Cause and Effect Paper, Final Draft
Causes and Effects of Alcoholism The causes and effects of alcoholism on society are far-reaching, tragic, and hard to deny. One of the many definitions of alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. Harmful consequences from this dangerous addiction include the eventual inability of the addicted to be a productive member of society; liver and brain damage; and the possibility of bringing harm to another person because of poor choices, such as driving while intoxicated. These are only a few of the devastating effects of addiction to alcohol. There are many causes that lead people to become alcoholics, including a genetic predisposition, poverty, depression, peer pressure, and environmental influences, such as the way one was raised or nurtured. Each of these causes contributes to the overall decline of the addicted and his or her inability to be present on the job, in the lives of his or her children or spouse, and possibly school. It’s hard to honor commitments and be a responsible, productive member of society if numbing pain with alcohol becomes the first priority. The effects are, including but not limited to, divorce, losing custody of children, flunking out of school, and job loss which then leads to poverty and even more depression, so that the consumption of alcohol intensifies into a vicious cycle. Clearly, alcohol has been shown to cause significant detrimental effects on the brain and liver. The most obvious signs of brain damage are blacking out , mental confusion, tremors, and memory lapses. Over consumption also leads to a depletion in vital nutrients such as thiamine, which is also known as vitamin B1. CT scans have revealed brain shrinkage in heavy drinkers, an indication of brain damage. The liver is the main organ which breaks down alcohol into smaller