ipl-logo

Conflict Theory Of Alcoholism Essay

1182 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolic interactionism vs Functionalist Theory

Theoretical explanations of alcoholism can explain this social issue through conflict theory, functionalism, and symbolic interaction. In “Exploring Marriages and Families”, author K. Seccome explains that conflict theory is issues that portray from inequality of power. Alcohol abuse can be understood as a response to the conflict between people who hold power and those who do not. People with high levels of power have a voice in legalizing the status of substances which creates and directs social norms that people of lower power are entitled to obey. In theory, alcohol is a response to inequality of power. Functionalism indicates the structures and systems that balance social institutions. Different parts of society have specific roles that …show more content…

Underage drinking can be influenced from parental alcohol abuse or from social pressures from peers. Author D. Quinn from Sandstone Care implies that underaged drinking damages brain development which will affect academic performance. Long term effects can lead to memory loss and weakened attention span. Teenage drinking can lead to injuries, health issues, and accidents that puts stress on the whole family. The family has to work through and experience these issues, which often leads to fights that weaken relationships in a family. Since teenage drinking is illegal, parents may have to face consequences for accidents that may happen while their child is under the influence (2022). Alcohol abuse from a parent or a child equally puts a family in a crisis and can tear the strong bonds that hold a family together …show more content…

From Vital Speeches of the Day, author E.M. Jellinek suggests that the first step to solving this ongoing subject is recognizing the existence of this global issue. The “National Committee for Education on Alcoholism” uses an example of how solving alcoholism should be approached. The goal of the provided committee is to educate society on the truth of alcoholism. The mental, physical, and social damage it has on an individual and the functioning society. Education is very important to the solution of alcoholism, because it prevents people from turning to alcohol and it encourages those affected by alcohol to get treatment. An uneducated public on the disease of alcoholism creates a hostile attitude towards suffering individuals who need help recovering from alcoholism. Society puts people who experience alcoholism in jail for this illness. An educated society will recognize the difference between alcoholism being a crime and an illness. Educating society is a major step in solving alcoholism, and there are three topics to help society understand alcoholism and alcoholics. The article states these three concepts: “One, alcoholism is a disease and the alcoholic a sick person. Two, the alcoholic can be helped and is worth helping. Three, alcoholism is a public health problem and therefore, a public responsibility” (1947, p. 254). Through education, society can learn and

Show More
Related
578 Words | 3 Pages

Mr. Potters family members are all affected by alcohol in different ways most of the members are enabling him and his parents to drink by ignoring the fact that they need help. Potter’s family need a family interventions so that everyone affected in the family gets help and this will help Potter. Also Relapse prevention, Potter has relapse before and needs to develop strategies to deal with triggers and

Read More
1105 Words | 5 Pages

The short term laying off from drinking that they hope will serve as a solution is shown to be wishful thinking. One by one their objections are addressed by the example of the authors' own experience. They are allowed to make their own diagnosis of their condition. The authors describe the fact that the admission to oneself that they are an alcoholic is the first step in their recovery will be one of their greatest obstacles. Some of their attempts at controlling their drinking are outlined, “Here are some of the methods we have tried: drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with or without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums---we could increase the list ad

Read More
83 Words | 1 Pages

Sanders’ essay, Under the Influence, forced me to understand the complexity of alcoholism by painting a graphic picture of a horrible situation. I will no longer accept society’s whimsical terms for drunks, alchohol, or alcoholism. I will see the disease as the ravaging monster Sanders’ suffers through. I found Sanders’ honesty to be appealing and the reason I enjoyed the miserable narrative. Sanders’ essay was an wonderful persuasive piece that did its job of forcing me to understand the true horror of

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

In 2012, 3.3 million deaths, or over 5.9 percent of all global deaths were attributed to alcohol consumption. And as we see, since 2012, these numbers still continue to increase. According to these percentages, alcoholism has become a very major problem in our generation. Yet despite the warnings, people still continue to drink and slowly harm themselves. In our day to day lives, we see people drink on social media very often.

Read More
863 Words | 4 Pages

and the author believes “there is no evidence of brain impairment, alcohol dependency, or underage alcohol abuse” Another important claim is that “the problem is not drink – it is the drinker.” The author says that we should not emphasis on alcohol itself but emphasis on the person and its surroundings. In conclusion, the author believes that we should be allowed to think freely about MLDA21 and more responsible alcohol consumption is likely to

Read More
1893 Words | 8 Pages

Every year 88,000 deaths are attributed to excessive alcohol use or alcohol related events; alcoholism is the third leading lifestyle related cause of death in the United States (“Facts About Alcohol”). During the early twentieth century, there were many overlying problems that the United States government, or braches of the government, had to deal with. The United States government had to deal with problems such as child labor, alcohol, women wanting rights, corruption, and then reform. These were some of the major issues in which people in government positions had to deal with and find a solution for. Faced with the problem of an increase in the number of people incarcerated and overcrowded prisons as well as an increase in domestic abuse and criminal activity, the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives chose to ratify the

Read More
708 Words | 3 Pages

Alcoholism is a chronic brain disease that affects all walks of life and does not have any bounders (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden, 2008). I choose to attend an Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meeting since this disease is prevalent among adolescents and adults. The meeting was held in the first-floor forum at Pilgrim Congressional Church in Queens New York. The goals of the AA meeting were stated explicitly by the leader conducting the meeting. The mission of the organization is to maintain sobriety by helping alcoholics achieve recovery.

Read More
749 Words | 3 Pages

However, there is still work needing to be done to help improve the current system. One of the key items needing to be added is education. Schools, as well as parents, are not educating young students about the dangers of alcohol. If education of these dangers is increased, students will have a better understanding of what they are getting into when they do drink. This will help decrease the abuse of alcohol at an early age, and teach responsibility when they do drink to keep themselves and everyone around them

Read More
2138 Words | 9 Pages

The effects of Underage drinking in America There are so many effects of underage drinking in America that can cause you to do something bad. Some of these terrible effects, can cause you to be physically and mentally harmful from yourself; causing numerous health risks, and to others around you. Some of these effects can really damage others, such as family, friendship relationship, and a large amount of the population growing up each year. It’s really important to see what are you doing instead of doing it right away. Most of the time people have a different view, believing that they don’t think that underage drinking can truly harm you.

Read More
1057 Words | 5 Pages

Functionalism Functionalism emphasizes how social structures maintain or undermine social stability in macrostructures (Brym,

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

Being that they are unaware of their surroundings when drinking they are more likely able to be a victim of sexual assault. They become more likely to abuse other drugs also which could lead to bigger problems. Underage drinkers have a higher chance of dying from alcohol poisoning. And another big one is that underage drinkers can be arrested for driving while drunk or are likely to be involved in alcohol-related car

Read More
769 Words | 4 Pages

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism seems like an issue that keeps getting increasingly worse each year in the United States. According to USA Today and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both say that approximately 6 people die from alcohol poisoning, caused from binge drinking, each day, which amounts to roughly 2,200 people each year. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that “In 2013 an estimated 697,000 adolescents ages 12–17 (2.8 percent of this age group) had an [alcohol use disorder]” (“Alcohol Facts”). Something has to stop and something has to change from preventing this more because 6 people dying each day from binge drinking alone is a lot, not to mention that 12-17 year olds are having alcohol problems at such a young age. Lowering the drinking age will enforce this act even more, promoting more drinking in fact.

Read More
950 Words | 4 Pages

Today in the United States about 4,358 people under the age of 21 years old die each year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and even drowning. More than 190,000 people under the age of 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol related reasons in 2008 alone. Alcohol related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injure someone every two minutes. That’s a lot of people gone because they wanted to go out and party and not think about the consequences ahead. In this essay I’m gonna give you information to why Underage Drinking is very very bad for you.

Read More
847 Words | 4 Pages

So they continously do the activity until such time that they realize that it has become an addiction without realizing that it is detrimental in their health. The misuse of alcohol does not only affect the concerned teenager but it also breaks relationship as wekk as the society in general in terms of violence and crime, accidents and drink-driving. To explore more on this issue, a studys conducted in Harvard School of Public Healthshows that students who are engaged in alcohol drinking activities tend to be are displaying negative behaviors and therefore reveiving sanctions by the authorities (Wechsler et al.

Read More
1322 Words | 6 Pages

ALCOHOLISM How many times have you heard about the consequences of alcoholism? Have you taken them into account? Alcoholism is one of the major problems in society. People don’t take it so seriously but it actually is a disease. The effects of this disease are really serious.

Read More

More about Conflict Theory Of Alcoholism Essay

Related Topics

Open Document