Although alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group, when we say “alcohol” we mean on ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, a colorless, volatile liquid with a strong smell formed by the fermentation of sugars. The fact is that alcohol may be the world's oldest known drug. Everyone knows that the production of products containing alcohol has become big business in today's society and the consumption and abuse of alcohol has become a major public health problem. Important thing to know is that alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Besides adult drinking- doctors are worried about an apparent increase in the number of young teenagers who are drinking heavily. Factors that influence how alcohol will affect a person include:
- age
- gender
- physical condition
- amount of food eaten
- other drugs or medicines taken
It is known that chronic drinking can lead to dependence and addiction to alcohol and to additional neurological problems. Typical symptoms of withholding alcohol from someone who is addicted to it are shaking, sleep problems and nausea.
Incidence and history of alcohol use
Several researches have came to the data that just in 1997, Americans drank an average of 2 gallons (7.57 liters) of alcohol per person. This translates roughly into one six-pack of beer, two glasses of wine and three or four mixed drinks per week. It is important to point out that about 35 percent of adults don't consume alcohol, so the numbers are actually higher for those who do -- alcohol is an amazingly popular social phenomenon. Alcoholic beverages have been widely consumed since prehistoric times by people around the world. It was being used as a component of the standard diet, for hygienic or medical reasons, for their relaxant and euphoric effects, for recreational purposes, for artistic inspiration, as aphrodisiacs, and for other reasons.
Structure of alcohol
It is important to point out that the functional group of an alcohol is called a hydroxyl group bonded to a sp³ hybridized carbon.
So the fact is that it can therefore be regarded as a derivative of water, with an alkyl group replacing one of the hydrogens. Also, if the hydroxyl group is bonded to one of the sp² hybridized carbons, the compound is referred to as an enol. Ethanol -CH
3CH
2OH, the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, is almost always produced by process called fermentation. Fermentation is in fact the metabolism of carbohydrates by certain species of yeast in the absence of oxygen. One important thing to know is that alcoholic beverages with a concentration of more than 50% ethanol by volume are extremely flammable liquids and easily ignited. Flavoring ethanol has also become a sort of ritual! Ethanol is a moderately good solvent for many fat substances and essential oils, and thus facilitates the inclusion of several coloring, flavoring, and aromatic compounds to alcoholic beverages, especially to distilled ones.
Sometimes the flavor is obtained by allowing the beverage to stand for months or years in barrels made of special wood.
Symptoms of alcohol usage
In low doses, alcohol produces:
- a relaxing effect
- reduces tension
- lowers inhibitions
- impairs concentration
- slows reflexes
- impairs reaction time
- reduces coordination
In medium doses, alcohol produces:
- slur speech
- cause drowsiness
- alter emotions
In high doses, alcohol produces:
- vomiting
- breathing difficulties
- unconsciousness
- coma
Effects of Alcohol on the Nervous System
It is proven that alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and it acts at many sites, including the reticular formation, spinal cord, cerebellum and cerebral cortex, and on many neurotransmitter systems. The fact is also that because of lipo-solubility properties, alcohol gets into the bloodstream very easily and also crosses the blood brain barrier. Some of the neurochemical effects of alcohol are:
- Increased turnover of norepinephrine and dopamine- important neurotransmitters in the brain
- Decreased transmission in acetylcholine systems
- Increased transmission in GABA systems
- Increased production of beta-endorphin in the hypothalamus
Chronic alcohol use can:
- Damage the frontal lobes of the brain
- Cause an overall reduction in brain size and increase in the size of the ventricles
- Lead to alcoholism and result in tolerance to the effects of alcohol and variety of health problems
- Cause a vitamin deficiency. Because the digestion system of alcoholics is unable to absorb vitamin B-1, a syndrome known as "Wernicke's Encephalopathy" may develop.
- Further deficiencies of thiamine can lead to "Korsakoff's Syndrome." This disorder is characterized by amnesia, apathy and disorientation.
Alcoholism
It could be very difficult to describe the real meaning of the word-alcoholism! What can be confusing about alcoholism is the fact that some adults seem to be able to enjoy it occasionally with no problems. Other people, though, can become alcoholics. Who is an alcoholic? It is simple- an alcoholic is someone whose mind and body crave alcohol which has little control over his or her drinking and can't stop without help. It is proven that a person who starts drinking alcohol at a young age is more likely to become an alcoholic. It often gets worse with years because the person may start experiencing health problems related to drinking.
Teen drinking problem
Besides this adult drinking- teen drinking also became very common and will continue, but taking an active interest in your teen's life will help reduce the problem. There is no doubt- alcohol is by far, the most abused drug among teenagers. Because the body changes so much as we grow, the ability both to judge and cope with alcohol changes all the time.
Everyone seems to know of someone who can drink booze by the bucket-load but this shouldn't be seen as something to aspire towards. Teens are the most likely group to have their stomachs pumped after excessive alcohol intake. At the end of the day it has to be remembered that alcohol is a toxin.
Possible causes of teen drinking
- For many teens, drinking is just the thing they do occasionally! The fact is that, whiter we admitted or not- peer pressures encourage drinking, if you want to be popular. Ads in magazines, on radio, and particularly on TV make drinking seem glamorous and even necessary in order to be happy
- Unlike other form of opioids- alcohol is easy to come by, relatively cheap, and has been the drug of choice for many generations. That’s why- it is something which isn't hard to get or buy!
- Several researches done on this subject have confirmed that alcohol use can be a way for teens to try to show maturity and independence.
- If a teenager is having anxiety, depression, or confusion, they may use alcohol to manage these feelings.
Other situations that can cause a teenager to develop a drinking problem are:
- other family members with drinking problems
- the divorce of his or her parents
- physical or sexual abuse,
- the death of a parent or sibling
Effects of teen drinking
- Un-developed completely organs in teens can literally be poisoned by alcohol
- The biggest danger is that the liver can be damaged. It takes a few days for it to recover and to get back to normal functioning
- Although not too many kids think about this- the fact is that the heart can beat so irregularly that it can stop after intake of great amounts of alcohol
- Everyone knows that the body can lose temperature causing hypothermia. Every year some teens die when they get drunk and pass out in the freezing cold
- Too little sugar in the body can cause coma and seizures
- Breathing can become so shallow or slow that it can stop
- One of the most common ways in which teens die from alcohol is by choking on their own vomit
Devastating facts about teen drinking
- Several researches have came to the same data- 1 in 5 young drivers involved in fatal automobile crashes had been drinking
- 8 young Americans die each day in alcohol-related automobile crashes
- 10 million regular consumers of alcohol in the U.
S. are under 21
- Young people who drink alcohol are more than seven times more likely to use illicit drugs, particularly cocaine
- Devastating fact is that, on average, 13 is the age young people are most likely to begin drinking
- More than two million young people engage in binge drinking
- Those who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who don't begin until after age 21
- Teens who experiment with alcohol are virtually certain to continue using it
- The time and place to deal with binge drinking in college is in elementary and high school
Warning signs that your kid may have a problem with alcohol are:
- Getting drunk on a regular basis
- Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
- Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
- Having frequent hangovers
- Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
- Having "blackouts"
- Having problems at school or getting in trouble with the law
Tips for parents
- Get involved with your kids problems
- It is very important to talk with your kid about alcohol, drugs, sex, and other topics important in an adolescent's life
- Try to help your teen develop problem solving and decision making skills
- Encourage participation in healthy and enjoyable activities
- Because drinking and driving are the biggest problem- many parents have an agreement with their teen-if they have been drinking they can call home and you will come and pick them up
- Set a good example. Don't drink and drive, and don't drink to excess. Be honest about your own drinking.
