What many people may not consider is that when abused, alcohol can be extremely detrimental to the health and in some cases cause death. The effects of alcohol are caused when the alcohol is consumed by drinking it and it absorbs into the bloodstream through the stomach. Depending on the weight, sex, age, and size of the person drinking the alcohol the effects will vary. Another factor which comes into play with the effects of alcohol is the amount of food the person has consumed before they begin drinking.
Once the alcohol has absorbed into the blood stream the person may begin to feel a little warm, followed by a good feeling. Many people feel less inhibited when they drink, which is one reason it’s so popular for social events. If a person has had too much to drink the effects will range from slurred speech, to becoming extremely talkative and sometimes even vomiting and nausea.
As alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream it impairs the body’s ability to react. Drinking and driving is something that should never be done because alcohol impairs the ability to operate a vehicle safely. Some people react to alcohol by becoming violent or aggressive, often resulting in child abuse and in some cases domestic violence.
Long term abuse of alcohol will eventually take its toll on the liver, which is the body’s mechanism to filter out toxins from our body. The abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver disease and in some cases liver cancer.
Long-term alcohol abuse has also been associated with brain damage, strokes, and dementia. In addition to the long term effects of alcohol abuse, those who abuse alcohol regularly while pregnant run the risk of their children being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The effects of this disease can vary based on a multitude of birth defects associated with this disease and can create lifelong problems for the child.
If these effects of alcohol abuse aren’t enough, don’t forget to consider the fact that by abusing alcohol you increase your risk for injury or risk injuring someone else. Some statistics show that as much as half of all trauma injuries and sexual assaults are alcohol related, where as much as 40% of all suicides, fatal fall’s, and highway crashes are alcohol related.
If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol, know that you are not alone. Help is available and you can find yourself on the road to recovery.
