Alcohol Question Essay. Treatment. Psychology Assignment.

Students: Read completely the instructions given below

on how to write your paper.

The paper you are about to write should be in response and reaction to the article on “Alcohol”

provided to you by your professor. The paper is to be a minimum of 250 words. It is to be written in

and submitted in eCampus.

The best and easiest way to write the paper is to read the article first and then answer each question

in the series of questions related to the article on "Alcohol." These questions are provided for you

immediately below these instructions in the section entitled "QUESTIONS." Answer the questions as

well as you can based on your understanding, interpretation, and assessment of the article on

“Alcohol.” There is no right or correct answer; what is required is your opinion.

Each question has been given an alphanumeric code (for example: "CE-1"). After you read a

question answer that question by placing question's alphanumeric code at the beginning of your

answer/response. Therefore, you would write your paper answering each of the eight (8) questions

in order and in the following format.

Example:

(CE-1) My attitudes and beliefs compared to other cultures and communities when it comes to

the use and abuse of alcohol is that I believe . . . . (CE-2) I would connect and extend this

information on alcohol use and abuse to civic engagement by . . . . etc.

The following are the eight (8) questions (with their alpha-numeric code) which you MUST answer.

Please think about what the article on "Alcohol" said concerning each of these questions and then

provide your answer based on what you learned, understand, interpret, and assess in reading the

article.

Students: Write your paper by answering each question

(including the alpha-numeric code) in the order they are given.

QUESTIONS:

CE-1 Considering the “alcohol article” to be reflective of our culture and community describe how our

attitudes and beliefs may differ from those of other cultures and communities when it comes to the

use and abuse of alcohol. And would you be curious about the results of a similar study on alcohol

conducted in other cultures and communities?

CE-2 Based on the facts of the “alcohol article” how might you connect and extend this information

to civic engagement and what might your participation be in applying the knowledge you gained from

the “alcohol article” to your participation in civic life, politics, and government?

CE-3 What experiences have you had with the general population/citizens/friends with regard to

alcohol use and abuse and what did you learn about yourself as it relates to your growing sense of

civic identity and commitment?

CE-4 In any of the encounters you have had with the general population/citizens/friends concerning

the use and abuse of alcohol were you able to express, listen, and adapt your ideas and messages

based on others’ perspectives. If so, briefly explain how.

CE-5 Have you ever participated in, or been a leader in, a civic (general population/ citizens/friends)

action (helping others) with reflective insights or analysis about the aims and accomplishments of

your actions in wanting to help them? If so, give an example.

CE-6 Before reading the “alcohol article” and responding to this questionnaire what I used to think

about my civic responsibility to educate and interact with others about the use and abuse of alcohol

and demonstrate my ability and commitment to collaboratively work across and within community

contexts (friends) and structures (the general population) to achieve a civic aim was:

CE-7 After reading the “alcohol article” and responding to this questionnaire what I now think about

my civic responsibility to educate and interact with others about the use and abuse of alcohol and

demonstrate my ability and commitment to collaboratively work across and within community contexts

(friends) and structures (the general population) to achieve a civic aim is:

CE-8 You have just read an article entitled “Alcohol.” After reading and understanding the contents

of the article if you had to give the article a new title or “HEADLINE” what would you name this article,

what would you make its new “HEADLINE” and why?







Students:

Read the article below completely before you write your paper.

You may refer back to this article as you write your paper if you so

desire .

Alcohol

Alcohol is the common name for ethyl alcohol, the intoxicating element in fermented and distilled

liquors. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is not a stimulant. The noisy animation at drinking parties is

due to alcohol's effect as a depressant. Small amounts of alcohol reduce inhibitions and produce

feelings of relaxation and euphoria. Larger amounts cause greater impairment of the brain until the

drinker loses consciousness. Alcohol is also not an aphrodisiac. Rather than enhancing sexual

arousal, it usually impairs performance, especially in males. As William Shakespeare observed long

ago, drink “provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance.”

Some people become relaxed and friendly when they are drunk. Others become aggressive and want

to argue or fight. How can the same drug have such different effects? Some people drink for pleasure

while others drink to cope with negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression. That's why

alcohol abuse increases with the level of stress in people's lives. People who drink to relieve bad

feelings are at great risk of becoming alcoholics ( Kenneth, Carpenter, & Hasin, 1998).

Also, when a person is drunk, thinking and perception become dulled or shortsighted, a condition that

has been called alcohol myopia (my-OH-pea-ah) (Giancola et al., 2010). Only the most obvious and

immediate stimuli catch a drinker's attention. Worries and “second thoughts” that would normally

restrain behavior are banished from the drinker's mind. That's why many behaviors become more

extreme when a person is drunk. On college campuses, drunken students tend to have accidents, get

into fights, sexually assault others, or engage in risky sex. They also destroy property and disrupt the

lives of students who are trying to sleep or study (Brower, 2002).

Abuse

Alcohol, the world's favorite depressant, breeds our biggest drug problem. More than 20 million

people in the United States and Canada have serious drinking problems. One American dies every

20 minutes in an alcohol-related car crash. Significant percentages of Americans of all ages abuse

alcohol (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral

Health Statistics and Quality http://www(dot)samhsa(dot)gov/data/NSDUH/2k11Results/NSDUHresults2011.htm. (Substance

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2011)

Many Americans of all ages abuse alcohol. According to this 2010 survey, about 40 percent of young

adults aged 18–29 admitted to heavy alcohol use or binge drinking in the month before the survey

was administered

It is especially worrisome to see binge drinking among adolescents and young adults. Binge drinking

is defined as downing five or more drinks (four drinks for women) in a short time. Apparently, many

students think it's entertaining to get completely wasted and throw up on their friends. However, binge

drinking is a serious sign of alcohol abuse (Beseler, Taylor, & Leeman, 2010). It is responsible for

1,800 college student deaths each year and thousands of trips to the emergency room (Mitka, 2009).

Binge drinking is of special concern because the brain continues to develop into the early twenties.

Research has shown that teenagers and young adults who drink too much may lose as much as 10

percent of their brain power—especially their memory capacity (Brown et al., 2000). Such losses can

have a long-term impact on a person's chances for success in life. In short, getting drunk is a slow but

sure way to get stupid (Wechsler & Wuethrich, 2002).

At Risk

Binge drinking and alcohol abuse have become serious problems among college students

(Tewksbury, Higgins, & Mustaine,2008).

Children of alcoholics and those who have other relatives who abuse alcohol are at greater risk for

becoming alcohol abusers themselves. The increased risk appears to be partly genetic. It is based on

the fact that some people have stronger cravings for alcohol after they drink (Hutchison et al., 2002).

Women also face some special risks. For one thing, alcohol is absorbed faster and metabolized more

slowly by women's bodies. As a result, women get intoxicated from less alcohol than men do. Women

who drink are also more prone to liver disease, osteoporosis, and depression. Each extra drink per

day adds 7 percent to a woman's risk of breast cancer (Aronson, 2003).

Recognizing Problem Drinking

What are the signs of alcohol abuse? Because alcohol abuse is such a common problem, it is

important to recognize the danger signals. If you can answer yes to even one of the following

questions, you may have a problem with drinking (adapted from the College Alcohol Problems Scale,

revised; Maddock et al., 2001):

As a result of drinking alcoholic beverages I… .

1. engaged in unplanned sexual activity.

2. drove under the influence.

3. did not use protection when engaging in sex.

4. engaged in illegal activities associated with drug use.

5. felt sad, blue, or depressed.

6. was nervous or irritable.

7. felt bad about myself.

8. had problems with appetite or sleeping.

Moderated Drinking

Almost everyone has been to a party spoiled by someone who drank too much too fast. Those who

avoid overdrinking have a better time, and so do their friends. But how do you avoid drinking too

much? After all, as one wit once observed, “The conscience dissolves in alcohol.” It takes skill to

regulate drinking in social situations, where the temptation to drink can be strong. If you choose to

drink, here are some guidelines that may be helpful (adapted from Miller & Munoz, 2005; National

Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2008):

Paced Drinking

1. Think about your drinking beforehand, plan how you will manage it, and keep track of how

much you drink.

2. Drink slowly (no more than one drink an hour), eat while drinking or drink on a full stomach,

and make every other drink (or more) a nonalcoholic beverage.

3. Limit drinking primarily to the first hour of a social event or party.

4. Practice how you will politely but firmly refuse drinks.

5. Learn how to relax, meet people, and socialize without relying on alcohol.

And remember, research has shown that you are likely to overestimate how much your fellow

students are drinking (Maddock & Glanz, 2005). So don't let yourself be lured into overdrinking just

because you have the (probably false) impression that other students are drinking more than you.

Limiting your own drinking may help others as well. When people are tempted to drink too much, their

main reason for stopping is that “other people were quitting and deciding they'd had enough”

(Johnson, 2002).

Treatment

Treatment for alcohol dependence begins with sobering up the person and cutting off the supply. This

phase is referred to as detoxification (literally, “to remove poison”). It frequently produces all the

symptoms of drug withdrawal and can be extremely unpleasant. The next step is to try to restore the

person's health. Heavy abuse of alcohol usually causes severe damage to body organs and the

nervous system. After alcoholics have “dried out” and some degree of health has been restored, they

may be treated with tranquilizers, antidepressants, or psychotherapy. Unfortunately, the success of

these procedures has been limited.

One mutual-help approach that has been fairly successful is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). AA takes a

spiritual approach while acting on the premise that it takes a former alcoholic to understand and help

a current alcoholic. Participants at AA meetings admit that they have a problem, share feelings, and

resolve to stay “dry” one day at a time. Other group members provide support for those struggling to

end dependency (Vaillant, 2005). (Other “12-step” programs, such as Cocaine Anonymous and

Narcotics Anonymous, use the same approach.)

Other groups offer a rational, nonspiritual approach to alcohol abuse that better fits the needs of

some people. Examples include Rational Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS).

Other alternatives to AA include medical treatment, group therapy, mindfulness meditation, and

individual psychotherapy (Buddie, 2004; Jacobs-Stewart, 2010). There is a strong tendency for

abusive drinkers to deny they have a problem. The sooner they seek help, the better.