Aspects of Alcohol & Alcohol Abuse

The alcohol which is commonly consumed is ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol (Lender, High on ethanol, 2001). Common names for alcohol include booze, hooch, moonshine, grog. Ethanol has the chemical formula C2H5OH and is a clear liquid which is readily soluble in water but only slightly soluble in fat. Alcohol for consumption is produced by yeast fermentation of sugar in corn, molasses, grain or fruit. Beverages containing ethanol include beer, wine and spirits such as gin, vodka, rum, brandy and whiskey.

A 12-ounce can of beer contains between 13 grams and 17 grams of ethyl alcohol, a four ounce glass of wine contains between 14 grams and 17 grams of alcohol and a one to one and a half ounce shot of spirits (e.g. 86 proof whiskey) contains between 13 grams and 19 grams of alcohol (Lender, High on ethanol, 2001). The average American consumed a six-pack of beer, two glasses of wine,, and three or four mixed drinks every week in 1997. This statistic included the 35 percent of Americans who don't drink, so individuals who do drink actually drink much more than this on average.

Alcohol has been around as long as recorded history, and today the majority of Americans use alcohol in their daily lives. (Lender, 2001). As long ago as the 1780s, some physicians considered alcoholism a disease. In 1784, Benjamin Rush, America's foremost physician of the time, called chronic drunkenness a disease t

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effects of alcohol abuse are often due to major nutritional deficiencies caused by chronic drinking, and which cause many major health problems (Sahley and Birkner, 2001). Alcohol is toxic to the pancreas, causing acute pancreatitis and hypoglycemia. Vitamin deficiencies cause a number of neurological syndromes in alcoholics. Anxiety, depression, muscle spasms, tremors and chronic pain result from magnesium deficiencies. Alcohol is broken down in the body by enzymes to form acetaldehyde, which is very toxic. Excessive alcohol intake overtaxes the enzyme system. A build up of acetaldehyde and its free radical byproducts results and this causes damage to the brain, cardiovascular system and liver, and causes premature aging and a lowered resistance to disease. Withdrawal from alcohol, as from any other addictive drug, causes a range of symptoms. Early or mild withdrawal symptoms include behavioral changes such as irritability, agitation and restlessness; impaired cognitive functions, making the person easily distracted, unable to concentrate and have memory problems; sleep disturbances such as restless sleep, insomnia and nightmares; gastrointestinal disturbances including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal d
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