Effect of Drug Use

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Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using Brainmass. The solution below should get you started. In this particular task, you are being asked to put together a paper on the addictive substance that is alcohol. You can use the requirements as your guide for your outline. I suggest thus -

1. Overview - 100 words
2. Definition and Social Representation - 150 words
3. Impact on the Human Body/Human Brain - 100 words
4. Rates of Use, Populations Affected - 100 words
5. High & Low Dosage Impact - behavior/Body - 100 words
6. Impact - one time, casual & long term (brain, behavior, mood, cognition) - 150 words
7. Addiction therapy - 100 words

This outline should cover what you need. Much of the material you will utilize thus will be cited/sourced especially since what you need most are well-researched data which will support your presentation. I have provided that for you below. You can do that further by exploring the listed resources. All the best with your studies!

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AE 105878/Xenia Jones

Substance Review: Alcohol

Overview

This substance review will focus on alcohol - a common and easy to access substance, its abused form comes in the form of a consumable liquid known as 'alcoholic beverages' such as beer, whiskey, brandy, wine and vodka. Beer is said to be the most widely consumed of alcoholic beverages in the world and comes in third worldwide after water and tea (Nelson, 2005). The range of prices for alcoholic beverages range from the very pricey to extremely cheap explaining its ease of access and consumption. But helping that consumption is the impact alcohol has on the human sense and human behavior - it dulls the mind, releases tension and in the case of aperitifs - aids digestion. In cold countries, consumption of alcohol is seen to 'warm the body' making its consumption an appealing social activity for people. From as far back in human memory when alcoholic beverages have been fermented or distilled, the beverage is seen as something to be shared so that to this day, 'watering holes' like pubs and bars have become an essential part of human culture in just about every nation all over the world. The nature of alcohol though as a chemical induces addiction in its many consumers leading to alcoholism which, as an addiction, can destroy lives and lead to death. Here we look at what alcohol is, uncover its impact on the Human body and some popular therapies that help intervene.

Definition & Social Representation

For this discussion, we will be referring largely to alcoholic beverages when we talk of alcohol. It comes either as fermented (as in beer and wine, as distilled (as in vodka, gin & spirits) or a combination of both (fortified wine like Port). Chemically, alcohol is that organic compound where a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group where the general formula for a simple acyclic alcohol is CnH2n+1OH. Ethanol, the original result of fermentation using grain/fruits/herbs practiced since the ancient times to promote spirits or beverages is the kind of alcohol many generally refer to when they are describing alcoholic beverages (i.e. beer, wine, liquor, spirits). Most nations around the world regulate the distribution and consumption of alcohol primarily because of alcohol, consumption is standard practice in just about any culture or society but also due to the effects of the alcohol to the system.

The regular but limited consumption of alcohol is called 'social drinking' and is to this day and age, an expected social practice. But because of the dangers of alcohol, 'maturity' and ability to self-control is essential so that an age limit to buy and consume alcohol is practiced especially in the West. This hardly stops teenagers though from accessing alcoholic beverages with drinking becoming much a part of the social scene - partying, dating, and hanging out - all these on the general entails some form of alcohol intake. Binge drinking and excess consumption are seen as part of certain social rites - birthdays, promotions, celebrations and stag nights, among many (as shown in the highly popular 'Hangover' movie series). Socially, while alcoholism and it's social ills are generally known, alcohol is still marketed as an exciting beverages with a number of choices for certain ...