Describe the psychological and behavioral effects of alcohol. Discuss both the short- and long-term consequences of alcohol-related disorders..

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sample Answer: It appears that the course of alcohol dependence may be progressive for most people, whereas the course of alcohol abuse may be more variable. Among chronically alcohol-dependent men, a general progression of alcohol-related life problems did emerge. Three-quarters of the men reported moderate consequences of their drinking, such as demotions at work, in their 20s. During their 30s, men had serious problems including regular blackouts and signs of alcohol withdrawal. By their late 30s and early 40s, these men demonstrated long-term serious consequences of their drinking, which included hallucinations, withdrawal convulsions, and hepatitis or pancreatitis. This study suggests a common pattern among people with chronic alcohol abuse and dependence, one with increasingly severe consequences. This progressive pattern is not inevitable for everyone who abuses alcohol, although we do not yet understand what distinguishes those who are and those who are not susceptible. Finally, statistics often link alcohol with violent behavior. Laboratory studies show that alcohol does make participants more aggressive. However, whether a person behaves aggressively outside the laboratory probably involves a number of interrelated factors, such as the quantity and timing of alcohol consumed, the person's history of violence, expectations about drinking, and what happens to the individual while intoxicated. Alcohol does not cause aggression, but it may increase a person's likelihood of engaging in impulsive acts and it may impair the ability to consider the consequences of acting impulsively. Given the right circumstances, such impaired rational thinking may increase a person's risk of behaving aggressively.