Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Miscellaneous alchol alchol Alcohol is a substance that has numerous diverse affects on the body-both positive and negative. Alcohol not only kills brain cells, but when taken in profusion it has almost no constructive affects. Sure it can make one overlook his/her problems, but the consequences of drinking in excess far outweigh the benefits. It is not a crime to get drunk, however alcohol will almost always cause one to conduct them self in a way he or she would not normally behave. For instance, a sober man will not usually drive ninety-five mph down I-95, however, after consuming a good amount of alcohol, his eyesight, judgement, reflexes and abilities are hindered to the point that he feels indestructible. Alcohol is a drug, and when abused it has almost no positive affects. It is the most widely used and socially acceptable drug in the world. (Taylor, 6-7) Alcohol abuse is more physically destructive than the abuse of any other popular drug. When much is consumed in a short period of time, alcohol (ethanol) causes immediate changes in the body. First it slows down the workings of the brain. The drinker’s speech may become slurred and his steps staggered. The body’s reflexes become dulled as the nervous system slows down. (Taylor, 14) The drinker does not always realize this and may feel as if he is perfectly capable of normal functioning, but this is not always so. His abilities are impaired and he should not be given responsibility. Alcohol is often incorporated in many different aspects in our society. It is drunk as part of social celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and parties. It is also drunk as a salve for the emotional pain of rejection and heartache. Alcoholic beverages are also served as liquids to accompany meals. (Bennett, Woolf, 13) The beverage alcohol is called ethanol, and is made by fermentation. The abuse of alcohol over long periods of time may also cause diseases such as cirrhosis, acute alcohol hepatitis, and the most severe liver disease. Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver becomes so scarred that the patient lacks sufficient healthy tissue to perform the organ’s functions. Once you’ve got it, you are stuck with it. (Gross, 6) The worst thing about these diseases is that you will not know you have them unless you are medically examined on a regular basis. Alcohol consumption is a large contributor to the development of several types of cancer- mostly dealing with the neck and brain. We know that cancer kills and therefore it is safe to say that in some cases, alcohol can be deadly. It is important to realize that alcoholism is a disease. A heavy drinker will experience the effects of withdrawal syndrome (which include hypertension, anxiety, disorientation, hallucinations, and seizures) if he decides to stop drinking. Being addicted to alcohol is similar to being addicted to any other drug in that once one starts using, it is tough to live without. It is also a “gateway drug” just as marijuana and other sedatives. (Bennett, Woolf, 13-23) Heavy drinkers may develop a tolerance or “immunity” to certain amounts of alcohol. That said- the more often you drink, the more you can handle next time. The human body recognizes alcohol as a foreign substance and will use every method possible to rid it from the bloodstream; whether it be sweating, urinating, or just plain breathing. The body tries to adapt itself so that the alcohol is not so harmful and so that it is eliminated more quickly from the blood. BAC is the acronym for the Content of Alcohol in one’s Blood. This is the scale in which authorities measure intoxication of offenders. Tolerant drinkers are able to ingest larger amounts of alcohol without reaching as high a BAC level as intolerant drinkers. (http://library.thinkquest.org/23713/effects/longterm.html) Once in the bloodstream, alcohol is spread all throughout the body-including the liver, through which all the blood in the body passes every three minutes. The liver recognizes alcohol as a foreign substance, and begins to process it at a constant rate. So every time a drink is ingested, the ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream, consequently boosting the BAC level. Time is the main factor in decreasing the BAC level in one’s bloodstream. (http://library.thinkquest.org/23713/effects/bac.html) Police use BAC levels to determine whether a person is driving under the influence or not. What is amazing is that the amount of alcohol in the breath is directly proportional to the amount in the blood. This allows police to use a device called a “breathalyzer” in the process of arresting a DUI. In the state of Florida, it is illegal to drive if your BAC is .1 or higher. Many accidents happen because of drunk drivers. Statistics say that about two of every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related car crash at one point in their lives. With blurry vision and compromised judgement, these accidents are sure to happen. (http://library.thinkquest.org/23713/problem/thevictims.html) Research has also shown that in the past decade, four times as many Americans died in drunk driving accidents than were killed in the Vietnam War. (McGuire, 24-28) Drunk driving is the nation’s most frequently committed violent crime. Alcohol takes a great toll on the economy as well as its abuser. The nation spends billions of dollars annually in loss of productivity, medical expenses, crime and prosecution, and social welfare due to alcohol abuse. (Gross, 4) For each alcohol-related homicide or driving accident, the nation spends thousands in investigations as well as prosecution for those responsible. Alcohol today is consumed by more people in more places and on more occasions than at any other time in history. (Gross, 3) Many jobs are dependent on the sale of alcohol. Bartenders, liquor stores, and winery’s make their profit solely on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. It is true that many people would not have jobs if it were not for alcoholics. In Florida the legal drinking age is twenty-one. Liquor stores are required to I.D. anyone who desires to purchase alcohol, however this law is not always followed. In many local areas young teens are purchasing alcoholic beverages from irresponsible storeowners. In 1997, it was recorded that 56% of eighth graders have tried alcohol, as well as 71% of tenth graders, 80% of twelfth graders, rising to 88% in college students. These are large numbers when stated that the legal drinking age in almost all fifty states is twenty-one. In conclusion, the public as a whole needs to learn when enough is enough. It is fine to drink, but the key is to drink in moderation. People should not allow themselves to get “totally trashed” or “ridiculously wasted”, but drink with maturity. It is not a crime to get drunk, it is the things one does when he/she becomes intoxicated that will get them incarcerated. People will always drink, but there need to be strict laws enforced for the punishment of those who choose not to be responsible while under the influence. Bibliography: Word Count: 1220
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