The Influence of Alcohol on the Brain - 826 Words

When you drink alcohol it messes with your judgment .Long term problems with drinking alcohol can lead to liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, stomach problems, harm to unborn children, and complications with other illnesses. You can also get addicted to alcohol. Why can alcohol become an addictive substance? Drinking alcohol causes a release of endorphins and activates reward circuitry in the brain. Heavy and frequent drinkers experience a larger release of endorphins. Eventually, tolerance and dependence develop, and users become addicted to alcohol. Endorphins are any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides that activate the bodys opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect. If you drink just one beer the stimulants mess with your brain. Alcohol messes with your nervous system. When you consume alcohol your judgment gets hazy. That is one reason you don’t drink and drive. When you drive under the influence your judgment is off so you may not know what side of the road you are on. If you get pulled over while intoxicated you may have to take a Breathalyzer. They legal limit for a Breathalyzer is 0.8%. You can say you do not want to take the Breathalyzer because it is your right. Little factors like the person’s weight, muscle mass, or recently consumed drinks and food can all affect the measurement of a person’s blood alcohol content. People often think whenShow MoreRelated Alcohol and its Effects Essay1133 Words   |  5 PagesAlcohol and its Effects Does the brain control all forms of behavior? Is everything we do, say, think and feel a direct output from nothing but the brain? Is it justifiable to think of the brain as interconnected box within box with inputs and outputs? The focus of this paper is on the input alcohol and how the processes generate a certain type of behavior output. 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Depressant drugs slow down the nervous system and physiological functioning while promoting a relaxing, drowsy feeling. In the case of alcohol, these aforementioned effects typically arise when heavy doses of the drug are consumed. In low to moderate doses, however, the opposite happens. The alcohol has a mood-elevating effect, along withRead MoreCauses and Effects of Alcohal Abuse1150 Words   |  5 PagesThe Causes and Effects of Alcohol Abuse   For about 10% to 12% of the 140 million adults in the United States who drink, the use of alcohol develops into addiction. Alcoholism in men is approximately two to three times greater than in women (14% of male drinkers vs. 6% of female drinkers). In addition onset of alcoholism usually occurs at a younger age in men than in women (Fay, 1998). In terms of consumption 20% of drinkers consume 80% of all alcohol (Babor, 2010).    There has been an abundanceRead MoreAlcohol And Teens : Should The U.s. 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Alcohol alters the ability of the brain and body to function normally. It interferes with even the most experienced driver’s ability to drive safely. When alcohol is consumedRead MoreEffects Of Alcohol On The Body s Organs And Brain Activity1350 Words   |  6 PagesAlcohol is a recreational drug which contains ethanol (Drugfreeworld.org, 2016), a depressant that prolongs the messages from the brain to the body affecting the way one thinks, feels and behaves (Alcoholthinkagain.com.au, 2014). Excessive alcohol consumption can have many negative effects on the body’s organs and brain activity. Major health problems such as cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, depression, gout and pancreatitis can occur as a result of consuming large quantities of alcohol and haveRead MoreThe Dangers Of Alcohol Abuse1436 Words   |  6 PagesMany are unaware of the dangers alcohol causes because it is sold and distributed legally in the United States, when in reality alcohol kills many people every year. Alcohol is ranked the third highest reasoning of early teenage death, beating out high blood pressure, illegal drugs, and unsafe water (†Å"2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths†). The sensation of euphoria is a haze while on alcohol, which many try to achieve, unaware of the effects that may haunt them long after that feeling is gone. TheRead MoreThe Effects of Alcohol on Pilots During Flight Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesAlcohol is something that has been part of human nature for thousands of years. It has been used by means of medical, social, religious, and cultural settings (Information about Alcohol, n.d.). Alcohol is going to be a product that will be a part of our lives for many years to come, definitely past our lifetime. A problem that we see today is the use of drinking and driving. This is one of life’s more dangerous and stupid activities, but people still decide to do it. People like to push theirRead MoreTeen Alcoholism Is Driven By Example1150 Words   |  5 Pagesand the outcome of he or she’s futures. â€Å"People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older. It is not clear whether starting to drink at an early age actually causes alcoholism or whether it simply indicates an existing vulnerability to alcohol use disorders. For example, both early drinking and alcoholism had been linked to personality characteristics such as