Creative Writing Assignment Paper about Alcoholism

Xiajie GAO (Sophia)
Professor Jessica
WRT 102.41
12April 2017
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse has cost many people their lives and families, and in fact, statistics have shown that 88,000 people are losing their lives in the United States annually as a result of alcohol consumption (Centers for Disease Control, Par.1). Apart from deaths that have been reported, excessive alcohol consumption has several other negative effects. For instance, it has led to breakage of families, loss of jobs as well as emotional depression to the victims of alcohol consumption. This paper will look into effects of excessive alcohol consumption. This paper will also ascertain that alcohol is a deadly disease that should be fought by everyone in the society due to its numerous effects both economically and socially.
Researchers have pointed out that out of all the preventable deaths that have occurred in the United States, alcohol is the fourth cause after cigarette smoking, obesity and high blood pressure. Statistics from Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that excessive alcohol consumption has caused approximately 88,000 deaths annually, and a whooping 2.5 million years of chances of life lost every year in the United States, and this was according to the research that was carried out between 2006 and 2010. Consumption of alcohol in the United States has led to negative impact on the economic growth. Alcohol abuse or excessive alcohol consumption refers to having hazardous drinking or dangerous drinking habits; in daily drinking or consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol at a go (Gelernter et al., 35). Experts’ advice on excessive consumption of alcohol is that it has got far reaching effects on human life. Some of the possible effects of alcoholism include; breakage of relationships, missing work, legal problems, diseases and deaths. This paper explores reasons as to why alcohol abuse is a disease and should be categorized among the deadliest killer diseases and its effects.
According to several studies that have been conducted before, it has been proven that alcohol addiction is a disease and is it is among the leading killer diseases globally. Alcohol addiction is a disease that poses both mental and physical illnesses and it has been categorized as a mental disorder whose treatment may take quite a lot of time (Mayo Clinic, par.6). It is important to note that the symptoms of alcohol mental illness occur long before the physical symptoms. Some of the symptoms of alcohol addiction include; loss of control, lack of appetite to eat, loss of family connection and living on alcohol, these are some of the mental disorders. These are some of the evidences that those who refer to alcohol as a disease do base their arguments on. Alcohol abuse has also led to loss of lives through accidents, and diseases like liver cirrhosis that is caused by alcohol consumption. However, there are other scholars that have refuted this argument by saying that alcohol is not a disease (Berger, 10).
Alcoholism has vastly been referred to as a form of disease which is very dangerous not only to the user, but also to the society at large. However, some researchers are of the argument that viewing alcoholism as a disease is a misplaced argument. This argument has only limited the problem to disease hinders its diagnosis, treatment, as well as understanding the condition of alcoholism. The argument that alcoholism is a disease first came up in 1930s, when the Director of the Center of Alcoholism, studied the book by E.M Jellinek (Berger, 10). In this book, Jellinek came up with another concept of alcoholism, stating that alcoholism is a disease gives it a different definition. If people adhere strictly to the disease bit of it or model, then an opportunity to frame alcoholism in a different way could be missed. Therefore, claiming that alcoholism is a disease reduces or diminishes the morality of its stigma (Albrecht, par. 9).
Alcohol disorders that may also be referred to as alcoholism is defined as a pattern of using alcohol that entails problems like being unable to control the level of alcohol consumption even if it will lead to health problems. It is also referred to as a situation where one drinks large quantities of alcohol but will still get the same effect as drinking one or two bottles. Alcohol disorders are also the same as having withdrawal symptoms when an individual is in the process of stopping or reducing the alcohol drinking behavior (Grant et al, 23). Unhealthy ways for using alcohol include behaviors such as a person putting his or her life or health at risk or any other problem that is associated. Alcohol disorders also include binge drinking. Binge drinking refers to a situation whereby while a male drinker can consume five bottles of alcohol within two or below hours; a female can consume four or more bottles of alcohol within two or below hours (Patrick and John, 2). It is important to note that a binge drinker is at a higher risk of suffering serious health or safety risks that are connected to consumption of alcohol. It is also important to note that if an individual experiences continuous stress or depression and problems in performing his or her daily duties or functions in life, then there is a likelihood that the person is suffering from alcohol disorder. Additionally, alcohol use disorders can either be mild or severe, nevertheless, even a mild disorder can cause or escalate to serious health problems and therefore it is advisable for the victim to seek medical attention early enough to help alleviate possible problems (Mayo Clinic, par.1).
Alcohol abuse has got several effects in the society and its effects are far-reaching and deadly. Alcohol abuse has not only affected the users, but also those who are related to them and the society at large. Alcoholism has got both economic and social effects on both to the...