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Ryan Lauterbach, Cameron Vander Wal

Mrs. Renaud

College comp

15 February 2019

Be a Responsible Citizen

"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you” (Fitzgerald,

Scott). Alcoholism has been a issue for decades. Ever since the beginning of time people have

been drinking wine and fermented drinks. The bible addresses alcoholism by saying “And do

not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

The bible commands Christians not to be drunkards, but to have a understanding of what alcohol,

in wrong amounts, does to the body. Alcoholism does not refer to just having a drinking alcohol,

but rather, alcoholism refers to being drunk with wine or strong drink, which in turn, affects the

human body. For some, being drunk can occur after one drink, but for others this may take a few

drinks to become what is considered drunk. ” It takes roughly 30 minutes to two hours for

alcohol to be absorbed into your bloodstream. During this time, your breathing may slow down

and your cognitive skills may be delayed” (Drinking and Driving). This is why drinking and

driving is a hazard to society. Alcoholism is a problem in today’s society, and it needs to be

stopped.

People drink alcohol and consequently sometimes get drunk at parties. Parties tend to be

the source of alcoholism . Most social events have drinks, whether that be alcohol or lemonade,

people feel awkward without having something to occupy their hands with. If everyone else has

a beer in their hand, then it’s awkward to be the only one without a drink. Alcohol is used to

take off or get rid of anxiety, and even though parties are supposed to be fun, people have
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anxiety. “In moderation alcohol can relieve tension, teenagers and young adults sometimes

come to rely on its effects, a habit that can lead to addiction” (McLellan 58). The human body

makes all types of hormones, one of them being dopamine. Dopamine is what is known as a

“feel good hormone”. Alcohol releases dopamine into your brain. This becomes a problem for

most people when their tolerance starts to build against alcohol. One sip a day might be enough

to get that dopamine rush, but after multiple times of drinking it might take two sips or even

more. This in turn can lead to alcoholism. Most people don't walk into a party or a bar to get

drunk, in fact the side effects of being at the state of drunk are vomiting and blackouts. Theses

can be dangerous and life threatening.

Alcoholism can also lead to death. Whether it be the one that is drunk or the innocent

one coming home from work, or school. Drunk driving destroys lives. Many families, and

friends have been affected by someone who decides to drive while under the influence. In

Greenville South Carolina, the local police said that “The driver of a van that crashed in rural

Greenville County, killing four young children from one family, was charged with felony driving

under the influence” (Nathaniel, Cary).

Alcoholism is a problem in today's society, and it needs to be stopped. Think about the

effects that alcohol has on the lives of loved ones. Alcohol in of itself is not bad, but when

pushed to get that dopamine rush, or the “feel good moment”, it then becomes dangerous. Don't

leave alcohol use unmonitored; be a responsible citizen and resist temptation.

Worked Cited
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Cary, Nathaniel, and Haley Walters. “Driver Charged with DUI in Crash That Killed 4

Siblings; Mom Says She's 'Incomplete'.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network,

12 Dec. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/12/11/man-charged-dui-crash-kills-

four-children/2273598002/.

“Drinking and Driving - Effects of Drinking Alcohol.” Alcohol Rehab Guide,

www.alcoholrehabguide.org/alcohol/

McLellan, Tom, et al. Escape from Anxiety & Stress. Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.

“14 Drinking Quotes to Remember If You Love Alcohol a Little Too Much.” Stroke Center -

EverydayHealth.com, Ziff Davis, LLC, 17 Apr. 2018,

www.everydayhealth.com/alcoholism/living-with/best-drinking-quotes-help-alcohol-addiction/.

“Redirect Notice.” Google Search, Google,

www.google.com/amp/s/www.biblegateway.com/passage/%3fsearch=Ephesians%2b5:18&versi

on=NIV&interface=amp.