Women: Alcohol Addiction Essay -- Alcohol

The alcoholic beverage has remained an established element to society’s social world and has grown into a way of living. As alcohol continues to flourish in its prevalence among citizens of the United States, so does the concept of alcohol addiction. A person becomes addicted to alcohol when they â€Å"drink excessively and develops a dependence that results in noticeable mental disturbance, or an interference with bodily and mental health, their interpersonal relations, and their smooth social and economic functioning† (Calahan, 1970, pp. 3). In 2009, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that about 52% of Americans used alcohol at least once within 30 days of their survey. As the percentage of Americans who consume alcohol continues to increase, the number of people who become addicted to alcohol remain at a higher risk for medical complications. Although men have been known to drink more likely than women, the side effects that women are more prone to s uffer not only affect themselves but also the children they bear (Wilkinson, 1970). As a legal drug in the United States, alcohol joins the many chemicals that bring harmful effects upon the body. Alcohol has been known to affect every organ in the body of the person who consumes it and has the potential to damage a developing fetus (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2009). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2009), occasional alcohol use can impair brain functions and various motor skills whereas on the other hand, heavy use can increase the risk of â€Å"certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease.† With heavy usage of alcohol, a person may develop an addictive craving or continuance for alcohol use despite the harm or injury it can cause to both the us... ...). The American Alcoholic. Charles C. Thomas Publisher: Illinois. McConville, B. (1983). Women Under the Influence. Schocken Books: New York. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2009). Alcohol. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol. National Association for Children of Alcoholics. (2012). Children of Addicted Parents: Important Facts. Retrieved from http://www.nacoa.net/pdfs/addicted.pdf. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. (2001). Summary of National Findings. Office of Applied Studies: Maryland. DHHS Publication No. SMA 02-3758. Seixas, J. S., & Youcha, G. (1985). Children of Alcoholism. Crown Publishers, Inc.: New York. Sher, K. J. (1991). Children of Alcoholics. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago. Wilkinson, R. (1970). The Prevention of Drinking Problems. Oxford University Press: New York.