Alcoholism is a serious disease that tears apart the lives of not only the person with the disease, but also causes harm to those close to that person. This disease also affects all of society as it does not discriminate between gender, race, or social class. It is difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are not always easy to see, especially at first, and as the disease progresses it gains more power over the ability to the victim to recognize the problem and seek help. In a society where alcohol consumption is an acceptable recreational activity this disease can start early in life and grow into an overwhelming problem before anyone is aware of the disaster it brings. By understanding the causes, consequences and risk factors of alcoholism, one can be prepared to prevent this disease from destroying every good thing that life has to offer. …show more content…
Alcohol absorbs into your bloodstream, effecting almost every cell in your body. The addiction is revolved around causes such as genetic predisposition, mental health, and the environment. After consuming alcohol excessively, your brain becomes dependent on it and chemically changes in the brain occur. As a result, pleasurable feelings are increased, making the abuser want to engage more in drinking. Furthermore, alcoholism will engage the drinker to drink more due to those feelings to prevent withdrawal symptoms. (Burke, D.)
Health effects associated with alcohol intake in large amounts include an increased risk of alcoholism, followed by problems in the heart, liver, central nervous system, immune system, excretory system, and digestive system. (Burke,