Medicine
Alcoholism is defined as a primary, chronic disease with genetic and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. Alcoholism is often progressive and fatal. That is to say, alcoholism is a pattern of drinking that causes harmful consequences. The many causes of alcoholism run deep into the family genus system and can cause numerous effects to the present family and social status. Alcoholics start out or develop alcoholism with one drink and continue until the point of intoxication. Many cases start with the social drinking status, which then develop into heavy drinking. In addition to social drinking, peer pressure plays a big role in the development of alcoholism. In today's society, many younger adults are peer pressured into taking that first drink and then continuing drinking while they attend different events and parties. Research has shown that there is a line of hereditary influence. Children with parents that are alcoholics are more likely to become alcoholics than children who have non-alcoholic parents. This means that they have the genes so there is a greater chance that they will end up like their parents. Roberta Caplan states that, "Alcoholism runs in some families and although there is no conclusive of how the alcoholism of family member is associated, studies show that 50 to 80 percent of all alcoholics have had a close alcoholic relative" (Caplan 266). In most cases of alcoholism, the problem occurs when a person cannot cope with everyday life. That person uses alcohol to treat and medicate their problem without realizing the harm that they are doing to themselves. The relation between their problems, jobs, and stress result in them drinking excessively and now knowing when to stop. The alcohol is used as an excessive substitute for dealing with their problems. Alcoholism effects the emotional and physical aspects...
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added: 02/09/2012
Alcoholism is a chronic illness marked by consumption of alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical or mental health, and social, family, or occupational responsibilities. Alcohol dependence or alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse also includes "problem drinking" such as drinking and driving or binge drinking (drinking six or more drinks on one occasion). Causes and Risk: Alcoholism is a type of drug addiction. There is both physical and psychological dependence with this addiction (Andrews, 1999). Physical dependence reveals itself by withdrawal symptoms when alcohol intake is interrupted, tolerance to the effects of alcohol, and evidence of alcohol associated illnesses. Alcohol affects the central nervous system as a depressant, resulting in a decrease of activity, anxiety, tensions and inhibitions (Ketcham, 2000). Even a low level of alcohol within the body slows reactions. Concentration and judgement become impaired. In excessive amounts, intoxication or poisoning results. Alcohol also affects other body systems. Irritation of the gastrointestinal tract can occur with erosion of the lining of the stomach causing nausea and vomiting (www.drkoop.com/conditions.htm). Vitamins are not absorbed properly, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies with the long-term use of alcohol. Liver disease, called hepatic cirrhosis, may also develop (www.drkoop.com). The cardiovascular system may be affected by cardiomyopathy. Sexual dysfunction may also occur, causing erectile dysfunction in men and cessation of menses in women (Andrews, 1999). Alcohol affects the nervous system and can result in neuropathy and dementia. Chronic alcohol use also increases the risk of cancer of the larynx, esophageus, liver and colon. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause problems in the developing foetus known as foetal alcohol syndrome, which may result in mental retardation of the child (Milam, 2001). The social consequences of problem drinking and alcohol dependence can be as serious as the medical...
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added: 02/14/2012
Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or periodic: impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial (NCADD)." It`s effects on an individual are an indescribable, harsh, reality of what one drug can do to an individual. Some people wonder when drinking becomes a problem. For most adults, moderate alcohol use, no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women is relatively harmless. A "drink" consists of 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer (Etiology). Moderate use, however, lies at one end of a continuum that moves through alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence. Alcohol abuse is a drinking pattern that results in consequences that are significant and recurrent. Alcoholics may fail to fulfill major school, work, or family obligations. They may have drinking-related legal problems, such as DUI`s and they may have relationship problems related to their drinking. People with alcoholism have become compulsive in their alcohol use. Although they can control their drinking at times, they are often unable to stop once they start. As their tolerance increases, they may need more and more alcohol to achieve the same "high". Or they may become physically dependent on alcohol, suffering withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, restlessness, irritability, tremors and even hallucinations and convulsions when they stop after a period of heavy drinking. It doesn't matter what kind of alcohol someone drinks or even how much: alcohol dependent people simply lack control over their drinking. Alcohol-related disorders are caused by many things. Problem drinking has multiple causes, with genetic, physiological, psychological and social factors...
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added: 01/02/2012
Alcoholism is a large, strongly growing problem in America today. It's pretty sad when a man gets inebriated to the point that he forgets he's supposed to be watching his own child. Dr. Laura was correct in telling the man that he needs to get help for his alcohol problem. Just getting help for his alcoholism isn't the only thing he has to do, however. He also needs to apologize to his wife. This man needs to tell her that he was wrong in what he did and that nothing like that will ever happen again. He needs to prove to her that he can be a good father as well as a good husband. Improving his actions is a great first step that may help him earn a little of his wife's trust back. If he doesn't get any trust from her, then their marriage simply just won't work. Neither will his duty as a father. Supervision definitely is needed in this case. I definitely don't think he should be allowed to be alone with his child. Obviously he can't be trusted to watch her alone if he got drunk while watching her and ended up completely oblivious as to what he was supposed to be doing. If he's with the child around other people- his wife, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle- that's fine. But does he honestly think that someone's going to trust him alone with the child after this past experience? I know I wouldn't. I, personally, don't see how this guy can feel sorry for himself. He screwed up big time and he shouldn't even get a second chance. He is getting off incredibly easy by only needing someone there when he's with the child. In most cases Social Services would be so involved that...
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added: 02/13/2012
In present day society, illness runs rampant among cities. Some individuals recognize their disease and seek help, while others continue to walk the streets unaware that they are infected. The disease does not cure itself and only continually increase in severity as an individual ages; however, thousands of people die each year not knowing they even had a problem. This problem which affects our society each day is alcoholism. There are three main aspects which deal with alcoholism and what effects alcoholism has on the human body, and what can be done to cure alcoholism. The first point being addressed is what exactly alcoholism is. According to The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, alcoholism "is a diseased condition resulting from the excessive use or persistent use of alcoholic beverages." Alcoholism has divided into two major forms--alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (Goodwin 1998). Alcohol abuse is the excessive consumption of alcohol which has detrimental effects on the people and situations surrounding an individual; whereas, alcohol dependence is a physical attachment to the alcohol. Alcohol abuse leads to hazardous behavior, such as drunken driving and continued drinking despite negative consequences on family, work, or social functioning. Alcohol dependence involves withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not used, and lack of control over drinking despite serious social and medical problems (Goodwin 1998). Various studies have been performed to show the relationship between alcoholism and genetics. New research on male twins show that genes play a critical role in the development of milder forms of alcoholism, such as, occasional abuse that can land the drinker in dangerous circumstances, particularly while driving (Goodwin 1998). The genetic similarity between twins makes them the perfect subjects on which to perform testing. Previous research has shown that people with an alcoholic family member have a two to four times...
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added: 01/16/2012
One out of thirteen adults are considered to be an alcoholic or suffer from a drinking problem. Today, fourteen million Americans suffer from a disease that is caused by a combination of physiological, psychological, social, and genetic factors. Alcoholism is a developmental disease that progresses slowly over a number of years and is based on both the physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. In many cases it leads to brain damage and/or early death. Early symptoms include putting excessive importance on the availability of alcohol, which influences a person's choice pastimes and friends. Alcoholics use alcohol more as a personality changing drug rather than a beverage served with food or as a social custom. An alcoholic usually has a high tolerance to alcohol, which means being able to drink more and show fewer side effects than others. The person begins to drink even though it may not be in her/his best interest. Alcohol comes to be more important than personal relationships, family, work, or even health. People are unable to predict how much an alcoholic will drink at a certain occasion or if the alcoholic is practicing abstaining from alcohol, when the drinking will resume again. Physical addiction will lead to drinking around the clock to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Ethyl alcohol, the alcohol used in alcoholic beverages, consists of C2H5OH. It is a clear liquid with a burning taste and a pleasant smell. It has toxic and sedative effects on the body. Alcohol can have major effects on major organ systems. For example, it can cause ulcers, inflammation or the pancreas, and cirrohosis of the liver. It can permanently damage the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Withdrawal from alcohol, in severe cases, can cause shaking limbs, hallucinations, and blackouts: which can be fatal if not properly treated....
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added: 09/29/2011
Fredrick Cambell, an attorney, stated legalizers' spirit perfectly by stating, "Legalization would not mean that addictive drugs would be legally available to everyone. The purpose of legalization would be to place better controls on access to such drugs. Addiction would be recognized as a disease or physical addiction . . . For non-addicts, the substances would remain illegal in the some way that it is now criminal to sell or use prescription drugs without a prescription." Legalization simply means the entire illicit drug trade would become legal: making, buying, using, pushing, possession. Yet as any pharmacist or drug company knows it can be regulated. If heroine and cocaine were legalized, and were available over the counter, the price must be held to government intervention to be sure addicts or anyone else can easily afford all they want. Illicit drugs are considered immoral not because they harm people; plenty of approved substances have that drawback. Illicit drugs are immoral because users feel better than normal and because people fear the allure. If we want a free society to function, we must permit people to make bad decisions and suffer the consequences. People have a right to ruin their lives. We might even benefit from a little humility when judging people, finding paths to happiness different from our own. The truth is the tougher enforcement gets, the worse trouble will get. The answer is to let go.
Dangerous drugs, however, must be accepted as a part of the American heritage. Just as Prohibition created organized crime, today's drug laws keep organized crime alive. Before drugs were illegal, Americans handled them with few problems and treated them as a fundamental right in their production, distribution, and consumption. All of the hard drugs were legal before 1914, and there were few addicts. Drug houses did...
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added: 10/22/2011
Abstract Throughout history, marijuana has played an important role in various cultures by being used to treat ailments and diseases of many different types. Civilizations such as the Chinese used marijuana as a regular treatment, even the Americans used marijuana in the 1840's to treat chronic illnesses. Today, marijuana is used fro a recreational drug. Marijuana users seek after the euphoric feeling that the marijuana provides. The other main use is to alleviate symptoms cause by some of the leading diseases that plague our society. A few of these diseases include AIDS cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma. In AIDS and cancer, the use of marijuana has been proven to alleviate nausea and increase appetite. In multiple sclerosis, marijuana has been shown to reduce tremors, whereas in glaucoma is has been shown to reduce the intraocular pressure of the eye. There are both advantages and disadvantages to legalizing marijuana. Advantages to legalization are that the medicinal users would be able to have their symptoms alleviated with the help of marijuana without the fear of legal ramifications. Legalization would also allot for further research to be completed in studying marijuana and the effects of it. Just as there are advantages to legalizing marijuana, there are also disadvantages. A few of the disadvantages of legalizing marijuana include abuse, health problems, and hazard to others. Throughout all of the debate surrounding this issue, one thing remains, while people are sitting around debating whether ill people should use marijuana to help them feel better, there are sick people sitting around making themselves feel better illegally through the use of marijuana. Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana, pot, bud, weed, or cannabis Sativa, no matter how it is referred to it is still illegal to have, use, or prescribe in the United States. Although it is not legal, marijuana is a hallucinogenic...
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added: 11/05/2011
Marijuana is one of nature's oldest medicines; it has been an ingredient in remedies for thousands of years. Around 3000 BC India and China used Marijuana to treat illnesses, easing childbirth pain, asthma, epilepsy, appetite, and disposition. The chemical components that seem to be valued for treating conditions have baffled science for centuries. Therapeutic success for many diseases gives hope to people in places where hope has been in short supply. The majority of voters approve of medical uses of Marijuana; although the debate over the drug's legal status is far from over. Opposition of Federal officials has caused controversy. The medical use of Marijuana has become increasingly popular, and arguments against it seem to be slowly fading. The drug proves to show an increasingly large amount of therapeutic value and potential. A study by the National Academy of Sciences (1982) showed that Marijuana and its derivatives show promise in treating glaucoma, easing chronic vomiting for cancer chemotherapy patients. In 1988 Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young, US DEA, chaired hearings all over the country examining the testimonies of researchers for and against therapeutic Marijuana. The evidence was un-equivocal mostly. In his ruling he declared that the, "Record clearly shows" Marijuana's value in treating muscular weakness-multiple sclerosis, overactive parathyroid, and reducing chemotherapy related vomiting. The use for glaucoma was less clear cut. ("Marijuana: Medical Uses" http://web.lexis-nexis.com) How Marijuana produces therapeutic effects is hard to say. Marijuana is a very complex drug; it is composed of more than four-hundred and twenty one chemicals, six of which exist nowhere else in nature (Cannabinoids). Pot's main ingredients, mainly Cannabinoids, are poorly understood so it is hard to establish what ingredients produce what effects. Out of the effects, is the ability to improve appetite, reduce nausea, relieve muscle spasms, and relieve eye pressure, all of which...
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added: 11/21/2011
Lately, cannabis use has been a highly controversial subject. Some talk about decriminalization, some are all for legalization, and others want harder laws altogether. Although there are currently laws prohibiting its use, cannabis still grows wild in many parts of the world. It is much like other plants such as the red poppy, a national Remembrance Day symbol, which is rich in a much more potent and dangerous drug, opium. Cannabis should be legalized. Its uses should be maximized, ranging from medical treatment, to responsible use and growing, though not trafficking. It could be regulated much the same as alcohol. After all, we are allowed to make our own beer, wine, and spirits in the confines of our own home. Marijuana should be the same.
Common to many prize roses and flowers cannabis has been grown and crossbred for about sixty years. The most important things when crossbreeding a cannabis plant with another cannabis plant for drug uses are: the size of the plant, the bud to leaf ratio, the yield, the taste, and the hardiness of the plant. The two main varieties of cannabis found in the world are Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Indica. The Cannabis Sativa plant is much the same as a small pine tree with light green foliage. It is native to Mexico, Columbia, Thailand, India, and Africa.
The second variety of the two plants is the Cannabis Indica. The Cannabis Indica is a smaller plant that has wide dark green foliage. The Indica is of the hashish variety and matures much quicker than a Cannabis Sativa. The Cannabis Indica is much hardier than the Cannabis Sativa and is indigenous to the high northern mountain ranges of the Afghani Hindu Kush, Pakistani Kara Korams, Russian Pamirs, and the Indian Himalayas.
There are two main stages in the life of...
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added: 10/09/2011