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Alcoholism And Alcohol Abuse Essay

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Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are diseases that are plaguing the nation, due to the fact that alcohol is not seen as a dangerous substance, though it can be very dangerous for your health.. According to ncadd.org, about 1 in every 12 adults is affected by alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are often confused as the same thing, but they are not. Alcohol abuse is simply the overconsumption of alcohol over a long period of time. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are different because alcoholism is when the body starts to become physically dependent on alcohol forming an actual addiction.

Short term effects of alcohol are not incredibly damaging, unlike the long term effects, which can wreak havoc on the body. While under the …show more content…
Abuse occurs when a person’s body develops a tolerance to alcohol and they begin drinking more and more in order to get drunk, eventually begins to have a physical dependence on it. When someone has a physical dependence on alcohol, not drinking will cause them to have withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, nausea/vomiting, tremors, and increased heart rate. Alcohol abuse is diagnosed by the repeated use of alcohol causing a person relationship problems, legal trouble, physical danger, and interferes with responsibilities. It can be caused by a number of things including: genetic vulnerability, as a coping mechanism for mental health issues, or social pressure. People who abuse alcohol aren't necessarily alcoholics, but they have the potential to become one. Familydoctor.org says that someone abusing alcohol will drink 7-14+ drinks a week, or 3-4 drinks per occasion. Alcohol abuse can interfere with a person's daily activities and make them unable to complete tasks at work, school, or home. This could cause them to lose their job. Constant drinking can cause ulcers in the stomach, foul breath, weight gain, dizziness, alcohol poisoning, and breakouts. It affects a person’s ability to think straight, and so they’re more likely to get into arguments, fights, have unprotected sex, or injure themselves or someone else while swimming, driving, or operating

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