Alcohol Use Disorders: A Case Study

Alcohol use has been part human civilizations for an estimated 10,000 years. With evidence for initial beer brewing in the Near East, beer is believed to have preceded bread as a dietary staple (Hanson, 2015). Fast-track to today, alcohol has taken many forms to include wine and distilled spirits such as rum, whiskey, and tequila. Numerous people all over the world associate consuming alcohol beverages as a means to relax and loosen up, especially in social settings. However, due to its psychoactive properties as a central nervous system depressant or downer, people who consume alcohol often times have a few too many, which may lead to problems down the road. Some of these problems include mental disorders classified not to long ago as alcohol
This disorder is defined by the DSM-5 as a, “problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress” (Beidel, Bulik, & Stanley, 2014, p. 318). One of the hallmarks of alcohol use disorder emphasizes that, despite the negative physical and psychological consequences of alcohol use, individuals continue to drink past the moderate standards of two servings of 0.6 ounces for men, and one serving for women ("Alcohol and Public Health,"
Although commonly used as a relaxer, many times the natural intoxicant can do more harm than good. Understanding its effects on the mind and body is a surefire way to keep on educating the public on its dangers. Despite the addictive qualities of alcohol, many folks may believe that changing a destructive habit is impossible. However, research shows that this is not the case, and that it is possible to change. Whether via self-remission or with the help of friends and professionals, abstinence or moderation is attainable. Although alcohol may be with us forever, it is important to understand the consequences of its overuse. This will enable us to make better decisions of whether to keep drowning ourselves in drunkenness or reach out to the lifesavers rendered by those who