Navigating the Perils of Alcohol Abuse: Health and Social Risks

Abstract

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse Alcohol abuse includes a spectrum of unhealthy behaviors associated with drinking alcohol. Abuse of alcohol ranges from binge drinking, dependence of alcoholic beverages, health problems resulting from drinking, and involvement in alcohol related crimes. People involved in alcohol abuse are exposed to preventable health and social problems depending on the type and level of abuse. Apart from tobacco, alcohol is the drug with the largest preventable effects on the health of the users ranging from liver problems to mental health issues. Alcohol use disorder is a significant global problem affecting people differently depending on their age, gender, and state of physical health (Caamano-Isorna et al., 2160). For men, risky drinking is defined as the consumption of greater than 14 standard drinks in a week or 4 drinks at a time. The amount is lower for women with risky drinking being defined as the consumption of 7 or more drinks in a week. Binge drinking is the consumption of 5 or more drinks for men and 4 drinks for women on a single occasion. Both risky and binge drinking have significant implications for the consumers, their family members, and the society in general. Alcohol abuse, either on occasion or over time, has significant health implications on the users. Alcohol impairs the functioning of the brain and affects the capacity of people to communicate and behave normally. Risky drinking causes damages on the brain and affects how it looks or functions making it harder for users to move with coordination. On the other hand, binge drinking affects how people behave on the short-term and increased abuse of alcohol has negative implications on mental health of the users. Additionally, alcohol abuse over the long-term affects the functioning of the heart and is associated with life threatening health problems. The effects include cardiomyopathy or the stretching of the heart muscles making it difficult to function properly (Caamano-Isorna et al., 2160). Alcohol abuse on the short-term and long-term increases the risk of arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats and stroke. People with a history of alcohol abuse have a greater likelihood of having high blood pressure and associated health issues. By far the greatest health issue associated with long-term alcohol abuse is the development of liver problems. Alcohol abuse causes an inflammation of the liver leasing to a variety of problems and health complications. Long-term health issues include liver cirrhosis, fibrosis, and steatosis or fatty liver (Lee 468). While liver problems may arise from other causes, alcohol abuse is the greatest cause of major issues with the liver and its associated health implications. In addition to risky and binge drinking, moderate drinking increases the risk of liver complications that may have life-threatening effects on the users. Moreover, alcohol abuse has a significant toll on the immune system and negatively affects the capacity of the body to fight diseases (Dguzeh et al. 1084). Chronic drinkers are susceptible to diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia than people who drink less alcohol on the long-term. The effects of alcohol abuse on the immune system include the inability of the body to wade off infections after occasions of binge drinking. Hours after occasions of heavy drinking, the body of an alcohol abuser is less capable of fighting infections than that of people who have not consumed alcohol. Pregnancy women are encouraged to practice zero consumption to avoid negatively affecting their health and that of their babies. Risky behavior associated with alcohol abuse has the potential to harm to the health of mothers and their babies (Roberts 716). Alcohol consumption among pregnant women, their spouses, and family members can lead to risky behavior affecting the health of the mother and the baby. Moreover, alcohol consumption and abuse to develop health problems associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. The disease causes a pattern off physical abnormalities that could be life threatening and have long-term effects on the children. Additionally, mothers abusing alcohol during pregnancy potentially risk the mental development of their children and the problems increase with the frequency of drinking. The slowed development of the fetus’s brain affects their physical growth after birth and could lead to retardation after birth. Avoiding alcohol during pregnancy improves the health of the fetus and that of the mother (Roberts 717). However, long-term alcohol abuse leading to dependence could make it harder for women to avoid the drug during pregnancy. The health implications of alcohol use affect the capacity of mothers to take care of their children and become providers before and after birth. Being involved in alcohol abuse makes it challenging for individuals to provide for their children effectively and leads to negative health implications. The effects of alcohol abuse extend beyond the individual and the effects on the health of the people involved. In particular, alcohol abuse causes addiction and the implications are felt by friends, family members, and the community in general. Alcohol addiction occurs as a result of the gradual abuse of the drug and mostly arises unknown to the users and their family members. People who become addicted with alcohol use are likely to conceal their dependence on the drug or be in denial of their health condition. As the use of alcohol increases among individuals of all ages and gender, it is critical to consider the consequences of abusing the drug to the individual and to other people (Roberts 715). One of the major effects of alcohol addiction is that it changes people and their capacity to develop interpersonal relationship. When individuals are focused on feeding their addiction, they are likely to manipulate their family members and friends into thinking they have managed their addiction. On the contrary alcohol addiction is a critical problem to the individuals and other people who interact with them at a personal level. Like with other drugs, people who develop alcohol dependence compromise their interpersonal relationships while focusing on feeding their addiction. Alcohol abuse has significant implications on the mental health of individuals who are involved with the drug. Alcohol affects the capacity of people to function normally and meet their obligations either at...