English. 4 bimester project. Ana Victoria Baron Gomez. s-302

 Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with ethanol (commonly referred to as alcohol), and generally refers to alcohol addiction, which is the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages.  It is medically considered a disease, specifically an addictive illness. One who has alcoholism is called an alcoholic.

 Early signs. The risk of alcohol dependence begins at low levels of drinking and increases directly with both the volume of alcohol consumed and a pattern of drinking larger amounts on an occasion. Young adults are particularly at risk Alcoholism can have adverse effects on mental health, causing psychiatric disorders and increasing the risk of suicide. A depressed mood is a common symptom.

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause a number of physical symptoms, including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, peptic ulcers and sexual dysfunction, and can eventually be fatal. Other physical effects include an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, malabsorption, alcoholic liver disease, and cancer.

 Alcohol is the most available and widely abused substance. Beer alone is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverage; it is the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is thought by some to be the oldest fermented beverage.

Males were twice as likely as females to have met the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year (10.5% vs. 5.1%).

Attitudes and social stereotypes can create barriers to the detection and treatment of alcohol abuse. This is more of a barrier for women than men. Fear of stigmatization may lead women to deny that they are suffering from a medical condition, to hide their drinking, and to drink alone.

Today, the average age an American girl has her first drink is 13; for a boy, it's 11. In the U.S. and many other countries, underage drinking is a widespread problem with often serious consequences. Young people who drink are more likely to be the victims of violent crime, to be involved in alcohol- related traffic accidents, and to have depression and anxiety

 Race and ethnicity.  Genetics.  The presence of mental health disorders.  Personality traits.  Influence of family and peers.  Gender.

 Alcohol poisoning.  Alcohol is a major factor in fatal automobile crashes.  Drinking may have lasting health effects.  Drinking can lead to sexual assaults and rape.

As a parent, grandparent, teacher, or friend, you have a major impact on the choices that the children make, especially during the preteen and early teen years.

 Detoxification.  Psychological.  Medications.