Alcohol: Addiction and Caffeine Alcohol Drinking Essay

Submitted By thatblackguy123
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What is a drug? Definition
Society would have you think that the most terrible drugs are illegal and only those who congregate in dark alleys have acces to them.
But I'm here today to tell you that the most addictive drugs are legal and readily available to you AND your children in supermarkets, corner shops, the mall, petrol station...the list goes on and on.
What qre these drugs? The few I am going to speak about today are nicotine, alcohol and caffeine

Alcohol
Drinking alcohol causes the release of naturally occurring feel-good opioids known as endorphins,
Alcohol goes directly into the bloodstream, physically affecting the whole body. Some illnesses and health problems caused by alcohol include:
Hangovers. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, aches and pains all result from drinking too much. Drinking to the point of drunkenness makes you sick.
Weight gain. Alcohol is not water. A beer has about 150 "empty" calories that provide few if any nutrients.
High blood pressure. Along with being overweight, high blood pressure is associated with many serious health problems.
Depressed immune system. Impaired immunity makes you more likely to contract viral illnesses such as flu and infections.
Cancer. 2-4% of all cancer cases are related to alcohol. Upper digestive tract cancers are the most common, hitting the esophagus, mouth, larynx, and pharynx. Women who drink prior to menopause are more likely to develop breast cancer. Your risk of skin cancer doubles if you drink slightly more than "moderate levels." Some studies implicate alcohol in colon, stomach, pancreas and lung cancer. And let's not forget the liver...
Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. The liver breaks down alcohol at the rate of only one drink per hour.
Alcohol poisoning. Drinking large amounts can result in alcohol poisoning, which causes unconsciousness and even death. Breathing slows, and the skin becomes cold and may look blue. Don't let a person in this condition "sleep it off." Call 911.
Heart or respiratory failure. Excessive drinking can have serious results. Heart or respiratory failure often means death.
Other long-term effects of heavy alcohol use include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, sexual impotence, central nervous system damage, and memory loss.
Finally, lets not forget alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease to which some people seem predisposed. Alcoholics are unable to control their drinking--how much, when, and if. Alcoholism puts you at great risk for other health problems, and it can shorten your life by more than 10 years. Alcoholism cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Through education, treatment, and self-help support such as AA, people can learn to live alcohol-free and feel good.

Caffeine

Yes, caffeine is a drug, even though it's something that you ingested in your beloved chocolate bars and colas since early childhood

Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure. Caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach irritation, nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate and respiration, and other side effects. Caffeine can make sleep disorders in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worse. Larger doses might cause headache, anxiety, agitation, chest pain, and ringing in the ears.

Large doses may be UNSAFE and can cause irregular heartbeats and even death.
In other words, caffeine affects your body just like any drug. You start taking it slowly, but as your body develops a tolerance to it, you need more and more to feel the same effects. Eventually, your body reaches a point where it can't be without it; otherwise, you will start to experience withdrawal symptoms.
"Careful research conducted by the department of psychiatry and behavioral
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