[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Alcoholism and Society
Alcoholism is an addictive dependency on alcohol characterized by craving (a strong need to drink). It is a chronic disease that has affected many people in the United States today. People who suffer from this illness are known as alcoholics and they are unable to control their drinking problem despite of the adverse effects drinking have on their lives (Brenda G. Hewitt and Enoch Gordis).The symptoms of alcoholism vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms seen are changes in emotional state or stability, behavior, and personality. "Alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, or quiet and withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175).
The cause of alcoholism is a combination of biological, psychological, and cultural factors that may contribute to the development of alcoholism in an individual. Some researchers have suggested that in several cases, alcoholics have an inherited, predisposition to alcohol addiction. Thus, it is seemed to run in families as said by Caplan (266), "Although there is no conclusive indication of how the alcoholism of family members is associated, studies show that 50 to 80 percent of all alcoholics have had a close alcoholic relative”.Other factor is the association of alcoholic with a family history of depressive maniac or like many drug abusers; they often drink hoping to "drown” their anxious or depressed feelings. Social and cultural factors also play roles in establishing drinking patterns and the development of alcoholism.
The physical effects of alcoholism are devastating. Excessive in take and prolonged use of alcohol can cause serious disturbances in their body chemistry. As McCarthy (505) says that many alcoholics develop serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis of the liver. Their brain damages, suffers lack of concentration, experiences “blackouts” (i.e. occasional onsets of memory lapses), and possibly complete memory loss......
