Essay, Research Paper: Effects Of Alcohal

What effect does alcohol have on a person physiologically and psychologically? When alcohol enters the body it is diluted by stomach juices-and then distributed throughout the body (Britannica). Alcohol does not require digestion before its absorption into the bloodstream from the stomach, and the intestines. The type of drink depends on how fast it enters the bloodstream, another thing that effects how fast it gets into the blood stream is how much food is in your stomach, for instance if there is a lot of food it will take longer to be absorbed. Other factors such as the emotional state of the drinker will also affect the rate of absorption (Britannica). Alcohol affects the central nervous system and that is how if effects you physiologically and psychologically (Jones 92)
Since alcohol is a drug that affects the central nervous system, it belongs in the class with the barbiturates, minor tranquilizers, and general anesthetics, and is commonly classified as a depressant (Britannica). It is mainly for this sedative action on the brain that people drink (Jones 92). After one or two drinks of alcohol a person can feel the effects. Its effect on the brain is different at a low concentration. It can serve as a stimulant of some functions at a low concentration but, as the concentration increases, the effects become more depressant, going onto sedation, stupor, and then coma (Schlaadt 29). The excitement phase exhibits the well-known signs of exhilaration, and loss of social restraints causing one to act differently and to have unexpected changes in mood (Britannica). During this phase people tend to become extremely emotional. At this phase of intoxication the alcohol can affect one physically by slurring their speech, some become unsteady, have bad perception, and the inability to make a distinction between different things (Schlaadt 29). These consequences of drinking are not by direct action of the alcohol on the muscles and senses but by the effects on the parts of the brain that control these activities (Jones 29). All individuals may not manifest the impairment of a high concentration of alcohol superficially, but laboratory test show diminished alertness, visual problems, and capacity to distinguish between signals. Reflex response as well as reaction time are also much slowed. The most immediate effect that alcohol has is on the highest functions of the brain, the part of the brain that thinks, learns, remembers, and makes judgment (Britannica). People usually drink alcohol to obtain effects that they have been taught to expect. How intoxicated a person is can depend on the individual. An alcohol level produced by any given amount of alcohol is in approximate inverse proportion to the body weight of the individual. A lighter person becomes more intoxicated than a heavier person by the same amount of alcohol (Jones 92). Even with two people at the same alcohol level, there may be a considerable difference in their degree of intoxication. It has been demonstrated that a tolerance for alcohol develops in the frequent heavy drinker, resulting in a lower degree of intoxication than that reached by the moderate or occasional drinkers (Jones 29).
Many people worry about possible permanent effects on the brain as a result of drinking. But light drinkers see no ill effects on the brain. However, if a person drinks long enough and in sufficient quantity can cause brain atrophy, reduction in the size of the brain. The brain shrinkage is caused by the wasting away of brain cells. The loss of brain cells results in the loss of many mental capabilities, including impairment of the skills involved in problem solving, abstract reasoning, and eye-hand coordination. This usually happens to those who suffer from alcoholism (Schlaadt 61).
Alcohol has many negative affects on the way a person acts or how their functions perform. Though it is widely used, it is a world struggle to cut down on the use of alcohol by so many. Thousand die each day from alcohol, maybe a drunk driver hits somebody, or the body becomes so deteriorated from the constant use. It gets people on way one another.

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