Thesis Statement: Alcoholism is a very interesting and unique disease. But what exactliy is alcoholism, who does it affect, and where did this disease come from; what’s its history? Lets find out.
Attention Getter: I’m sure everyone in here has tried alcohol before, but did you know according to the National Council on Alcoholism and drug dependence, more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism and problem drinking and 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on alcohol or has abused it before.
Ethos Statement: I am qualified to talk about this topic because I am have thoroughly researched this topic, and have dealt with some aspects of this topic first hand.
Relevance Statement: This topic is important to us all because alcoholism plays a big role in society and so many people are affected by it.
Preview: Alcoholism is prevalent all over the world, but where is it most prevalent. Alcohol is also an interesting substance, but what exactly is it and what will it do to you. Als
List of 3 Main Points: (main points only…add detail later after researching)
I. What is alcoholism and alcohol exactly, what does it do to you and how does it affect the body, mind, and lifestyle. The official definition from The NADD states that alcoholism is a “primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environment factors influencing its development and manifestations. 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”. According to “substance use and abuse” published by Britannica “Alcohol beverages are fermented from the sugars in fruits, berries, grains, and other ingredients, such as plant saps, tubers, honey, and milk. The ferments are distilled to create greater alcoholic strength. Alcohol in its purest form is an important industrial chemical, but it is also the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is observed in the gastrointestinal tract very quickly. Alcohol does not undergo digestive process and that’s why it is able to reach the blood stream and take effect so quickly. The alcohol then exerts a “depressant action” on the brain. Alcohol affects people differently, and can cause vomiting or skin reactions in some. Alcohol affects the central nervous system. Alcohol belongs in a class with general anesthetics. “Alcohol effects are immediate, and lead to sedation, stupor, and coma . According to the Substance use and abuse by Britannica, drinking a small amount of alcohol every day has no long-term affect on the body. While it may cause some disturbances, the body quickly returns to normal. However, severe or frequent intoxication can produce serious disturbances, such as loss of memory, acute hepatitis, and cardiac arrhythmias. Along with the well-known and dreaded hangover. “Four or more standard drinks a day, can produce liver damage and atrophy of the cerebral cortex” “disorders commonly linked to alcoholism are diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies, cardiomyopathy, accidents, suicide, cirrhosis, and impaired resistance to infection” Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcoholism is a very serious disease and often cannot be overcome on sheer will alone. This disease requires often times an intervention, and prescribed and professional help.
II. Where is alcoholism a problem, where’s it most prevalent and who all does it affect. Alcoholism is a worldwide disease. It affects people all over the word and “chronic alcohol abuse causes as much death and disability as measles and malaria and results in more years lost to death and disability than are caused by tobacco or illegal drugs” Heavy drinking affects even unborn babies as 40 percent to 50 percent of heavy drinking moms will give their child FAS. Alcoholism is wide spread and can range from college students who binge drink one too many times a week or a CEO who drinks 3 or 4 drinks every night. According to the NADD “Up to 40 percent of hospital people who are being treated for a condition related to alcohol consumption take up beds in the United States”. Impoverished civilizations are often times hit the hardest by alcohol and its associated disease. Alcohol being used as an escape from often-unsatisfactory living conditions leads to alcoholism.
III. History of alcoholism. This disease didn’t spread overnight. Manufacture and sale of alcohol has been around since the beginning of civilization, and can be traced back to being regulated in Babylonia under the code of Hammurabi. Fermented beverages can be traced all the way back to china during 7000 bc. Alcoholism used to be looked down upon, as if you had moral issues or even spiritual issues linked to your drinking but nowadays it is being classified as a disease and many more options are available for help. Alcoholism is in ever-rising numbers however, as with more people in the world came with more liquor stores and manufacturers, naturally, alcoholism rates rose as well. According the 2015 NSDUH, 15.1 million adults ages 18 and older had Alcohol use disorder. This is just over 6 percent of everyone in this age group. (Otherwise known as alcoholism). 2.5 percent of youth had AUD in 2015. Alcohol misuse has cost the United States 249 Billion in 2010. 5.9 Percent of all deaths in 2012 were related to alcohol. 58 percent of college students report drinking in the past month when asked and 38 percent report binge drinking. Alcoholism has been a problem for a very long time, and it doesn’t look like its going away any time soon.
Review: Truly, alcoholism is a very interesting disease that affects people all over the world, affects an individual and their lifestyle tremendously, and has been seen throughout history for as long as we can imagine.
Tie to Attention Getter/Concluding Statement: After all this, you are now informed about an interesting and widespread disease called alcoholism, but you are still at odds for developing this condition yourself.