Alcohol addiction has wide-ranging effects that encompass all aspects of the addict's life. Some of the potential effects of alcohol addiction could include:

Physical effects - Pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, insulin resistance, alcoholic dementia, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease and in extreme cases; death.

Economic effects - Loss of employment and the subsequent financial problems that follow as a result.

Social effects - Social alienation due to unacceptable social behavior, marital conflict and divorce.

Legal consequences - Alcohol addicts often get into trouble with the law either because of public disorder or because of drunk driving.

Alcohol addiction affects not only the addict but also the addict's entire family who could experience consequences that range from neglect to domestic violence to spouse and children.

http://www.soberrecovery.com

Jerlin09:

I am interested to know why you “hit the deck a-runnin”(maiden post) on this subject. Are you engaged in some type of study on the subject matter? I have some fixed views on the social effects of alcohol consumption, but too busy at the moment to comment with any depth

Yes, similar to other drugs, mainly illegal.

The problem seems to be with people who cannot control indulgence.

Same for dope, opioids, excessive sugar intake, speeding, amphetamines etc.

I have seen addictive personalities display the same behaviour over sugar as over oxycodone, their "right" to have fun speeding, etc.

should alcohol be illegal? should these others be dispensed in responsible manner?

Should people be licensed for indulgence? or closely supervised, as "big brother" might?

shouild vice be recognised and suitable accomodation made within our society, or should unenforceable prohibition and it's implied inability to accomodate effects be tried (in order to fail) again?

wher *could* this go?

Rusty

It's interesting - the different social attitudes toward various forms of drug use. Alcohol and tobacco, both of them potentially habit forming and lethal. Alcohol is a factor in traffic deaths, homicides, is implicated in thousands more deaths arising from causes such as liver damage, job accidents and so on. The statistics are high on how many Australians are compulsive alcoholics, and the destructive effects of their addiction on family life, human relationships, and the economy. Tobacco, a drug to which so many were addicted (many still are), and many still die through diseases such as lung cancer and emphysema. In spite of these widely known facts, both alcohol (and tobacco) are publicly used in the most respectable cicles; they're manufactured, marketed, and advertised (less so for tobacco nowadays) by some of the largest corporations in the country.
On the other hand - the use of marijuana, which is not physically addictive and has not shown to directly cause any fatalities, is generally illegal, and people are arrested each year for possessing the drug. Although further research may yet disclose some adverse effects of marijuana, the scientific consensus is that it is far less dangerous to health than alcohol or tobacco.

Why the different social reactions to the drugs? One reason is that alcohol (and tobacco) are "traditional" drugs, well entrenched in the culture. Another is that powerful economic interests benefit from their continued consumption. A third reason for the social attitude towards a drug depends more on who uses it than on what its effects are. If the users of a drug are socially disapproved and negatively labeled, so is the drug. In the past, marijuana use was associated with such "disreputable" groups such as - jazz musicians, "hippies," and the rebellious young. The drug was made illegal. I very much doubt whether alcohol or tobacco will ever be made illegal.

interesting how the drunks are ignoring this topic
the affects of drinking are horrenedeus..but its socially accepatable

the police love their drink
polititions love their booze
lawyers well lets just say..guys in dresses..must have their habbits

we all know how media loves their free cases of booze
and how the pill merchants..need their other vices to boost the affect of their pills

we talk of young drivers needing booze free limits
to think and drive..

but this same restriction should be on all public servants..[who love their tax free tipple]..and [police and polititions/lawyers docters too]

kids should be forbidden to drink
till we raise the age limits they will continue to drive and die
or drink and fight..or drink and kill..

but look at the booze belly
on our latest weather girl pm
things aint going to change anytime soon

and the media silence is deafening..just as replies to this topic shall remain few..[just ignore it..and..it will go away]..just like al the other times the booze hounds got their way...simply by saying nothing..

if your a propud drinker
why arnt you here defending..YOUR RIGHT to drink
all you blooming well want to drink..

then hurt others
as much as the booze allows you to forget
just as those who like you hurt others under the mindless affect../numbing..affect..of the booze..who said nothing..before you

your silence..allows the evil to go on

yes your a responsable drinker...
but many boozers..are both a danger to themselves and others..

in the end all drinkers are remaining silent..
thus earn their own boozehound hell..guilt by assosioation

and the silence
speaks volumes*

OUG....nice to hear from you again:) and whats this.....bad mouthing a legal drug, for shame on you:) I drink every Fri/Sat night and play music( literally )and with the balances of a good diet and regular exercise, I get to enjoy my poison with minimal effects. Lots of water all the next day and a swim before lunch. Your post was a bit nasty I thought...........what happened? step in a dog poo:)

I know you like to read OUG, so heres a little link for your enjoyment.

http://tinyurl.com/yqynb

BLUE