Question

Addiction and Drug abuse-Part-II

For Part-I, click \(\href{http:///openstudy.com/study#/updates/545cae0de4b0a4fa16749c5d}{\sf Here}\)

Answer 1

\(\huge \bf Alcohol\)

Answer 2

\(\bf Source\)
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol is usede as drinking alcohol. It is one of the products of the distillation of fermented grains, fruit juices and starches with the help of yeast.

Answer 3

\(\bf Modes~of~Use\)
Alcohol is taken, in low concentration, as beer, toddy and wine, and , in relatively high concentration, as arrack, brandy, whisky, rum, gin, vodka etc.

Answer 4

\(\bf Addiction\)
Addiction to alcohol is called as alcoholism. Alcohol causes intoxication and, thus, acts as a poison. The drinkers begin with small doses, but many of them soon start consuming large doses and become addicts. By the time they realize that drinking is adversely affecting them, it is too late to give it up.

Answer 5

Now let's talk Why people take to drinking at first place ?

The drinkers offer one or more of the following reasons for starting drinking-
i) Social Pressure
ii) Desire for excitement
iii) Feeling of independence
iv) Liking of taste!
v) Desire to escape from such realities of life as disappointment and failures.
vi) Desire to offset the hardships and monotony of daily life.

Answer 6

The next thing we should discuss is `What happens when alcohol is taken ?`

Alcohol is quickly absorbed in the stomach and upper part of small intestine, and reaches all the tissues in minutes. Its oxidation starts at once and a large amount of heat is produced. Since heat is not needed in the body, it is taken up by the blood and carried to the skin for dissipation. Since thereceprors of heat are located in the skin, the rush of blood to the skin gives a false impression of warmth in the body. The blood supply of internal organs is greatly reduced, resulting in fall of temperature in them. `Energy released by alcohol is not used in any life process. rather the energy derived from food is used up in ridding the body of excess heat.`

Answer 7

Many people think that alcohol is a stimulant, is it ?

Actually alcohol is a depressant, a substance which dulls the senses. Thus, it acts as a sedative(an agent that lessens functional activity), analgesic (a drug that relieves pain)and anaesthetic(a drug that causes loss of sensation) agent. It reduces the efficiency of every tissue of the body. `Any feeling of lift a person may claim to feel is a mistaken impression or an attempt to justify the act in his own mind.`

Answer 8

Now let's come to the most important point, the whole purpose of making this tutorial, why u should stay away from alcohol. You see consuming alcohol is like having a contract with devil, it gives you instant pleasure and a temporary feeling of euphoria but it costs you your life. It kills you slowly, so that you don't even realize that you are dying !

Answer 9

Alcohol reaches all body organs. Therefore all of them are affected. Lets discuss some efects of alcohol in brief

\(\bf Effect~on~Nervous~System\)
Alcohol has an anaesthetic effect on the nervous system. It acts on all neurons and affects many functions such as orientation, alertness, coordination, judgement, memory and mood. Cerebrum is affected first of all. Person loses judgement, will power and self control. Anxiety disappears and the person may have a feeling of great joy, shown by foolish laughter, or sadness and sweep. Inhibitions dissapear and moral sense is lost, and may lead to antisocial behaviour. This is followed by blurred vision, double vision and inability to judge distances.
Then the cerebellum becomes involved. This affects the coordination of muscles. The drinker becomes dizzy when standing and has a clumsy, staggering gait, if he can walk. Tongue muscles are also affected, making speech incoherent.
In the final stage of drunkness, the victim becomes completely helpless and unconscious. Oxidation is reduced and alcohol remains in the tissue fluids. Heart action, digestive action and respiration slow down, and the person lies near dead. If breathing becomes too slow or stops, death can occur.

`In chronic alcoholic, the axons of the nerve cells are inflamed, ,causing` \(\bf Neuritis\) `or may get permanently damaged due to decrease in blood-sugar level.`

Answer 10

\(\bf Effect~on~Stomach\)
A small dose of low-concentration alcohol stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. But a large dose of high-concentration alcohol causes a painful inflammation of stomach lining called \(\bf Gastritis\)

\(\bf Effect~on~Liver\)
Liver suffers most from excessive drinking. In the liver, alcohol is changed into a more toxic subsatnce, acetaldehyde. Liver synthesises fats from alcohol. the excess fat reduces the formation of glycogen, enzymes and structural proteins. thus, the liver changes from being an important centre of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism to a mere storehouse of fat. This causes \(\bf Fatty~liver~Syndrome\). Then the liver gradually hardens and dries up as its cells are replaced by a fibrous tissue. This kind of liver degeneration is called as \(\bf Liver~cirrhosis\)

\(\bf Effect~on~heart\)
When alcohol is taken, the blood vessels dilate to quickly get rid of heat produced by its oxidation. Due to constant dilation, the arterial walls become rigid and brittle. This may affect working of heart.

\(\bf Working~of~kidneys\)
Kidneys are overworked in eliminating the excess water often taken with alcohol. Skin may excrete large quantities of water during heat elimination. The loss of water in this manner concentrates nitrogenous wastes in the kidneys and interferes with normal elimination.

\(\bf Effect~on~Immunity\)
The alcoholics generally neglect their health. They often suffer from malnutrition and loss of resistance to infections.

Answer 11

Besides these there several other disadvantages of being an alcoholic. Babies of alcoholic mothers are often unhealthy and underweight and may even be abnormal. (Alcohol can be tetratogenic i.e deformity producing). Alcohol is costly but the alcoholics do not mind spending on it to satisfy their selfish desire. They deprive their family members of basic needs. This may create all sorts of domestic problems, including quarrels and divorce. Anxiety, frustation and insecurity in children are heavy prioce to pay for alcoholism :(.

Alcoholism is also associated with crimes and erosion of moral inhibitions. Corrupt practices in the society are often directly or indirectly due to drinking. Violence is another outcome of alcoholism. Accidents on roads and in industries increase with the use of alcohol.

Answer 12

GREAT WORK ! @Abhisar
i appreciate it.

Answer 13

really, i don't know much about this !
Thank you very much for sharing this. :)

Answer 14

This is awesome, very good information here. Great job. :)

Answer 15

science proved that "Alcohol"
is not good for health
and most important \(\color{Red}{ Religion} \) says "alcohol"
is not good
but \(\color{Pink}{Sadly}\) people still drinking it :(
well \(\color{blue}{Nice}\) job