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Many people misconstrue what constitutes a drug and merely think it as an illegal drug.
Alcohol, for example, is a drug, but many people separate it with the rest of classification of
drugs. Alcohol is a dangerous drug of abuse and it does not discriminate anyone once it has
reached that state. It affects people of varying ages and backgrounds. College-aged individuals
greatly abuse alcohol since they are at a point in their lives where they want to feel free and
temporarily abstain from the norms of society. There are many reasons why people drink. In
college, for instance, people like to drink in social contexts or to feel accepted by their peers.
Unfortunately, alcohol abuse has been lingering in my family, but it is something I refuse to be a
part in my personal life. I have relatives, one being my grandfather, that drink heavily or became
alcoholics. They either do not know how to drink in moderation and others have become
alcoholics. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism significantly affects society in numerous ways.
Prevalence of Alcoholism
Alcohol has been reported as a highly consumed product by the World Health
Organization and categorized as a global burden of disease (2014). The impact of alcohol
consumption exceeded other known global burdens, such as unsafe water and sanitation,
hypertension, high cholesterol, or tobacco use (WHO, 2014). Alcohol has maintained itself
relevant, sparking more than an estimate of 65 diseases, known to be health risk factors
associated with alcoholism. Its effects does not seem to have age restrictions, affecting anyone
who consumes it. College students have fostered the issue of alcohol abuse, and that has been
Three factors have been identified to aid in the development of alcohol tendency. These
factors are known to be the tenure of college, social involvement, and gender, which was also
Lai, 2008). Consumption rates have reached 84% in a national survey conducted on 140
colleges and universities (Vaisman-Tzachor, & Lai, 2008). The National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIDAA) has done research over the past forty years, which tie liver
disease to alcohol. In the U.S. alone, alcohol causes 2.5 million deaths annually (Vaisman-
With all the dangers in mind, alcohol is still being consumed and abused. It is highly
influenced by social pressure, the party scene, or the pleasurable experience of dating. College
life for a young teen or young adult consists of social encounters, which in turn encourages an
individual to overly consume alcohol, eventually leading to alcoholism. Regulations and policies
can be enforced, but that has clearly not been a problem solver, with the battling fight over
Outlining the negative effects of alcohol on an individual’s health opens the door to a
vast list of diseases and conditions associated with alcohol consumption. For example, alcoholic
liver disease is a collective of multiple disorders, but this is just one issue related to the abuse of
alcohol (Rehm, 2011). The most eminent disease conditions within the group are Alcoholic Use
Disorders (AUD’s), such as alcohol abuse (Rehm, 2011). Yet the consequences only get worse
on the individual. Alcohol can also lead to chronic diseases, such as infectious disease, cancer,
diabetes, neuropsychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreas disease, and in
other circumstances, intentional or unintentional injury (Warren & Murray, (2013). So far,
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 3
hospitals and healthcare providers have outlined the drinkers’ health issues, but the harm not
An individual’s health is not the sole issue jeopardized. The negative effects spread out
touching others as well. Alcoholism has shown to harm others as the result of alcohol
consumption. One example includes, a mother drinking during pregnancy, thus affecting the
child’s birth or causing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) (Warren & Murray, (2013). High
reports of physical damage show those such as, traffic injury due to driving under the influence,
child abuse or neglect, domestic violence and other types of assault (Warren & Murray, (2013).
Yet, the first group usually affected is the immediate family. Family disruption usually tends to
occur on an individual dealing with alcohol abuse (Vaisman-Tzachor & Lai, 2008).
These problems can persist for years, with no signs of any resolution, which can lead to
unfortunate consequences, such as divorce (Vaillant, 2005). But, the physical and mental abuse
family members endure is by far the abuse delivered by the alcoholic (Vaillant, 2005). A child
can be traumatized by the negative effects of alcohol consumption on the user (Vaillant, 2005).
A child’s well-being can be destroyed, changing his or her views in life and can lead to stress or
depression, and in some cases, suicide, as a result of all the abuse tolerated through time
(Vaillant, 2005). Other drawbacks will follow, such as problems in the workplace, criminal
Alcohol is viewed differently in many countries and its burden on a society can differ.
Mexico, for instance, in some rural areas, alcohol is sold to anyone at any age, regardless of the
legal age to drink or purchase alcohol (Medina-Mora, 2007). Throughout Mexico’s history,
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 4
measures were implied to reduce alcohol consumption. In the early 17th century, the number of
establishments that sold alcohol was being regulated, in order to minimize the consumption per
inhabitant (Medina-Mora, 2007). Also, taxes were being raised by the second half of the 18th
century (Medina-Mora, 2007). Additionally, during this time, drunkenness in public was being
penalized. The issue of alcohol consumption became a burden, that in 1950, alcohol was
prohibited in Mexico City, but was later abolished due to demand (Medina-Mora, 2007).
As years followed, laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol were being
created but flaws had surfaced. For instance, regulating the range of establishments selling
alcohol to schools and workplaces, the legal age for purchasing alcohol, and the alcohol levels
allowed in the blood when driving a vehicle (Medina-Mora, 2007). Unfortunately, these
are not being enforced, and this has clearly dictated why, through history, the peak age of
drinking and heavy drinking has decreased. The peak drinking age had fallen from back in 1988,
where it was between the ages of 30 and 49. However, in 1998, it reported to be between 18 and
29 years of age. It was also shown that Mexico has a high rate of DUI-related accidents and
mortality (Medina-Mora, 2007) Mexico continues to have issues in regulating its sales and
consumption of alcohol, making it too of a lenient country in the issue of alcohol consumption
Resolutions to assist an individual battling alcohol abuse are available in different ways.
Alcohol intervention is a good approach when helping an alcoholic (Moyer & Finney, 2004).
Alcoholics can be known to deny they have a problem. In the stage of seeking help, an alcoholic
must acknowledge they have an alcoholic problem. A brief intervention can be conducted in
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 5
centers, use of technology, like the internet, when there is a lack of time and resources (Moyer &
Finney, 2004). But, it remains that these interventions are not as effective as those conducted by
a live professional individual or group (Moyer & Finney, 2004). Interventions are not made for
all alcoholics; they are usually targeted to individuals that meet the criteria of alcohol abuse
Brief interventions are conducted to help reduce alcohol consumption, rather than
insisting the alcoholic to abstain from drinking. If the intervention can be performed early in the
discovery of alcohol abuse, the alcoholic might have a higher chance in reversing or treating the
disease (Moyer & Finney, 2004). An intervention is usually personal, involving the professional
and close loved ones of the individual who became an alcoholic. This method also consists of
individual feedback and counseling based on the assessment of the individual (Moyer & Finney,
2004). Another positive trait of brief interventions is that they are cost effective, which can
avoid the expensive costs of medical treatment in rehabilitation facilities, and other known
medications to treat alcoholism (Litten, Egli, Heilig, Fertig, Ryan, & Noranha, 2012).
Referring back to social encounters among college students and alcohol consumption in
student can feel embarrassed or awkward about initiating conversations about alcohol without a
legitimate reason that they have a dependency issue. This is something that can be resolved
through time and more frequent events for intervention (Moyer & Finney, 2004). The brief
intervention can allow the student or alcoholic the opportunity to change their drinking behavior
by showing them their own behavior and what they actually do. At the same time, they are able
to listen to the pleas of help and pain caused by them to others, especially their loved ones, thus
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 6
making a more profound connection in an intimate level for the alcoholic (Moyer & Finney,
2004). With this in mind, interventions are effective, not always, but work in assisting
individuals battling with alcohol addiction (Moyer & Finney, 2004). This approach also opens
the door to aid the individual by offering further assistance, such as a treatment facility or
Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most popular or common programs that is available to
individuals battling alcohol abuse or addiction. There is no cost to attend. Commitment and
constant attendance is recommended in order to assist with the issue of alcoholism (Tonigan,
2007). This community resource bases itself on two important concepts, and that is through their
12 step and 12 traditions programs, where 11 of the steps focus and refer to the importance of or
a high power of recovery (Tonigan, 2007). AA also focuses on spiritual help by outlining the
importance of a higher power. The services rendered through AA are based on social interaction
(Tonigan, 2007). It is important for the majority of alcoholics to unite or interact in order to
discuss the 12 steps and 12 traditions and provide testimony of their own alcoholic problems
(Tonigan, 2007). One finding has emerged in reviews of AA meetings: individuals tend to drink
more on their first initial attendance, but after attending AA more than once and making it a
routine, it can lead to abstinence of alcohol and improved social functioning (Tonigan, 2007).
Alcoholics Anonymous also has its website available, where it lists all locations
accessible to those seeking help (AA, 2014). The site is www.aa.org, and it offers additional
information about the program. It also allows for individuals to communicate with professionals
with expertise on alcohol abuse and addiction (AA, 2014). Details on community events and
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 7
other resources for other programs are also accessible on the AA website (AA, 2014). AA is one
of the main programs that are referred by courts and other institutions for individuals seeking
help. It is not a cult or a religion, but simply an organization that is required for membership in a
honest desire to stop drinking or abusing alcohol (AA, 2014). AA is an organization established
by founder Bill Wilson (AA, 2014). It has shown the ability to have people get together and
speak of their experiences and their flaws. It opens the doors for acceptance in society as an
alcoholic and gives the opportunity for social interaction (Tonigan, 2007).
The issue of alcohol abuse and addiction is a very sensitive one, as it can lead to illness
and death, and is on top as one of the major causes of disease and mortality. Because humans
are flawed, not all who abuse or are addicted to alcohol will get help, but efforts to prevent and
treat disease shall never stop. At home, at school, and in the community level, that is how we
can continue working toward preventing and coping with the issue of alcoholism. An in terms
of the professional level, studies play a major role in explaining and helping further research
projects to help prevent and find assistance for this ongoing disease. We need to work together
as a society and understand that alcoholism is a disease, and not just treat those individuals as
outcasts. The best method to prevent alcoholism is to abstain from it. There are going to be
circumstances that will drive someone to abuse alcohol, but no matter how alienated he or she
may feel, they are not alone, and it is always okay to seek help. Although it may be true that
some people will refuse or deny help, our efforts of working toward a drug-free society should
remain constant.
ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 8
References
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2014). What is AA?. Retrieved from
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/what-is-aa
Litten, R. Z., Egli, M., Heilig, M., Cui, C., Fertig, J. B., Ryan, M. L., & Noronha, A. (2012).
Medications development to treat alcohol dependence: a vision for the next decade.
Medina-Mora, M. E. (2007). Mexicans and alcohol: patterns, problems and policies. Addiction,
102(7), 1041-1045.
Moyer, A., & Finney, J. W. (2004). Brief interventions for alcohol problems. Alcohol Research
& Health, 28(1), 44-50.
Rehm, J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol Research &
Tonigan, J. S. (2007). Spirituality and alcoholics anonymous. Southern Medical Journal, 100(4),
437-440.
Vaillant, G. E. (2005). Alcoholics anonymous: cult or cure?. Australian & New Zealand Journal
Vaisman-Tzachor, R., & Lai, J. Y. (2008). The effects of college tenure, gender, and social
Warren, K. R., & Murray, M. M. (2013). Alcoholic liver disease and pancreatitis: Global health
World Health Organization. (2014, May). Alcohol fact sheet. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/
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