ALCOHOL USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 1

Alcohol Use Among Young Adults

Many people misconstrue what constitutes a drug and merely think it as an illegal drug.

Alcohol, for example, is a drug, but many people separate it with the rest of classification of

drugs. Alcohol is a dangerous drug of abuse and it does not discriminate anyone once it has

reached that state. It affects people of varying ages and backgrounds. College-aged individuals

greatly abuse alcohol since they are at a point in their lives where they want to feel free and

temporarily abstain from the norms of society. There are many reasons why people drink. In

college, for instance, people like to drink in social contexts or to feel accepted by their peers.

Unfortunately, alcohol abuse has been lingering in my family, but it is something I refuse to be a

part in my personal life. I have relatives, one being my grandfather, that drink heavily or became

alcoholics. They either do not know how to drink in moderation and others have become

alcoholics. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism significantly affects society in numerous ways.

Prevalence of Alcoholism

Alcohol has been reported as a highly consumed product by the World Health

Organization and categorized as a global burden of disease (2014). The impact of alcohol

consumption exceeded other known global burdens, such as unsafe water and sanitation,

hypertension, high cholesterol, or tobacco use (WHO, 2014). Alcohol has maintained itself

relevant, sparking more than an estimate of 65 diseases, known to be health risk factors

associated with alcoholism. Its effects does not seem to have age restrictions, affecting anyone

who consumes it. College students have fostered the issue of alcohol abuse, and that has been

exposed by the behavioral norms of college life.

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Three factors have been identified to aid in the development of alcohol tendency. These

factors are known to be the tenure of college, social involvement, and gender, which was also

found to be a strong depicter of alcohol consumption, specifically in males (Vaisman-Tzachor, &

Lai, 2008). Consumption rates have reached 84% in a national survey conducted on 140

colleges and universities (Vaisman-Tzachor, & Lai, 2008). The National Institute on Alcohol

Abuse and Alcoholism (NIDAA) has done research over the past forty years, which tie liver

disease to alcohol. In the U.S. alone, alcohol causes 2.5 million deaths annually (Vaisman-

Tzachor, & Lai, 2008).

With all the dangers in mind, alcohol is still being consumed and abused. It is highly

influenced by social pressure, the party scene, or the pleasurable experience of dating. College

life for a young teen or young adult consists of social encounters, which in turn encourages an

individual to overly consume alcohol, eventually leading to alcoholism. Regulations and policies

can be enforced, but that has clearly not been a problem solver, with the battling fight over

disease of alcoholism (Vaisman-Tzachor, & Lai, 2008).

Negative Effects of Alcoholism

Outlining the negative effects of alcohol on an individual’s health opens the door to a

vast list of diseases and conditions associated with alcohol consumption. For example, alcoholic

liver disease is a collective of multiple disorders, but this is just one issue related to the abuse of

alcohol (Rehm, 2011). The most eminent disease conditions within the group are Alcoholic Use

Disorders (AUD’s), such as alcohol abuse (Rehm, 2011). Yet the consequences only get worse

on the individual. Alcohol can also lead to chronic diseases, such as infectious disease, cancer,

diabetes, neuropsychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreas disease, and in

other circumstances, intentional or unintentional injury (Warren & Murray, (2013). So far,
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hospitals and healthcare providers have outlined the drinkers’ health issues, but the harm not

only does not stop there.

An individual’s health is not the sole issue jeopardized. The negative effects spread out

touching others as well. Alcoholism has shown to harm others as the result of alcohol

consumption. One example includes, a mother drinking during pregnancy, thus affecting the

child’s birth or causing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) (Warren & Murray, (2013). High

reports of physical damage show those such as, traffic injury due to driving under the influence,

child abuse or neglect, domestic violence and other types of assault (Warren & Murray, (2013).

Yet, the first group usually affected is the immediate family. Family disruption usually tends to

occur on an individual dealing with alcohol abuse (Vaisman-Tzachor & Lai, 2008).

These problems can persist for years, with no signs of any resolution, which can lead to

unfortunate consequences, such as divorce (Vaillant, 2005). But, the physical and mental abuse

family members endure is by far the abuse delivered by the alcoholic (Vaillant, 2005). A child

can be traumatized by the negative effects of alcohol consumption on the user (Vaillant, 2005).

A child’s well-being can be destroyed, changing his or her views in life and can lead to stress or

depression, and in some cases, suicide, as a result of all the abuse tolerated through time

(Vaillant, 2005). Other drawbacks will follow, such as problems in the workplace, criminal

convictions and financial problems (Tonigan, 2007).

How Alcohol Consumption is viewed in Other Cultures or Countries

Alcohol is viewed differently in many countries and its burden on a society can differ.

Mexico, for instance, in some rural areas, alcohol is sold to anyone at any age, regardless of the

legal age to drink or purchase alcohol (Medina-Mora, 2007). Throughout Mexico’s history,
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measures were implied to reduce alcohol consumption. In the early 17th century, the number of

establishments that sold alcohol was being regulated, in order to minimize the consumption per

inhabitant (Medina-Mora, 2007). Also, taxes were being raised by the second half of the 18th

century (Medina-Mora, 2007). Additionally, during this time, drunkenness in public was being

penalized. The issue of alcohol consumption became a burden, that in 1950, alcohol was

prohibited in Mexico City, but was later abolished due to demand (Medina-Mora, 2007).

As years followed, laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol were being

created but flaws had surfaced. For instance, regulating the range of establishments selling

alcohol to schools and workplaces, the legal age for purchasing alcohol, and the alcohol levels

allowed in the blood when driving a vehicle (Medina-Mora, 2007). Unfortunately, these

measures had no strategies to guarantee their enforcement (Medina-Mora, 2007). Regulations

are not being enforced, and this has clearly dictated why, through history, the peak age of

drinking and heavy drinking has decreased. The peak drinking age had fallen from back in 1988,

where it was between the ages of 30 and 49. However, in 1998, it reported to be between 18 and

29 years of age. It was also shown that Mexico has a high rate of DUI-related accidents and

mortality (Medina-Mora, 2007) Mexico continues to have issues in regulating its sales and

consumption of alcohol, making it too of a lenient country in the issue of alcohol consumption

and alcohol abuse (Medina-Mora, 2007).

Approaches that Address or Solve the Issue of Alcohol Abuse

Resolutions to assist an individual battling alcohol abuse are available in different ways.

Alcohol intervention is a good approach when helping an alcoholic (Moyer & Finney, 2004).

Alcoholics can be known to deny they have a problem. In the stage of seeking help, an alcoholic

must acknowledge they have an alcoholic problem. A brief intervention can be conducted in
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several methods, assistance, in a medical setting, such as emergency departments or trauma

centers, use of technology, like the internet, when there is a lack of time and resources (Moyer &

Finney, 2004). But, it remains that these interventions are not as effective as those conducted by

a live professional individual or group (Moyer & Finney, 2004). Interventions are not made for

all alcoholics; they are usually targeted to individuals that meet the criteria of alcohol abuse

(Moyer & Finney, 2004).

Brief interventions are conducted to help reduce alcohol consumption, rather than

insisting the alcoholic to abstain from drinking. If the intervention can be performed early in the

discovery of alcohol abuse, the alcoholic might have a higher chance in reversing or treating the

disease (Moyer & Finney, 2004). An intervention is usually personal, involving the professional

and close loved ones of the individual who became an alcoholic. This method also consists of

individual feedback and counseling based on the assessment of the individual (Moyer & Finney,

2004). Another positive trait of brief interventions is that they are cost effective, which can

avoid the expensive costs of medical treatment in rehabilitation facilities, and other known

medications to treat alcoholism (Litten, Egli, Heilig, Fertig, Ryan, & Noranha, 2012).

Referring back to social encounters among college students and alcohol consumption in

colleges and universities, an intervention will be somewhat of a social encounter. Sometimes a

student can feel embarrassed or awkward about initiating conversations about alcohol without a

legitimate reason that they have a dependency issue. This is something that can be resolved

through time and more frequent events for intervention (Moyer & Finney, 2004). The brief

intervention can allow the student or alcoholic the opportunity to change their drinking behavior

by showing them their own behavior and what they actually do. At the same time, they are able

to listen to the pleas of help and pain caused by them to others, especially their loved ones, thus
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making a more profound connection in an intimate level for the alcoholic (Moyer & Finney,

2004). With this in mind, interventions are effective, not always, but work in assisting

individuals battling with alcohol addiction (Moyer & Finney, 2004). This approach also opens

the door to aid the individual by offering further assistance, such as a treatment facility or

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (Moyer & Finney, 2004).

Community Resources that Aid with Alcohol Abuse and Addiction

Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most popular or common programs that is available to

individuals battling alcohol abuse or addiction. There is no cost to attend. Commitment and

constant attendance is recommended in order to assist with the issue of alcoholism (Tonigan,

2007). This community resource bases itself on two important concepts, and that is through their

12 step and 12 traditions programs, where 11 of the steps focus and refer to the importance of or

a high power of recovery (Tonigan, 2007). AA also focuses on spiritual help by outlining the

importance of a higher power. The services rendered through AA are based on social interaction

(Tonigan, 2007). It is important for the majority of alcoholics to unite or interact in order to

discuss the 12 steps and 12 traditions and provide testimony of their own alcoholic problems

(Tonigan, 2007). One finding has emerged in reviews of AA meetings: individuals tend to drink

more on their first initial attendance, but after attending AA more than once and making it a

routine, it can lead to abstinence of alcohol and improved social functioning (Tonigan, 2007).

Alcoholics Anonymous also has its website available, where it lists all locations

accessible to those seeking help (AA, 2014). The site is www.aa.org, and it offers additional

information about the program. It also allows for individuals to communicate with professionals

with expertise on alcohol abuse and addiction (AA, 2014). Details on community events and
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other resources for other programs are also accessible on the AA website (AA, 2014). AA is one

of the main programs that are referred by courts and other institutions for individuals seeking

help. It is not a cult or a religion, but simply an organization that is required for membership in a

honest desire to stop drinking or abusing alcohol (AA, 2014). AA is an organization established

by founder Bill Wilson (AA, 2014). It has shown the ability to have people get together and

speak of their experiences and their flaws. It opens the doors for acceptance in society as an

alcoholic and gives the opportunity for social interaction (Tonigan, 2007).

The issue of alcohol abuse and addiction is a very sensitive one, as it can lead to illness

and death, and is on top as one of the major causes of disease and mortality. Because humans

are flawed, not all who abuse or are addicted to alcohol will get help, but efforts to prevent and

treat disease shall never stop. At home, at school, and in the community level, that is how we

can continue working toward preventing and coping with the issue of alcoholism. An in terms

of the professional level, studies play a major role in explaining and helping further research

projects to help prevent and find assistance for this ongoing disease. We need to work together

as a society and understand that alcoholism is a disease, and not just treat those individuals as

outcasts. The best method to prevent alcoholism is to abstain from it. There are going to be

circumstances that will drive someone to abuse alcohol, but no matter how alienated he or she

may feel, they are not alone, and it is always okay to seek help. Although it may be true that

some people will refuse or deny help, our efforts of working toward a drug-free society should

remain constant.
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References
Alcoholics Anonymous. (2014). What is AA?. Retrieved from
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/what-is-aa
Litten, R. Z., Egli, M., Heilig, M., Cui, C., Fertig, J. B., Ryan, M. L., & Noronha, A. (2012).

Medications development to treat alcohol dependence: a vision for the next decade.

Addiction Biology, 17(3), 513-527.

Medina-Mora, M. E. (2007). Mexicans and alcohol: patterns, problems and policies. Addiction,
102(7), 1041-1045.
Moyer, A., & Finney, J. W. (2004). Brief interventions for alcohol problems. Alcohol Research
& Health, 28(1), 44-50.
Rehm, J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol Research &

Health, 34(2), 135-143.

Tonigan, J. S. (2007). Spirituality and alcoholics anonymous. Southern Medical Journal, 100(4),

437-440.

Vaillant, G. E. (2005). Alcoholics anonymous: cult or cure?. Australian & New Zealand Journal

Of Psychiatry, 39(6), 431-436.

Vaisman-Tzachor, R., & Lai, J. Y. (2008). The effects of college tenure, gender, and social

involvement on alcohol drinking and alcoholism in college students. Annals Of The

American Psychotherapy Association, 11(4), 18-24.

Warren, K. R., & Murray, M. M. (2013). Alcoholic liver disease and pancreatitis: Global health

problems being addressed by the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism. Journal Of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 284-6.

World Health Organization. (2014, May). Alcohol fact sheet. Retrieved from

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/
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