Alcohol Abuse Effects On Society

Introduction

Alcohol is an addictive drink, and the person who takes it more in more than usual quality becomes dependent on it. Some people consider alcohol abuse and addiction the same things, but it is not true. In the case of alcohol addiction, the person is physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol but has a tolerance for the substance, while the person who abuses alcohol uses it in excessive amounts. Alcohol abuse is a riskier condition as the person becomes permanently dependent on it. The person who is dependent on alcohol and the people around him should take steps to make a change because it has detrimental effects. In common situations, alcohol abuse results in losing control of life, disturbance in the social circle, and exploiting the young generation.

Discussion

Everyone handles alcohol differently. In some cases, it is easy for the person to have control over his body. However, it is not possible for many people to maintain a balance. They take excessive alcohol, and their behavior goes out of the levels of socially acceptable behavior. It results in giving out control of the person to alcohol. Alcohol has significant effects not only physically but also on the human mind. Alcohol enters the bloodstream of a person and then circulates through the whole body. There comes the point when it enters the brain cells, and the person starts losing control over the actions he performs. It can be dangerous in some cases. There is a significant relation observed for intake by the person committing suicide, and it shows that about 35.8% of people have a positive reading of blood alcohol level (Hayward et al.). The coordination center is the brain directly affected by taking alcohol, and this makes the person clumsy. The reactions and movements of a person do not remain in his control because of no coordination. Therefore, it is good to take the amount of alcohol that can be easily handled.

The second issue that occurs because of alcohol abuse is the disturbance of social circles. Not only the person abusing alcohol is affected, but also the people around him face detrimental consequences. The person may feel better after taking alcohol, but using it excessively results in issues with other people around. Alcohol intake results in violent behavior, and this behavior is commonly exhibited in spouses, especially wives. It is also suggested that the depiction of violent behavior after taking alcohol is because of the innate need for control and power (Gondolf). The person sometimes also gets involved in the violent activities of damaging private and public property. The productivity of the person at work is also reduced, so he is also affected financially because of alcohol abuse. Things like violent crimes and domestic violence become common for people taking alcohol, so they experience bad social consequences.

The third effect of alcohol abuse is commonly observed in young adults. Alcohol is a drug that mostly attracts young people. They take it to feel better, or in some cases, it also starts with peer pressure. It is common among teens because they find it easily in their social settings. They also do not take part in preventive activities for restricting alcohol use, which gives rise to problems of alcohol abuse (Zakocs). The behavior of teens is affected by the use of alcohol as they break the rules and depict stubborn attitudes. They start hiding from their parents by making excuses. Poor hygiene is another issue with alcohol abusers that results in various health issues. Most teens do it because of depression, and some of them drink because of peers and social circles. However, the cases of severe alcohol abuse occur when children start taking alcohol at a young age, mostly less than 15. Their dependence on alcohol increases, and they cannot get out of this trap.

Rebuttal

The first argument was that in case of excessive alcohol intake, the person loses control of his life. However, sometimes it is good to lose control over life. After drinking, the person may not have any control over how he behaves, but this is key to truth. It can be helpful in keeping the person in the mood of celebration, and he does things that he cannot do otherwise. It increases the confidence level and support in doing courageous things. The second argument was about a disturbance in social life. It can be countered by taking less amount of alcohol. When the person does not consume alcohol in excess, this result in giving the taste as well as better relations can be maintained. The third argument was about the exploitation of youth. There is no way that the intake of alcohol by a teenager can be justified, but if the health benefits of alcohol are considered, it may change the perspective. It is proven through medical research that taking some amount of alcohol every night is fine if the person is not suffering from any particular disease (Room et al.). Therefore, if alcohol is taken in moderation, it may have health benefits for the person rather than problems.

Conclusions

Alcohol abuse is a major issue that gives rise to many problems in society. No matter how many arguments are provided in its support, it is always clear that taking alcohol is not good. It gives rise to multiple social issues. The self-control of a person is lost, and the intake of alcohol by teenagers results in destroying their lives. Taking a sip or two occasionally may relax a person or boost their confidence level, but excessive intake is always hazardous for the person and his surroundings as well.

Works Cited

Gondolf, Edward W. “Alcohol abuse, wife assault, and power needs.” Social Service Review 69.2 (1995): 274-284.

Hayward, Linda, Stephen R. Zubrick, and Sven Silburn. “Blood alcohol levels in suicide cases.” Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 46.3 (1992): 256-260.

Room, Robin, et al. “International regulation of alcohol.” BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online) 337 (2008).

Zakocs, Ronda C. “Local option policies and alcohol availability in North Carolina counties.” Journal of Public Health Policy 21.3 (2000): 328-341.