The Long Lasting Effect of Alcohol on The Brain - 1208 Words

â€Å"Each year in the U.S., nearly 80,000 people die from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in our country† (Alcohol Facts 1). Alcoholism is a major controversy in the United States, and many debate whether alcoholism is a disease or choice. Accordingly, based on scientific evidence, alcoholism is a disease because it has major long-term effects on the brain, it is an addiction, and it is treated medically. The first major reason alcoholism should be considered disease is the long-lasting effects it has on the brain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently conducted a study that shows how the brain is affected after chronic alcohol use. They concluded that, â€Å"chronic alcohol exposure†¦show more content†¦Mark Willenburg, director of treatment and recovery research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism stated, â€Å"People with mild to moderate alcohol disorders can be treated with medications or behavioral therapy with a primary care doctor, but many people can do this on their own without having a professional. This idea is teaching people how to reevaluate their drinking†(Roan 2). By saying this Dr. WIllenburg has changed the opinions of many speculators in the nation, but what he has failed to do throughout his investigations is to take a people who exceed the mark for moderate drinking into question. Alcoholism is defined a chron ic disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction (â€Å"Addiction† 1). The definition of alcoholism alone is enough to show that it is a serious problem, and it should be treated as such. The second reason alcoholism should be considered a disease is because of addiction. Addiction is defined in the Webster dictionary as, an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something (â€Å"Addiction† 1). Many other drugs such as marijuana, meth, and heroine are commonly known as highly addictive substance. Alcohol on the other hand is widely forgotten to be one of those substance. In an article titled,† What is Addiction†, Henry R. Kranzier, MD and Ting-Kai Li, MD looked further into what is addiction is reallyShow MoreRelatedLong Term Effects of Alchool818 Words   |  4 Pages12th Grade Alcohol essay The Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use Alcohol is primarily absorbed through the stomach and the small intestines. 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