Alcoholism and The Human Body Essay -- Addiction to Alcohol

Alcoholism a struggle in life where around the world many people must deal with every day. What is addiction and how does it affect the body? Although defined in many ways, it is believed by some that addiction is a disease of the brain that can cause a dependence upon or a continuing, compelling need to use a habit-forming substance despite harmful consequences and may also be characterized by the increasing need for more of the substance or activity in order to obtain the same effect. Many changes take place within a body that consumes high doses of alcohol which can sometimes have long lasting, permanent, or even detrimental effects. Many research studies on the topic of alcoholism continue to be performed as a means to benefit society as a whole and to give help for those individuals and families who are in desperate need. In order for the proper assistance to be developed for those with a need for treatment there is much that needs to be understood about the disease of alco holism; at its most basic level, the cellular level. This is quite a task to be sure since we are all human beings and with much the same physiology, however, because of the subtle yet various differences in each of our body’s chemistry, as well as our social environments, this can make treatment that one person receives very different from the treatment of another. Therefore, determining the best possible treatments can be a challenge which is where research plays a very important part. The following choices of articles call attention to a few different kinds of detailed research and their discoveries made about alcoholism and its affect on the human body. It is this kind of information which allows physicians to come up with the best possible t... ...96. American Psychological Association, 1089-2680/10/$12.00. doi: 10.1037/a0021526. Kiefer, F., & Mann, K. (2005). New achievements and pharmacotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of alcohol dependence. European Journal of Pharmacology, 526(1-3), 163–171. Schwabe, L., Dickinson, A., & Wolf, O. T. (2011). Stress, habits, and drug addiction: A psychoneuroendocrinological perspective. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 19(1), 53–63. American Psychological Association, 1064-1297/11/$12.00. doi: 10.1037/a0022212 . Tomberg, C. (2010). Alcohol pathophysiology: Circuits and molecular mechanisms. Journal of Psychophysiology, 24(4), 215–230. doi: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000035. Tomberg, C. (2010). Categories of alcohol consumers: Definitions and criteria of alcohol addiction. Journal of Psychophysiology, 24(4), 213–214. doi: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000034.