Alcohol is a common and easily obtainable drug that has been socially accepted in many countries. Alcohol is a ‘depressant drug. ‘ It slows down the actions of the central nervous system and lowers heart and breathing rates, allowing many people to ‘relax. ” The drug doesn’t affect the body as much if it is taken in right amounts; however if the drug is abused, it can be very harmful. Even though many people are aware of the negative effects of alcohol, people still decide to drink as it helps them unwind and have a ‘good time.! Alcohol addiction has become an alarming issue in Australia.
Drinking rates in Australia have increased as 74% of Australians aged 14-19 have drunk alcohol one or more times in their life (Australian Drug Foundation ). Alcohol is an illicit drug; only people over the age of 18 are permitted to drink alcohol. If I started drinking alcohol on a daily basis, it would be considered as underage drinking as I am only 14. Many potential physical and emotional issues can arise. By drinking regularly, it can increase risk of accidents and injuries as alcohol slows down a person’s reaction time. In addition, blurred vision, blackouts and headaches will only increase the risk of fatality.
Drinking alcohol will also increase the risk of many illnesses that can develop later in life such as cancer, brain injury and liver failure. This can shorten life expectancy and put my life at risk if I were to drink regularly. [= Alcohol use also increases the risk for a number of mental diseases. This is due to the fact that heavy drinking disrupts neurotransmitters in our brain that are required for good mental health (Drinkaware, 2016). While drunk, our perspective of a situation narrows and we don’t usually react well to the issue.
This can increase anxiety and stress which can affect my school-life. Signs of depression also become common when drinking regularly as levels of serotonin in the brain decreases- a chemical that assists in regulating moods (Drinkaware, 2016). Drinking on a regular basis will also have many immediate, negative impacts on my school-life, family and friends. Alcohol problems will affect my school-life as my grades will most likely drop and I will have a poor attendance rate. Alcohol has prevented many students from focusing on responsibilities.
Students don’t complete homework and find it difficult to concentrate in class. Therefore, their grades and results will most likely suffer. In any given age group, heavy drinkers are 4-6 times more likely to skip classes than non-drinkers (Alcohol cost calculator). Students who drink alcohol are more likely to skip classes due to hangovers. Hangovers which are severe headaches or other after effects caused by drinking great amounts of alcohol leave people struggling, irritated and sensitive. This causes many students to skip classes in the mornings therefore their grades start to drop.
If I started drinking alcohol on a regular basis, I would most likely start missing school more often due to hangovers and headaches hence forcing my grades to drop. The regular intake of alcohol and also affect my relationship with my family. My family would most likely take time out of their personal lives to help me; however it’s possibly that my parents will fall out with each other over how to handle the situation properly. I will most likely get the most attention in my family and other member in my family will most likely feel neglected, for example my younger sister.
This will most likely impact my little sister negatively as she may have common symptoms of low selfesteem, loneliness and hopelessness. Her studies may also drop as home will mostly be a stressful environment where she won’t be able to revise well. It is also very likely that my younger sister will take after me and start drinking as well as she will mostly be influenced by me. My friendships will most likely start to break down if I drank alcohol regularly. This is due to the fact that | most likely won’t be attending school as much so I won’t be able to see my friends very often.
There may also be communication issues when talking with my friends and stress will start to pile up. There may possibly be more fights as we may have different opinions on how to handle the issue. My friends may also feel hurt, afraid and upset since they aren’t able to help, this will increase the amount of anger and distress. Mood swings also can affect a relationship, as people start becoming impatient with loved ones. It’ll become difficult to quit drinking; eventually your friendships with your friends don’t work out as there is a communication barrier.
Overall, alcohol is a harmful drug that has the potential to ruin lives. If I encounter the opportunity to drink alcohol in the future, it will most likely be when I’m older and more mature. Abusing the drug will lead to many physical and emotional issues. Alcohol also can negatively impact my school-life, friendships and family relationships. Alcohol is a widely accepted drug which I will most likely encounter in my future, so I will definitely try and drink more responsibly as I am aware of all of the potential risks.
