Alcohol use in the United States today
The most abused drugs in the United States today include alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and
marijuana.

1. Alcohol
Alcohol use is a legal drug in the United States. Alcohol is a type of drink that
contains ethanol and is obtained from fermented grains, fruits or other substances that have
sugar. People use it to relax, socialize, or celebrate achievements. Consumption of alcohol
can lead to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), a medical condition that is
characterized by the compulsory use of alcohol (Peters, 2018). Approximately 16 million
Americans have alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse can either be binge drinking or heavy
drinking. Binge drinking is defined as drinking 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women
within two hours. Heavy drinking is defined as drinking 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women for at least five days in the previous month (Peters, 2018). Alcohol use in the United States today;

Excess intake of alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects. Short-term effects of alcohol use
Alcohol use affects the manner in which individuals conduct themselves in social
settings. Additionally, perennial alcohol use lowers the level of concentration. This means
that individuals who abuse alcohol have poor concentration and this affects their level of
productivity or academic performance (Peters, 2018). Moreover, alcohol acts on the brain as
well as other parts of the body to slow the time individuals take to respond. This is because of
the physical changes alcohol use causes on the nerve fibers which in turn lower the speed of
conduction (Peters, 2018). Also, alcohol is diuretic and its use affects the production of
vasopressin hormones which increases urination. Alcoholics have problems with their vision
because drinking impairs brain function. Alcohol use in the United States today; Read more
Lon-term effects of alcohol use
Prolonged intake of alcohol has detrimental effects on individuals. Alcohol interferes
with the communication pathway of the brain and this affects the physical appearance of the
brain as well as how it functions. Alcohol can cause heart conditions such as stroke,
hypertension, and arrhythmias (Peters, 2018). Heavy drinking can also catalyze the
development of liver conditions such as fatty liver, fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis
(Peters, 2018). Alcoholics have a poor immune system and are at risk of developing mouth
cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, and throat cancer. Alcohol use in the United States today;