and Human Trafficking Patterson and Jeste point out that the high prevalence of alcohol abuse will increase in the future. Besides, Hanna indicates that domestic trafficking of girls in the US is a complex phenomenon to understand because […]
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting Analisys Based on these facts, it is possible to draw up an appropriate plan for assessing the effectiveness of the work done and the potential benefits for the members of the meeting.
• Treatments for Alcohol Abuse in the Military It is also notable that the use of illicit drugs and alcohol is not high among military professionals in comparison with the other members of the society. Stress and the nature of the working environment […]
• Alcoholics Anonymous Observation and Group Therapy The examination of therapeutic techniques employed in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous demonstrates that they are significant in guiding and helping alcoholics to control and cope with alcoholism. Comparatively, the group of alcoholics employed Alcoholics […]
• Alcohol Abuse for Military-Connected It should also be pointed out that in the earlier conversation Wilson expressed interest in transferring to a base that would be closer to home and revealed his intention to terminate service in order to […]
• Alcoholic Industry: Beam Suntory and Diageo Companies In the United States, the beverage industry continues growing: more than 60% of all revenues in the industry are made of the revenues of alcoholic beverages.
• Alcoholism as a Social Issue and Its Effect on Families Such children tend to think that they are the causes of the problem, which would end up affecting them psychologically. Since children are not helped to get out of the horrifying scenarios, they end up […]
• Children of Alcoholics and Substance Abusers The presence of an alcoholic or substance abuser is a family that leaves an imprint on the relationships inside and outside of a family, as well as on the child development and the mental health […]
• Disease Concept of Alcoholism The universal definition of a disease is anything that is capable of causing an imbalance in the body’s nervous system thus, going by this definition then it is a disease, but in this century whereby […]
• Alcoholic Hepatitis: Models and Treatment In the prophylaxis of the disease, prednisolone and pentoxifylline are the most widely used pharmacological agents with empirical evidence indicating that they have disparate results in the management of the severe form of the disease.
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings as Community Agency Nothing special is needed to become a member of the meetings at the Palatine club the only demand is the desire to stop drinking.
• Economic Tools: The Alcohol Abuse Problem Solving The four elements of an economic way of thinking are the use of assumptions, isolating variables, thinking at the margin, and the response of rational people to incentives.
• Social Article About Alcoholism Problem by Sanders Russell In his story “Under the Influence: Paying the Price of My Father’s Booze,” author Sanders Russell gives a deeply personal account of the effects of alcoholism in his family as he was growing up. Russell […]
• Alcoholic Anonymous Meeting as Group Therapy The AA meeting allows the participants to feel a sense of belonging. Describe the observations of the social milieu in an AA meeting.
• Social Issues: Alcoholism as a Mode of Addiction Every single case of alcoholic dependence described in the lecture is perfectly consistent with the existing model, each piece of evidence falling into its place and, therefore, allowing the audience to have an entire picture […]
• The Facts About Alcoholism The acetaldehyde reacts with the brain amines to produce isoquinolines which trigger the urge to drink more and more alcohol to combat the excess production of acetaldehydes in the body.
• Do Alcoholic People Interact Differently? The mode of interaction of alcoholics is different from that of non-alcoholics because the two categories of people operate in different states of mind.
• Alcohol Abuse Among Elderly The effects of moderate consumption of alcohol are more beneficial to the elderly than to the younger generations. Thus, in the body of this report contains a deeper discussion of the causes, effects and solutions […]
• Reducing Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Europe vs. USA For instance, the needle and syringe exchange program has helped to reduce the rate of HIV infection among the injection drug users in the UK, which is the pioneer of needle and syringe exchange program.
• Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Women Among all these destructive substances, alcohol is the leading one and a significant companion of the 21st century people as well as a way of relaxing to escape the difficulties of posed by life. It […]
• Definition of Alcohol Misuse (Alcohol Abuse and Addiction) in Youth Population Age 18-29 Analyzing the article of Jiang, it is possible to define the alcohol misuse simply as the excessive consumption of alcohol where a number of the young drinkers is higher than any other group of age […]
• Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry The structure of the industry is oligopolistic; this is since the industry is dominated by three major players which are Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Cadbury Schweppes.
• Social Influences on Behavior: Towards Understanding Depression and Alcoholism Based on Social Situations According to Smith & Mackie, dispositional variables entails the personalities, values, worldviews, and attitudes of the people that are interacting in a group, while situational variables comprise of the particular characteristics of the situation that […]
• Alcohol Abuse and the Contribution of Economists to Solving This Issue Analyzing the impact of a shift in supply, the researcher should consider the elasticity of demand as if the demand is elastic the price may be changed depending on the number of existing products at […]
• Alcoholism and the Impact Colonization Has Had on Aboriginals Once alcohol had become a part of the community, there was a gradual shift in the health of the people and they succumbed to illnesses.
• Diseases Caused by Alcohol Abuse and Its Preventions It is very important for the addicted person to feel all harmful consequences of the addiction and of alcohol in particular before giving up this bad habit.
• Alcoholism-Nature vs. Nurture Debate The analysis on physiological physiology regarding alcohol shows that, alcohol displays feelings of superiority and fearless behavior and also, it reduces an individual’s fear.
• Alcoholism: The Rough Road I was the only family he had and he had to move in with me in my apartment. Ken had nothing and he was willing to try anything to put his life back together.
• History of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Wilson and Smith went to the Oxford Group to learn the Oxford Group’s techniques of prayer, for example: surrender, guidance, and moral principles.
• Alcoholism Disease or Self Will Alcoholism as a disease has serious physical effects to the body because it affects organs and systems such as the liver, the heart, and the nervous system amongst other critical organs in the body. Alcoholism […]
• Analysis of the Video “Effects of Alcoholism on Children: An Oral History Video” From the lecture, it is evident that individuals who grow in families with alcoholic members are highly likely to become alcoholic in future compared to their counterparts who have grown up in non-alcoholic environments.
• Teenage Alcoholism: Parental Influence and How to Get Rid of Vice The teenagers are in the process of emulating or declining the parental guidance since they need their freedom and at the same time are trying to win the parental support and acceptance.
• The Wide Range of Effects of Alcoholism on the Personality of an Individual
• The Historical Realities of Alcoholism in the Mexican American Community and the Social Implications
• The Various Stages in the Development of Alcoholism
• The Problem of Alcoholism and Its Negative Impact on Our Health
• The Effect of Parental Attitudes on Teenage Alcoholism
• The Seriousness of the Problem of Alcoholism Among Teenagers in the U.S
• The Overwhelming Presence of Alcoholism in the Native American Community Today
• The Problem of Alcoholism in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, a Novel by Sherman Alexie
• The Issues of Alcoholism and The Effects it Has In society In The United States
• The Expensiveness, Seriousness, and Commonality of Alcoholism
• The Various Causes of Alcoholism and How a Person Becomes an Alcoholic
• Uncovering the Genetic Factors of Alcoholism
• The Genetic, Psycho-social and Environmental Factors in the Development of Alcoholism
• The Problem of Teen Alcoholism in the United States
• The Stigma of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
• The Rising Problem of Teenage Alcoholism and Its Contributing Factors
• The Use and Abuse of Alcohol, Its Negative Impact and the Disease of Alcoholism
• The Symptoms, Complications, Treatments, and Prevention of Alcoholism
• The Impact of Parental Alcoholism on Adult Children
• Understanding Alcoholism and How a User Develops into an Alcoholic
• Understanding Alcoholism and Its Effects on the Major Organ Systems
• The Objectives Of Client Advocacy In Alcoholism And Drug Abuse Treatment
• Understanding the Process in the Development of Alcoholism
• Alcoholism and Native America: The Therapeutic Pertinence of the Movie Smoke Signals
• The Psychological Effects and Problems about Alcoholism
• The Nature Vs. Nurture Debate In Learning More About Alcoholism
• The Reasons Why Alcoholism Should Be Considered a Disease
• The Proposition for Legal Age in the United States in Response to Alcoholism
• Understanding the Physical and Social Effects of Alcoholism
• Work Hard, Party Harder: Alcoholism And College Campuses
• Alcoholism as a Major Social, Economic and Public Health Problem in the United States
• Alcoholism and Its Effects on Women’s Reproductive Systems and Pregnancy
• An Analysis of the Issue of Alcoholism in American Society and Its Impact on Children
• Alcoholism as the Plot Builder of Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned
• An Analysis of the Definition, Symptoms, Causes and Effects of Alcoholism
• Alcoholism Disease And Alcoholism Physical Symptoms
• How People Become Alcoholics and Effects of Alcoholism
• Alcoholism: The Symptoms And Effects Of The Disease
• Factors, Symptoms And Treatment Of Alcoholism
• An Analysis of the Theme of Alcoholism in My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke
• Alcoholism Is An Extremely Common Disease And It Affects
• An Analysis of the Role of Genetics and Environment in Causing Alcoholism
• Genetics Is Just One of the Many Contributing Factors of Alcoholism
• Living With Alcoholism: How Does Alcoholism Affect Other Family Members
• What Alcoholism Is and What Are Its Side Effects?
• Does Drinking Every Day Make You an Alcoholic?
• What Are the Symptoms of Alcoholism?
• Is Alcoholism a Disease or a Habit?
• What Is the Best Definition of Alcoholism?
• How Does Alcohol Affect Behavior?
• What Are the Problems of Alcoholism?
• How Do You Stop a Man From Drinking?
• What Does Alcohol Do to the Brain?
• Can a Person Drink a Lot and Not Be an Alcoholic?
• What Is the Root Cause of Alcoholism?
• Which Person Would Be Most Likely to Develop Alcoholism?
• What Is the Life Expectancy of an Alcoholic?
• Does Alcohol Change Personality?
• What Happens if You Drink Alcohol Every Day for a Month?
• Does Alcohol Cause Anger Issues?
• What Does Your Drunk Personality Say About You?
• Does Alcohol Affect Mental Health?
• What Happens When You Stop Drinking?
• Does Alcohol Cause Dementia?
• What Are the Statistics of Recovering Alcoholics?
• How Does Alcohol Affect Sleep?
• What Are the Signs of Someone Who Drinks Too Much?
• When Is Drinking a Problem in a Relationship?
• What Are the First Signs of Liver Damage From Alcohol?
• Is Damage From Alcohol Reversible?
• What Is the Most Successful Way to Stop Drinking?
• Is It True That Once an Alcoholic Always an Alcoholic?
• What Are the Four Types of Drinkers?
• What Is the First Step in the Development of Alcoholism?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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IvyPanda . "170 Alcoholism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/alcoholism-essay-topics/.

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Review: In ‘Still,’ Confessions Doom Two Reunited Lovers

Despite a juicy premise, this Colt Coeur production, starring Tim Daly and Jayne Atkinson, never manages to take off.

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By Rhoda Feng

In her essay “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction,” the novelist Ursula K. Le Guin hymned the bag as the proper shape for stories: it “is full of beginnings without ends, of initiations, of losses, of transformations and translations, and far more tricks than conflicts.”

One of the characters in Lia Romeo’s “Still,” a writer, carries just such a bag — a possible wink to her fellow novelist. The tote is large enough to house a ukulele, an avocado and a package of macadamia nuts — all of which are divulged in the play’s single moment of spontaneity — but its owner can’t seem to effect any Le Guinian “transformations” or “tricks.” There is a sense of stasis to the aptly named two-hander, which never ripens from a situation into a story.

“Still,” a Colt Coeur production that opened recently at DR2 Theater in the East Village, begins with two characters, former flames, meeting in a bar. Mark (a suave Tim Daly) and Helen (Jayne Atkinson) are in their mid-60s and haven’t seen each other in years. Sharing a bottle of wine, they shoot the breeze about their children and recent divorce (him) and new book and cancer diagnosis (her).

At first, they are content to pretend their past romance has subsided into a platonic relationship, but as the alcohol goes to their heads, they admit to carrying a torch for each other. A highlight of the show is their seduction scene: It’s the first I’ve seen onstage that unabashedly invokes the corporeal indignities of aging. The director Adrienne Campbell-Holt has Mark and Helen walk slowly toward each other while making sotto voce confessions: “I’m missing the nail on my right big toe,” “I have three fake teeth,” “I have arthritis in my knees.” Do I need to spell out what happens next?

Alexander Woodward’s softly lit set spins to reveal a hotel room. Resting against each other in bed, Mark and Helen proceed, post-coitally this time, with their confessions. Mark, who lives in Colorado, is considering relocating to Washington, D.C., to run for Congress, as a “moderate” Republican. “I wish you’d told me that before we ——” Helen says, gesturing limply to the bed with rumpled sheets. She considers herself a liberal, but political differences aren’t the only thing on her mind.

Part of the reason their relationship ended was because she had an abortion. Despite what Mark told her decades ago, he wanted Helen to have the baby. She, on the other hand, had felt — and still feels — that it would have been a mistake. “When we walked out of that clinic, I was — scraped out, and I was sad. But I felt so light, knowing that … all my cells were my own again,” she tells him. The stage is thus set for a real conflict.

Romeo is too smart to turn her characters into slogans for and against abortion rights, but neither does she do anything more than scatter the seeds of a setup. Precisely when we want her to floor the accelerator, she brakes, steps out of her vehicle and abandons her characters. Will Helen publish a memoir about her abortion? Will the book torpedo Mark’s chances of being elected to Congress?

We’ll never know. The play doesn’t end so much as peter off, like the volume dying down in a pair of headphones. That’s too bad because the premise of “Still” is juicy enough for one of Helen’s novels. She may one day turn it into a sequel to her current best seller, but as she knows better than anyone, those can take a vexingly long time to write.

Still Through May 18 at the DR2 Theater, Manhattan; coltcoeur.org . Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes.