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Many doctors have become dedicated to researching specific drugs, such as alcohol. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States. In fact, many people drink in order to “feel good”, only to become hopelessly addicted and crippled by the consumption of alcohol.

Doctor Crick, an addiction specialist commented, “More people are drinking more often, an so more of the at-risk people end up in difficulties compared to thirty years ago when fewer people drank,” he continued by adding, “People can have a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction, but it cannot be triggered if people are not exposed to alcohol in the first place.”

Alcohol is a powerful substance that can overtake a person’s entire life. People have lost their families, friends and job due to alcohol abuse. Alcoholism is a dangerous addiction that affects thousands of people each and every day.

The Chemical Composition of Alcohol

Alcohol is considered to be an organic compound that is part of the hydroxyl group. In the chemical composition of alcohol, a carbon atom is bound to the alkyl group. The term itself, alcohol is used in reference to ethanol. In older days, it was known as “spirits of wine” or “grain alcohol”.

Ethanol is an extremely volatile liquid that has a mild odor. The substance of ethanol can be obtained through the fermentation of various sugars. For thousands of years ethanol has been used, worldwide, as a depressant. Alcoholism is a term that refers to an individual who is addicted to alcohol.

How Alcohol Affects the Brain and Body

Alcohol acts as a depressant of the body’s central nervous system. It is the central nervous system that is most severely affected by the consumption of alcohol. The function of the central nervous system becomes impaired when alcohol is ingested into the body. The degree of malfunction is dependent on the amount of alcohol that is consumed.

As alcohol passes from the stomach to the small intestine, the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and is distributed throughout an individual’s entire body. Alcohol is distributed in a short amount of time and can reduce a person’s inhibitions. As a person consumes a larger amount of alcohol, response time is decreased and the person’s speech oftentimes becomes slurred.

The consumption of large amounts of alcohol can impair one’s ability to walk and to perform simple everyday tasks. A person who consumes an extremely high concentration of alcohol can enter into a coma and even die. A person can pass through several stages while drinking alcohol, including euphoria, excitement, confusion, stupor and coma.

How Alcohol is Addictive

The consumption of alcohol causes the brain to release dopamine, which is known to produce feelings of euphoria and satisfaction. Alcohol also causes the brain to produce endorphins. There are several scientists that believe that the production of endorphins teaches the brain to crave a specific drug or substance.

Scientists have also come to believe that alcohol has a direct affect on chemicals in the body that are responsible for sending messages between different nerve cells located in the brain. This is one of the ways in which one’s body develops a dependency and a tolerance to alcohol.

The BBC reported that “For example, there are people who have a nervous, anxious disposition. If they start to use alcohol as a tranquilizer that can become addictive.”

How to Treat Alcoholism

The most common way to treat alcoholism is through rehabilitation programs or twelve step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Twelve step programs have helped thousands of people recover from alcoholism. It is important to treat an addiction “one day at a time”.

There are treatment centers, located throughout the country that are effective at helping people overcome addiction, such as alcoholism. If you or someone you know suffers from an addiction to alcohol it is important to receive treatment immediately.