English 0301
Mrs. Reithmeyer
November 4, 2012
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Have you ever had to deal with a person dealing with alcoholism or drug addiction? Alcoholism and drug addiction in a family member can have many effects not only in the person with the problem but, other family members as well. My little brother Jose is the one from my family who struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction. He started drinking at a very young age and then slowly started experimenting with drugs. He never stopped to think about the consequences his actions would have in his future. His addictions have caused him to have anger issues, to be dishonest and steal, and eventually land him in jail.
First of all anger is one of his effects of drinking. When my brother would drink it made him a different person. He would get so drunk and start fights and arguments with his closest friends. José has loss many friends due to his drinking and anger. Jose has been severely beaten one too many times because he has been too drunk to defend himself. Many Holidays have been ruined because he doesn’t know how to control his anger, and would start arguing. There have been times that he has been so drunk and threaten to physically harm our parents. Actually, there has been a time where he pushed my mother down and hurt her. There were times when I didn’t even want to be around him, afraid that he would try to harm me or my children. The alcohol would affect his mental state, to the point where he would end up in jail and not know why.
Secondly, his drug addiction has caused him to steal and be dishonest. The drug use started with marijuana and then methamphetamines, they caused him to hallucinate, and imagine things that aren’t even there. The drug use has hurt him financially. When Jose first started using drugs he didn’t have a job, he had to start stealing to support his drug habit. He started stealing from his own family