Alcohol abuse & Alcoholism Treatment
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Alcohol
 Alcohol is an addictive substance. In United States, legal age for possession or purchase or drinking use is 21. Some people start drinking alcohol at a very young age. But slowly they develop addiction and thus it becomes their need. All addicts are not able to leave alcohol addcition by itself. So they need rehab center for proper treatment.
Alcoholic Beverage is a drink which usually people takes in parties or some ocassional function for their pleasure. It is commonly called as alcohol though alcohol represents a large group of compunds. The commercially available alcohol is ethanol which is a psychoactive drug. It has depressant effect. The state of addiction to ethanol is termed as alcoholism. Its sale and consumption is regulated by countries and their organizations. It is produced from carbohydrates catalysed by yeast using fermentation process. Alcohol is consumed by people in different forms such as wine, beer, rum, whisky, etc.
Moderate use of alcohol can give significant health benefits like low risk of heart-attack, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, reduced risk of stroke, and increased overall longevity. If taken in excess the negative effects of alcohol are very severe. People with low tolerance usually vomits and fell unconcious. It can also lead to malnutrition as it alter digestion and metabolism of most nutrients. Also it causes thiamine deficiency, muscle cramps, appetite loss, nausea, osteoporesis, nerve disorders and depression. It stimulates insulin production resulting in low blood sugar. It affects brain resulting in clumsiness, slurred speech, and delayed reflexes.
Its short-term effects are: it impairs judgement and coordination reqiured to do some work, aggressive acts like domestic violence and child abuse. Its long-term effects include permanent damage to vital organs, cancer, sexual dysfunctions, low resistance to diseases, gastrointestinal irritations, etc.
Alcoholism is now seen commonly in people of all age groups. Most people are addicted to alcohol in the world. Rehab centers are there for helping people addicted to alcohol to recover addiction.
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