ALCOHOLISM

Cause/Effect Essay on a Social or Cultural Phenomenon

Cause/Effect Essay on a Social or Cultural Phenomenon

Introduction

Alcoholism is a disease resulting from frequent and prolonged alcohol abuse. However, this term has another meaning; Alcoholism understood as a social phenomenon, caused by the widespread abuse of alcohol that adversely affects the health of the population, the conditions of life, and the economy of society. Therefore, the alcohol in many countries considered as one of the most significant medical and economic problems.

For a long time, no importance was given to the social consequences of excessive use of alcohol by denying the presence of the problem. However, it is true that the social conditions mismatch or marginalization of the individual may be the cause of alcoholism. Nevertheless, the fact remains that, alcohol is a cause of serious suffering for those who directly or indirectly involved in it (Heather, 2004). People who are directly affected by this are the family members; the presence of alcoholism in the family destroys the family nucleus. Within the household, behavior of the escalating abuse undermines interpersonal relationships, which found in the first person who drinks and then spread to the whole nucleus, i.e. lack of communication, aggression and isolation.

Alcoholism has a negative affect on the body's biological functions it negatively impact the sexual desire and normal ratios of torque. This impact stir the feeling of rejection by the partner who does not drink, and often powerless condition of the alcoholic causes the couple's breakup. The family of alcoholics often has economic problems, because they tend to lack the competence, and consistency in the work place resulting in conflict with the employer.

As for the psycho-social function, family plays the pivotal role in teaching children values and rules of life and provides protection to the family members. The family is the primary source through, which alcohol can be controlled; it received a major role in informal control of drinking, for, the support of family/relatives can control the consumption (Galanter, 2002). In this sense, the family is a resource for the prevention and control of alcohol use and ever more in recent years, the family involved in the treatment of alcoholics. Another social aspect that is often correlated with the presence of alcohol abuse is the manifestations of violence and crime. Violent behavior, aggression, and criminal acts are often related to the presence of alcoholism.

Many jurisdictions, as well as many religions, while prohibit or restrict their consumption (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam), some lawmakers of the Ancient World and Middle Ages attempted to deal with drunkenness, penalties. However, during this period of humanity alcoholism was not so important; this is due not so much with the legal and scriptural prohibitions, as with the social conditions of living in slave and feudal society (Elliott, 2003). Smoothing of the severe consequences of alcoholism in no small measure contributed to the well being, and the fact that in ancient times beverage with low alcohol content (wine, beer, brewed beer, beverages made from honey) ...