SEC-S13 / W5 | "How can alcohol cause damage to your health! 🍺"

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INTRODUCTION

Alcohol is a type of drink that people consume these days for different reasons, like celebrating, socializing, or enjoying the taste. Alcohol is found in almost every packed and canned food mostly as a preservative. Alcohol is also found in beverages like beer, wine, and spirits.

When alcohol is consumed, it goes into the user's bloodstream impacting the brain, which makes users feel relaxed, and happy, or lose their thinking. Regardless, alcohol is said to have both positive and negative effects, and it is on this note that I'll be discussing today's contest topic using the hints as my guide.

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When can we say that a person is an alcoholic? Give reasons for your answer

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Although I don't drink alcohol, the use of alcohol has never been proven to be a bad thing, but only when it is used in excess. Therefore, one can say that a person using alcohol is an alcoholic when the user has a strong and uncontrollable desire to drink alcohol, and it starts to negatively impact their life because they are now taking it in excess.

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Alcohol is also said to be of good use in some ways, like helping people feel relaxed and have fun with friends or family. It is also said to be used in moderation to improve the taste of certain foods and as a preservative in others. Studies also suggest that moderate use of alcohol may have potential health benefits for users, such as improving heart health.

However, when certain characteristics are seen in a person, they might be considered as an alcoholic, characters such as;

• Alcohol Dependence (addiction):

This involves a person having a strong and constant urge to drink alcohol, hence finding it difficult to stop or control their drinking once they start.

• Withdrawal symptoms:

This involves persons who use alcohol experiencing physical and emotional signs like shaking, sweating, or anxiety when they try to stop drinking.

• Neglecting responsibilities:

We can consider someone an alcoholic when they start neglecting their work, family, or other important obligations because their focus is mainly on drinking alcohol.

• Continued drinking despite negative consequences:

Any person who keeps on drinking even when alcohol causes problems in their relationships, health, or other areas of life, is an alcoholic.

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Do you think alcohol is a drug? justify your answer!

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To justify my answer, I would like us to know the meaning of what a drug is. Here are two definitions I would like us to look at;

A drug is any chemical substance that affects the functioning of living things and the organisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that infect them. britannica

(3) Drug is any substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body merriam-webster

From the above definitions, we've seen that any substance other than food that we take into our body that affects the functioning of the body is termed a drug. Therefore, alcohol is a drug as it has the power to affect the functioning of the body and mind.

However, like all drugs, it has a good side and a bad side which are usually associated with excessive use or by abusing it's use, just like every other drug.

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Can alcoholism be considered a disease? How to control it!

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Yes, 100%. For me, I consider alcoholism as a disease, because alcoholism is when someone becomes dependent on alcohol and can't control their drinking anymore. However, if someone finds him/herself in such a situation, hopefully, you can control this habit by applying the following steps;

• Acknowledging the problem:

This involves the user admitting that he/she has a problem with alcohol. This is the first step, as it takes courage to admit that fact once fallen into alcoholism.

• Seek support:

Once you've acknowledged that you're drawn to alcohol, it is okay to reach out to friends, family, or support groups who can offer insight and guidance, as they can provide you with emotional support and help you find resources for treatment.

• Getting professional help:

This involves talking to a healthcare professional, like a doctor or consultant, who specializes in addiction as they can provide personalized advice and recommend treatment options.

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Is every drinker considered an alcoholic?

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No, not every drinker is to be considered an alcoholic as most people can use alcohol at a moderate level without experiencing adverse effects. In the first hint, I explained what alcoholism is all about, that alcoholism is used to describe people who abuse the use of alcohol, resulting in negative outcomes on the person's physical health, mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.

An alcoholic is someone who is addicted to the use of alcohol, it involves a compulsive need to drink alcohol and the inability to control or stop drinking despite the negative effects it has on them.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, alcohol use can have both positive and negative effects, however, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to harmful effects, such as addiction, and negative impacts on physical and mental health.

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I wish to invite @anasuleidy, @ninapenda, @ruthjoe, and @suboohi

Thank You for your Time

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NOTE: Always have a smile on your face, as you are never fully dressed without one.