ALCHOHOLISM

Definition:Regular consumption of alcohol either in low Concentration (beer, wine etc ) or in high Concentration (beer, wine etc)or in high concentration(brandy ,whiskey ,rum, gin etc,) Causes dependency own alcohol which is called alcoholism. The person who has become a habitual drinker is called an alcoholic.

Reasons for drinking alcohol: -Social pressure-Desire for excitement.-Desire to escape from disappointments, failures, and frustation.-Linking of Taste.-Desire to overcome the hardships of daily life.-Family's history

Alcohol is neither a food not a stimulant: Food is that material, which acts as a fuel and provides energy for metabolic activities, provides material for growth and repair of body tissues, and enables the body to resist the disease. Alcohol is simple organic compound, which needs no digestion. It is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and upper part of intestine into blood and immediately transported to body cells .In body cells ,it is immediately oxidized to produce large amount of heat which has no relation with the every need of the body so cannot be used in metabolism .To avoid the uncontrolled increase in body temperature , the body's energy is used to expel this extra heat . To expel extra heat blood transportation to the skin is increased so blood supply to interval organ is greatly reduced causing decrease in temperature in them . So alcohol cannot be considered as a food. Alcohol acts as a sedative (decreases functional efficiency), depressant ) lowers the activities of CNS) and anesthetic(causes lost of sensation)agent. As the alcohol reduces the efficiency of every system of the body so alcohol isn't considered as a stimulant.

Ill Effects of Alcohol:Alcohol has a number of ill effect on an individual ,on the family and on

the family and on the society.

Ill Effects of Alcohol on an individuals:Alcohol causes intoxication in high doses so acts as a poison. Though alcohol has

ill effects on all the body organ, certain organ are affected more than others eg:

a) On Nervous system:Alchohal has an anesthetic effect on the nervous system and first affects cerebrum followed by cerebellum and other parts. Following are the effects-

i) Loss of judgment, will power and self control.ii) Loss of emotional control so shows either foolish laughter or sadness and

weeping.iii) Loss of moral sense so shows antisocial behavior .

iv) Visual problems like blurred vision ,double vision and improper judgment of distance.

v) Due to ill effects on cerebellum, muscles coordination isn't proper so alcoholic shows staggering gait and incoherent speech.

vi) Inflammation of axons of Heurons leading to neuritis. b) On Stomach: A large dose of high concentration alcohol causes increased secretion of gastric juices which cause inflammation of gastric mucosa leading to gastritis.c) On Liver : Inside the liver alcohol is changed into more toxic compound acetaldehyde which provides energy to synthesize pats from alcohol. So liver becomes the storehouse of pats, which leads to a patty acid syndrome. Liver becomes hard and dry, and liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissues .This is called cirrhosis. So this the glycogen and protein synthetic activities of liver are greatly reduced.

d) On Heart: Alcohol stimulates the deposition of alcoholic fats on the walls of the blood vessels, which become rigid and brittle. This increases the blood pressure and adversely affects the working of the heart.

e) On Kidneys: In an alcoholic, the urine becomes hyper osmotic which interferes the normal functioning of nephrous of the kidneys. If is so as large amount of water is expelled out through skin.f) Alcohol also decreases glucose level in the blood .g) Alcoholic generally suffers from malnutrition so becomes more susceptible to diseases like pneumonia. An alcoholic is a sick person and requires the attention of An alcoholic is a sick person and requires the attention of the family members and the friends to get rid off of alcohol.

Ill effects of Alcohol on Family:a) As alcoholic spends huge money on costly alcohol which leads to deficiency of

basic needs and malnutrition of his family members.b) The children of an alcoholic suffer from anxiety, frustration& insecurity.c) Alcoholism also leads to domestic problems like divorces etc.

Ill Effects of Alcohol on Community: Alcoholisms breeds Social crime like corruption, illegal distillation and a swale

of illicit liquor etc. Alcoholism also increases the chances of road and industrial accidents.Drinking and Driving:

Alcohol adversely affects the drivers in following ways:a) Alcohol impairs the correct judgment for the distance.b) It reduces coordination of limb-Muscles.c) It reduces the alertness of the driver, so he becomes less watchful.d) It causes blurred and funnel visions.e) It shows the responses to unexpected situations.f) Intoxicated drivers become rash, careless &erratic.

So above facts indicates alcoholism not only puts the life of the driver in danger but also of many innocents people. So alcohol drinking and driving should not go together.