Alcohol Use and Misuse

ALCOHO ABUSE
This is the most commonly abused drugs and it not a surprise as you walk along any street to spot two or three bars selling alcohol. As discussed earlier, alcohol abuse can be influenced by peer pressure. Borrowing from my life experience when I was in campus, I got invited to this party of friends, from the fear of “being left out” I accepted. At the party, every participant was required to gulp a tot of beer, this was my first experience of alcohol. This was the idea of my then best friend, how could I say no! I accepted to take the tot but the bitterness as it settled on my tongue could not allow me to swallow it, I dashed to the washroom. Such are stories of how many youth got introduced to drinking alcohol and strong is the Peer pressure that saying no is almost not a possibility.
Others drink to deal with stress from work, family and even disasters like loss of a loved one. As an escape route from grief, the deceased resolves to alcohol abuse for it makes them forget the problems, at least for a little while.
A small percentage enter through the curiosity door similar to those that begin on the curiosity lane. The effect of media is vast on the lifestyle. From movies to programs and adverts in cinemas, TVs and social media. Youth learn of the coolness of drinking, celebs posing/drinking the expensive kinds of alcohols attracts them into the habit. Modelling (learning by observation) also contributes to the development of such habits.
Talking to most people I know who drink admitted to have begun drinking knowing it is under control only to find themselves in “I will stop tomorrow” situation. It begun with one bottle, stepped up to two and later four, the previous quantity is not enough to get give the arousal effect a phenomenal called – Tolerance. The bond is so strong that the individual drinks despite prior knowledge to the Psychological and Physiological effects of the habit. The continuous abuse of alcohol can result in liver cirrhosis, throat cancer and colon but m focus is on the Psychological effects.
The level of effect is dependent on the time of abuse, the longer the abuse the severe the effects. Some of the psychological effects include; frequent difficulties focusing, distorted motor coordination, vision impairment and difficulty remembering. Prolonged abuse of alcohol may result in dependency, decreased learning and memory depression and increase levels of anxiety and in pregnant mothers it interferes with brain development of the foetus.
Addicts need urgent help and people who are close to them are advised to recommend or take them to nearest Rehabilitation centers. The sooner an addict is taken to a rehab the lesser the impact of the negative effects.