The Harmful Effects Of Alcoholism In The United States

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How extreme can the effects of alcoholism be? Approximately 3.3 million people die every year due to the harmful use of alcohol . Whether it be a close relative, friend, or somebody you work with, they could be battling alcoholism which can be a very serious topic to many people. Alcoholism, also referred to as compulsive alcohol dependence, is a severe disease that occurs when alcohol is consumed in unhealthy amounts. Alcohol is a large topic that has been around for centuries and has, in fact, been a major influence on many peoples lives. Though alcohol can have a bad reputation in certain instances, it is not always a negative impact in every part of the world like it may seem to be. From the past to the present, alcohol has played an …show more content…
Beer jugs have been around since the late Stone Age era, and winemaking was originated in the Ancient Middle East where grapes were widely produced. The earliest alcoholic beverages were made out of berries and/or honey, and brewing started in the ancient Egyptian era, but most alcohol back then was used for medicinal purposes. Alcohol was used in purposes of entertainment until the 1920’s when the eighteenth amendment was passed. This law prohibited the sale, manufacture, transport, import, or export of the product in any states that approved of this amendment. The government’s purpose of enforcing this law was to decrease crime, poverty, and “increase the quality of life.” - Poholek. The eighteenth amendment was abolished about a decade later in the 1930’s due to the fact that the economy was vastly decreasing and the law did not seem to phase many people who still snuck around to secret bars to drink or purchase …show more content…
Some people go to extremes to the point where the substance is misemployed and problems occur, similar to the events leading up to the eighteenth amendment. Problems with over-consuming alcohol too often can lead to negative effects on an alcoholic’s life, physical and emotional health, and the people around them. If a person is accommodating these struggles, they may be defined as an alcoholic, or a person that is dependent on alcohol to function properly.
Drinking too much alcohol too often can easily affect one’s health and everyday life for the worst. Over consumption may result in the lack of progress at work or during normal daily activities due to the fact that they are not in the correct state of mind and tend to feel sluggish and lazy. Alcohol is also a major depressant, which means it slows the nervous system. Liquor actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain, therefore depression is extremely common in any consumer of the