Youth And Alcoholism Analysis

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOLISM IN YOUTHS AT UNIVERSITY

Youths at University, and even at High School level, tend to fall into trends of drug abuse or alcoholism. Rates of drug abuse and alcoholism are ever increasing, primarily among adolescents and more so over the last decade (Denise B. Kandel, 1980) Alcohol, according to John Brick, is one of the oldest and most widely used psychoactive drugs on earth. A psychoactive drug is a chemical substance that affects the brain’s functioning capabilities. It causes changes in behaviour, mood and consciousness (Kendra Cherry). Alcoholism, defined by E. M. Jellinek, is the psychological continual dependence on the effects of alcohol to relieve bodily or emotional pain. Alcoholism can

This is because alcohol inhibits the general behaviour and mood of the consumer. Although alcohol can temporarily relieve nervousness or sadness, it also magnifies suppressed feelings. This causes consumers to sometimes become uncontrollably violent, angry or aggressive. As a result, they may behave inappropriately to their friends, fellow students and even family members, ruining the relationships they have formed, especially when the alcohol consumption becomes a regular event. For example, an article submitted in the Informante Newspaper in Namibia on March 10 2012, stated that the “passion killings” that were taking the country by storm were likely caused by alcohol and drug abuse. These passion killings were happening in quick succession at the time, with over 36 women murdered by their lovers in early 2013 alone. Alcoholism causes youths and people in general to overreact in ways they may not have thought possible to people around them. This unfortunately includes their loved ones and even children. Thus, youths at University abusing alcohol tend to change their behavioural patterns, rarely for the better and more likely for the

The most two most common health issues alcohol abuse causes are liver damage and cardiovascular disease. Liver damage is caused because the quantity of alcohol that reaches the liver is very high and the liver is the main organ that metabolises alcohol. Alcoholism leads to liver cirrhosis which is cell damage and scarring of the liver. Heavy drinking also causes accumulation of fat in the liver and as such, the liver becomes enlarged. The chances of a person having liver problems caused by alcohol consumption increase with prolonged alcohol consumption. Therefore, the more youths drink, the more likely they are to face liver complications. Cardiovascular or heart disease is also a major consequence of alcoholism. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among Americans (John Brick, 2008). Moderate drinkers live longer than heavy drinkers (Pearl, 1926). Heavy drinking causes deterioration of heart muscle. Eventually, the heart stops pumping enough oxygen to the body. In addition, alcoholism can elevate blood pressure and increase risk of stroke and development of certain forms of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. Acute alcohol consumption causes slurred speech, incoordination, and impairment of memory and attention. In the long term, alcoholism can cause stupors and even comas. Severe alcoholism causes brain damage as the brain shrinks due to loss of brain