Alcohol

Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
-Intro
1.Alcoholism

-What is alcholism? : An alcoholic is a person who suffers from alcoholism - the body is dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is a chronic(long-term) disease. People who suffer from alcoholism are obsessed with alcohol and cannot control how much they consume, even if it is causing serious problems at home, work and financially.

Symptons:-Drinking alone.
-Drinking in secret.
-Not being able to limit how much alcohol is consumed.
-Blacking out - not being able to remember chunks of time.
-Having rituals and beingirritated/annoyed when these rituals are disturbed or commented on. This could be drinks before/during/after meals, or after work.
-Dropping hobbies and activities the person used to enjoy; losing interestin them.
-Feeling an urge to drink.

What cause alcoholism?: Alcohol dependence is a gradual process which can take from a few years to several decades to become a problem - with some veryvulnerable people, the addiction can come in a question of months. Eventually, over time, regular alcohol consumption can disrupt the balance of the brain chemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), whichcontrols impulsiveness, as well as glutamate, which stimulates the nervous system. Brain levels of dopamine are raised when we consume alcohol - dopamine levels may make the drinking experience moregratifying. Over the long- or medium-term, excessive drinking can significantly alter the levels of these brain chemicals, making the person's body crave alcohol in order to feel good and avoid feeling bad.Alcoholism in teenagers: Alcohol is widely used by young people. Around 90 per cent of Australian teenagers over the age of 14 years have tried alcohol at least once. Binge drinking, drink drivingand unsafe sex can all result from the misuse of alcohol. 

Alcohol is tolerated as a socially acceptable drug, yet it is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population. Alcohol...