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Alcoholism Paper

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Alcoholism Paper
Research Paper Merriam-Webster defines alcoholism as “a chronic disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction.” a person who suffers from alcoholism is addicted to the effects of alcohol (Webster 1). He or she has a physical or mental desire to consume alcohol past their physical ability to control themselves. Alcohol is the second most commonly abused substance according to the NID (Pdf 1). This paper will present facts on, biological effects of alcohol on the body, the addiction to alcohol, genetic loading, and the deaths that are caused in some way by alcohol. Alcohol affects people differently. According to the CDC, the reasons are: Age, gender, race/ethnicity, physical condition, amount of food consumed before drinking, how quickly the alcohol was consumed, the use of other drugs or prescription medications, and family history (CDC 1). When alcohol is consumed, it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly to the blood stream; about twenty percent of the alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream via the stomach, and the other eighty percent by the small intestine (Dunlap 1). Alcohol acts as a sedative, but is perceived as a stimulant. The reason for this is that alcohol causes people to speak more freely; it impairs judgment and physical ability. Alcohol dilutes itself in water found in the body, this is one of the ways alcohol effects people differently, because there is more water in muscle tissue than in fat tissue, an athletic person will react differently to the alcohol than an over weight person. The strength of the alcohol plays a major factor in how quickly the alcohol is absorbed. Although there is the same amount of alcohol in one ounce of eighty proof liquor, one twelve ounce beer, and three – four ounces of wine, the concentration of

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