Fitness for Life Spring Semester 2013
Instructor: Julie Morgan
Life Long Wellness Paper
Taking this course really helped me set my goals and achieve them for improving my health. I learned many things about muscle strength and proper nutrition that I did not know before. Since starting this course and building up and accomplishing my workout goals, I have lost fifteen pounds.
Life, Society, and Drugs
Instructor: Paul Roberts
I truly enjoyed taking this class. I did not need the credits for it but I was intrigued to learn about the many things we covered. When we got to the chapters on Alcohol I learned things that really brought awareness to my life. I was astonished while reading the things I did about alcohol in America and when it came to writing our final papers, I had no trouble deciding on a topic. Alcohol effects us in far more ways as a society then I had ever considered. I assume this is not unusual and I wanted to write a paper that would shine light on the effect and responsibilities that must be considered when consuming alcohol.
I truly enjoyed taking this class. I did not need the credits for it but I was intrigued to learn about the many things we covered. When we got to the chapters on Alcohol I learned things that really brought awareness to my life. I was astonished while reading the things I did about alcohol in America and when it came to writing our final papers, I had no trouble deciding on a topic. Alcohol effects us in far more ways as a society then I had ever considered. I assume this is not unusual and I wanted to write a paper that would shine light on the effect and responsibilities that must be considered when consuming alcohol.
Taylor Sanders
The Message in a Bottle
Every year 1.7 billion dollars is spent on the advertising of
alcohol, with a return from consumers of nearly $140 billion. It’s safe to say
that the return on the investment far exceeds what many would have expected. The
image of “the Alcoholic” is one that truly only represents 5% of alcoholics. The
idea of the male haggard hobo is one that usually comes to mind when discussing
alcoholics, but it’s quite safe to say that alcoholism is found in all cultures
and categories of life. Alcohol has been so intertwined with everyday life
throughout our history, the amount of damage it causes society each year seldom
causes rise for change regardless the numbers associated with the intoxication
of alcohol. Uncountable research has proven the ill effect alcohol has on
society and an individual’s heath; however the acceptance of alcohol continues
to stay strong.
In American, the percentage of high risk behaviors associated
with alcohol is startling. Over 50% of murder, rape, and child molestation
charges reported each year also report the presence of alcohol. 32% of fatal car
accidences reported each year are associated to drinking and driving, and nearly
2.1 million Americans have reported being intoxicated while working in the past
year.
The negative effects of alcohol are without a doubt integrated
into today’s society with little resistance. Why does the excessive consumption
of alcohol continue to be an acceptable behavior of society and even more so, a
joking matter? Advertisements in the alcohol industry have zoned in on consumers
and what triggers them to want to have a drink, furthering the enablement of
educating society about the harm excessive drinking has on the community as
whole. Without a doubt, many people are affected by one person’s choice to drink
beyond their tolerance level. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this is the
fact that each of us has our own tolerance level and there is no clear line
indicating when a person has had enough alcohol. Circumstance, environment,
tolerance, and time all play a role in a person’s intoxication level. If these
factors are not anticipated for, the chances of taking it too far are extremely
high, as well as having negative
consequences.
The health risks associated with long periods of alcohol abuse
are fairly extensive. The most common side effect of prolonged alcohol
consumption is Fatty Liver. Fatty Liver is a condition where fat deposits gather
in the liver. Luckily this is reversible if the drinker should chose to abstain
from drinking. The most chronic of the illnesses associated to alcohol is
Alcoholic Cirrhosis. This condition is a result of scar tissue built up caused
by prolonged, excessive drinking and this starts to interfere with the liver’s
utilization of oxygen. Another shocking statistic is that 1 in 4 alcoholics
report cardiovascular problems. Inflammation and enlargement of the heart, high
blood pressure, poor blood circulation, and stroke are all associated to alcohol
abuse.
When it comes to the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, it
is a surprising realization that many women do not truly understand the ever
lasting effects drinking will have on their growing fetus. The teratogen
characteristics associated with drinking include growth retardation resulting in
the offspring’s length and weight being below the 10th percentile,
characteristic deformation in skull and facial structure, and mental
retardation. In the general U.S. population, 0.2 to 1.5% of a thousand births
will be a child born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FSA). In Native Americans,
this rate is three times higher. It is unclear how alcohol causes problems with
unborn children; however it is crystal clear the most damage done is within the
first trimester of pregnancy. This can be very alarming for women who do not
realize they are pregnant till the near end of their first trimester, a
situation that occurs often among women who have an alcohol dependency.
Not all alcoholic mothers give birth to children with FSA, but the risks that are increased
when a mother chooses todrink are undeniable. There is no safe level of drinking during pregnancy and
the best option is abstinence until the child is born. It is also very
important for women to understand the effect alcohol has on the mother’s breast
milk if she has chosen to breast feed her child. All milk produced in the 24 hours since
the consumption of alcohol is best considered spoiled and needs to be pumped
through before continuing to breast feed.
The study of twins has always proven to help researchers decode genetics
and the way they work. This is also the case in understanding whether alcoholism
is a biological factor that can be passed down to our future generations. The
best way to test identical twins is through concordance rate. This research
studies the probability of one twin developing alcoholism if another already
has. The concordance rate has been found to be from 50 to 60 percent; if
genetics where the only factors in this research study, the concordance rate
would be 100%.
It was mention before that 140 billion dollars is spent on alcohol each
year by consumers, with this being said it should not come as a surprise that
nearly twice that is spent on recovering from the horrid effect alcohol has had
on the lives of alcoholics each year. This does not include the priceless
suffering associated with the emotional turmoil and financial obligations
involving 80,000 alcohol related deaths each year. More than three fourths of
these costs are related to binge drinking. In American 20% of alcohol drinkers
drink 80% of the alcohol consumed each year. Breaking down the statistics has
brought awareness to the actual problem we are facing in America with binge
drinking. Binge drinking among college students has been a rising concern since
1993. With alcohol being the number one date rape drug on campus, the reporting
of 44% of college students binge drinking within a 30 day period has come as a
true let down and eye opener for many college campuses. Along with this comes a
report of the academic decline in 1 out of 4 college students due to the
negative effects alcohol has had on their ability to focus on their studies.
Rising the legal drinking age to twenty one and lowering the BAC level
for driving has shown a decrease in five hundred lives lost each year on the
nation’s highways. More than 700 lives have been saved each year of those that
age eighteen, nineteen, and twenty since the legal drinking age was set at 21
years of age. Other programs such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and
educational seminars about using designated drivers have also had extremely
positive effects on the community. Advancements in technology such as the
ignition interlock have prevented previous people with DUI’s from repeating
their mistakes while intoxicated and not thinking clearly about the choices and
chances they are willing to take while in an alcohol induced mindset. In present
day, all fifty states require some kind of ignition interlock at some point when
the privilege of alcohol consumption has been abused while driving.
In many cases, it could take a while before an alcoholic realizes they
have an alcohol dependency. Rationalizing their negative behaviors to continue
drinking becomes very clear to all around them but their denial has enable them
from realizing they have a problem with drinking. The level of alcohol
dependency is hard to classify due to these factors. Many people are what we
call functioning alcoholics, or so they would like to believe and giving
treatment to someone who refuses to face the facts about their addiction is near
pointless. The debate on whether alcohol should be considered a disease has been
an ongoing debate for many years. Some researchers believe classifying
alcoholism as a disease and not an addiction allows the drinker to excuse their
behavior and set the drinker up for an easier relapse. Regardless the source of
treatment, alcohol in excessiveness is unbelievably detrimental to one’s life.
The many factors that lead to alcoholism stem deeply intertwined into genetics,
environment and ability to cope through everyday life and changes. Many programs
are available in all different forms and levels of support for those seeking
help with their alcoholism. AA is a 12 step program that focuses on abstinence
and the connection of a higher realm in finding the strength to overcome
alcoholism. AA looks at alcoholism as a disease and the only cure is to refrain
from drinking for the rest of one’s life. Other programs like SMART RECOVERY are
self-help programs that assume people do not need to believe in a higher power
to eliminate themselves from alcohol dependence. They believe that individuals
have the power within themselves to overcome drinking. In fact, this particular
program discourages the labeling of alcoholism all together.
The many negative outcomes of alcohol can be prevented with strategies
for responsible drinking. First things first, know who’s driving home. Finding a
designated driver is something that should be taken care of before the evening
of drinking begins because chances are at the end of the night someone forgot to
not drink for the rest of you. Know what you are drinking, and how much of what
you are drinking is alcohol. Drink slowly; enjoy your experience, and the
privilege to drink. Eat first, than drink, and you’ll go about your merry way.
Don’t drink alone, and when you do, take responsibility for your own drinking
limit. Be sure you know what that is if you plan to push it through till the end
of the evening. Have fun, and cherish your body. It’s the only one you’ve
got.
Cited Resources:
Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society; 8th edition;
Charles F Lentha,l chapters 8-9
Prevention Research Institute
(PRI)
The Message in a Bottle
Every year 1.7 billion dollars is spent on the advertising of
alcohol, with a return from consumers of nearly $140 billion. It’s safe to say
that the return on the investment far exceeds what many would have expected. The
image of “the Alcoholic” is one that truly only represents 5% of alcoholics. The
idea of the male haggard hobo is one that usually comes to mind when discussing
alcoholics, but it’s quite safe to say that alcoholism is found in all cultures
and categories of life. Alcohol has been so intertwined with everyday life
throughout our history, the amount of damage it causes society each year seldom
causes rise for change regardless the numbers associated with the intoxication
of alcohol. Uncountable research has proven the ill effect alcohol has on
society and an individual’s heath; however the acceptance of alcohol continues
to stay strong.
In American, the percentage of high risk behaviors associated
with alcohol is startling. Over 50% of murder, rape, and child molestation
charges reported each year also report the presence of alcohol. 32% of fatal car
accidences reported each year are associated to drinking and driving, and nearly
2.1 million Americans have reported being intoxicated while working in the past
year.
The negative effects of alcohol are without a doubt integrated
into today’s society with little resistance. Why does the excessive consumption
of alcohol continue to be an acceptable behavior of society and even more so, a
joking matter? Advertisements in the alcohol industry have zoned in on consumers
and what triggers them to want to have a drink, furthering the enablement of
educating society about the harm excessive drinking has on the community as
whole. Without a doubt, many people are affected by one person’s choice to drink
beyond their tolerance level. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this is the
fact that each of us has our own tolerance level and there is no clear line
indicating when a person has had enough alcohol. Circumstance, environment,
tolerance, and time all play a role in a person’s intoxication level. If these
factors are not anticipated for, the chances of taking it too far are extremely
high, as well as having negative
consequences.
The health risks associated with long periods of alcohol abuse
are fairly extensive. The most common side effect of prolonged alcohol
consumption is Fatty Liver. Fatty Liver is a condition where fat deposits gather
in the liver. Luckily this is reversible if the drinker should chose to abstain
from drinking. The most chronic of the illnesses associated to alcohol is
Alcoholic Cirrhosis. This condition is a result of scar tissue built up caused
by prolonged, excessive drinking and this starts to interfere with the liver’s
utilization of oxygen. Another shocking statistic is that 1 in 4 alcoholics
report cardiovascular problems. Inflammation and enlargement of the heart, high
blood pressure, poor blood circulation, and stroke are all associated to alcohol
abuse.
When it comes to the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, it
is a surprising realization that many women do not truly understand the ever
lasting effects drinking will have on their growing fetus. The teratogen
characteristics associated with drinking include growth retardation resulting in
the offspring’s length and weight being below the 10th percentile,
characteristic deformation in skull and facial structure, and mental
retardation. In the general U.S. population, 0.2 to 1.5% of a thousand births
will be a child born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FSA). In Native Americans,
this rate is three times higher. It is unclear how alcohol causes problems with
unborn children; however it is crystal clear the most damage done is within the
first trimester of pregnancy. This can be very alarming for women who do not
realize they are pregnant till the near end of their first trimester, a
situation that occurs often among women who have an alcohol dependency.
Not all alcoholic mothers give birth to children with FSA, but the risks that are increased
when a mother chooses todrink are undeniable. There is no safe level of drinking during pregnancy and
the best option is abstinence until the child is born. It is also very
important for women to understand the effect alcohol has on the mother’s breast
milk if she has chosen to breast feed her child. All milk produced in the 24 hours since
the consumption of alcohol is best considered spoiled and needs to be pumped
through before continuing to breast feed.
The study of twins has always proven to help researchers decode genetics
and the way they work. This is also the case in understanding whether alcoholism
is a biological factor that can be passed down to our future generations. The
best way to test identical twins is through concordance rate. This research
studies the probability of one twin developing alcoholism if another already
has. The concordance rate has been found to be from 50 to 60 percent; if
genetics where the only factors in this research study, the concordance rate
would be 100%.
It was mention before that 140 billion dollars is spent on alcohol each
year by consumers, with this being said it should not come as a surprise that
nearly twice that is spent on recovering from the horrid effect alcohol has had
on the lives of alcoholics each year. This does not include the priceless
suffering associated with the emotional turmoil and financial obligations
involving 80,000 alcohol related deaths each year. More than three fourths of
these costs are related to binge drinking. In American 20% of alcohol drinkers
drink 80% of the alcohol consumed each year. Breaking down the statistics has
brought awareness to the actual problem we are facing in America with binge
drinking. Binge drinking among college students has been a rising concern since
1993. With alcohol being the number one date rape drug on campus, the reporting
of 44% of college students binge drinking within a 30 day period has come as a
true let down and eye opener for many college campuses. Along with this comes a
report of the academic decline in 1 out of 4 college students due to the
negative effects alcohol has had on their ability to focus on their studies.
Rising the legal drinking age to twenty one and lowering the BAC level
for driving has shown a decrease in five hundred lives lost each year on the
nation’s highways. More than 700 lives have been saved each year of those that
age eighteen, nineteen, and twenty since the legal drinking age was set at 21
years of age. Other programs such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and
educational seminars about using designated drivers have also had extremely
positive effects on the community. Advancements in technology such as the
ignition interlock have prevented previous people with DUI’s from repeating
their mistakes while intoxicated and not thinking clearly about the choices and
chances they are willing to take while in an alcohol induced mindset. In present
day, all fifty states require some kind of ignition interlock at some point when
the privilege of alcohol consumption has been abused while driving.
In many cases, it could take a while before an alcoholic realizes they
have an alcohol dependency. Rationalizing their negative behaviors to continue
drinking becomes very clear to all around them but their denial has enable them
from realizing they have a problem with drinking. The level of alcohol
dependency is hard to classify due to these factors. Many people are what we
call functioning alcoholics, or so they would like to believe and giving
treatment to someone who refuses to face the facts about their addiction is near
pointless. The debate on whether alcohol should be considered a disease has been
an ongoing debate for many years. Some researchers believe classifying
alcoholism as a disease and not an addiction allows the drinker to excuse their
behavior and set the drinker up for an easier relapse. Regardless the source of
treatment, alcohol in excessiveness is unbelievably detrimental to one’s life.
The many factors that lead to alcoholism stem deeply intertwined into genetics,
environment and ability to cope through everyday life and changes. Many programs
are available in all different forms and levels of support for those seeking
help with their alcoholism. AA is a 12 step program that focuses on abstinence
and the connection of a higher realm in finding the strength to overcome
alcoholism. AA looks at alcoholism as a disease and the only cure is to refrain
from drinking for the rest of one’s life. Other programs like SMART RECOVERY are
self-help programs that assume people do not need to believe in a higher power
to eliminate themselves from alcohol dependence. They believe that individuals
have the power within themselves to overcome drinking. In fact, this particular
program discourages the labeling of alcoholism all together.
The many negative outcomes of alcohol can be prevented with strategies
for responsible drinking. First things first, know who’s driving home. Finding a
designated driver is something that should be taken care of before the evening
of drinking begins because chances are at the end of the night someone forgot to
not drink for the rest of you. Know what you are drinking, and how much of what
you are drinking is alcohol. Drink slowly; enjoy your experience, and the
privilege to drink. Eat first, than drink, and you’ll go about your merry way.
Don’t drink alone, and when you do, take responsibility for your own drinking
limit. Be sure you know what that is if you plan to push it through till the end
of the evening. Have fun, and cherish your body. It’s the only one you’ve
got.
Cited Resources:
Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society; 8th edition;
Charles F Lentha,l chapters 8-9
Prevention Research Institute
(PRI)