Alcohol is a mood altering substance that can create dangerous consequences when abused or used irresponsibly. Physical damage to the liver, heart and GI tract and other physical ramifications of consuming alcohol are all costs of abusive drinking. The legal consequences of reckless consumption must also be considered.
Interaction
Alcohol enters into the blood stream and is circulated throughout the body. It acts as a depressant of the central nervous system when it reaches the control center of the brain, causing a dulling of the senses. Inhibitions, thought processes, judgment, and physical coordination are all impacted by drinking alcohol.
Liver Function
Cirrhosis is a serious effect of heavy, long-term drinking. With cirrhosis, the tissue of the liver suffers irreversible damage that prevents the organ from functioning properly. The scar tissue sustained by the liver in instances of severe cirrhosis leads to liver failure, meaning a liver transplant is necessary to stay alive.
Other Body Systems
Alcohol also interacts with the GI tract to irritate the lining of the stomach and prevent the healthy production of metabolism regulating hormones. This can lead to obesity. Drinking alcohol in excess over a significant period of time may also contribute to high blood pressure and other health issues that may cause heart attacks and strokes.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
When pregnant women consume alcohol, their fetus is exposed to the drug. The brain of a fetus is rapidly developing, and any alcohol consumed by the mother permanently damages the part of the brain that is developing at the time of consumption. Children born with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder have varying degrees of brain damage, depending on the amount of alcohol the mother consumed during her pregnancy and at what stages of brain development. These children typically struggle with cause and effect reasoning, retardation, social immaturity, and other physical complications related to the mother's drinking.
Legal Ramifications
Many laws regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol, and the consequences for breaking these laws can be damaging both personally and professionally. Underage drinking typically occurs in settings where the amount of alcohol consumed is not being regulated by a responsible party, which dramatically increases the likelihood of over consumption and recklessness. Supplying alcohol to minors is a criminal offense. Drinking and driving is not only potentially deadly for the driver and everyone else on the road, but also a criminal offense. A person who has received a drunken driving charge will have to pay fines, may serve jail time, and may have his license suspended or permanently revoked.
Withdrawal
When a person consistently drinks large quantities of alcohol for a significant length of time, the central nervous system reacts to the cessation of drinking by going into a form of shock. Withdrawal is characterized by tremors, physical pain and sometimes even seizures. If a person with a serious, long-term drinking problem is planning to detoxify, she should do so under the supervision of a medical professional to help manage the symptoms of withdrawal.
Tags: alcohol consumed, amount alcohol, central nervous, central nervous system, criminal offense