Legal Drugs? The Problems of Alcohol Essay examples -- Drugs, Cocaine,

Heroin, Cocaine, and Marijuana are all recognizable variations of drugs. â€Å"A drug is a chemical substance that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addition† (â€Å"American† 431). The affects a drug can have on the central nervous system as well as other parts of the body can be very devastating, but bodily damage is just one result of drug use. When a person abuses a drug it can cause them to act in a way that hurts themselves or others often resulting in problems at work, marital issues, child abuse, or even murder. Most drugs are illegal because of the harmful effects that can result from using and abusing them; however, one very powerful, extremely addictive drug has slipped through the cracks. This drug is alcohol. â€Å"Alcohols ability to alter body function, as well as, its potential to cause addiction, has led to its classification as a drug†. (Mitchell 9). Although it is legal in most countries, like all d rugs it can do serious damage if it is not used properly. The key phrase here is â€Å"used properly†, which most people do not. With all the problems associated with alcohol, there should be stricter laws and harsher punishments for people who abuse alcohol. There are two types of dependency related to drug abuse: physical and psychological. Alcohol is no different. When a person is physically dependent on alcohol, also known as an alcoholic, the person’s body needs the alcohol and can not function normally without it. Alcholism is characterized by cravings, loss of control, and tolerance (the need for more and more alcohol). Alcoholics may show symptoms of withdrawal as well. This includes nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. â€Å"An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serio... ... Works Cited The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2010. Print. Ball, Jacqueline A. Everything You Need To Know About Drug Abuse. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1992. Print. Biggers, Jeff. Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1998. Print. Haughton, Emma. Alcohol. Austin: Steck-Vaugh Company, 1999. Print. Mitchell, Hayley R. Teen Alcoholism. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1998. Print. Nakaya, Andrea C, ed. Opposing Viewpoints: Alcohol. Detroit: The Gale Group, 2008. Print. Sanders, Pete, and Steve Myers. What Do You Know About Drinking Alcohol. Brookfield: Cooper Beech Books, 1997. Print. Wilson, Hugh T, ed. Drugs, Society, and Behavior. 14th ed. Guilford: Dushkin/ McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.