Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Alcohol Abuse: A Tale of Destruction
Studies have shown that some people drink because others do. This is not a wise choice. Drinking alcohol is risky, especially if you don't know when to stop. Sometimes people drink and drive. That is very dangerous. That is why people are arrested and put in jail for drinking and driving.
There are many warning signs of alcohol abuse. Alcoholism starts as social drinking, something only adults, or people of legal age to drink, should do. Unfortunately, sometimes when grownups drink too much they can get into trouble, also.
The social drinker continues drinking, building a tolerance to alcohol. If you ask a problem drinker how many drinks they've had, they probably can't tell you. Before long, they can become addicted, which means they need it every day. When people feel the need to consume alcohol every day despite the problems they encounter because of their drinking, they become what is called an alcoholic.
The families of alcoholics are affected by this drinking habit, too. They can be embarrassed or ashamed by things they see the alcoholic doing. Family members might feel guilty, thinking they are to blame. Sometimes, the unpredictable behavior of an alcoholic can cause shame and great loss for an entire family.
Drinking too much can lead to automobile accidents, accidental drowning, and physical and/or verbal abuse. People who drink too much are said to be intoxicated or drunk. When someone who has been drinking is pulled over by the police, they will have their reactions tested. They might also be asked to breathe into a machine that can calculate the amount of alcohol in the person's blood. If they have to go to court, they can face a large fine as well. They might have their drivers' license taken away.
Families of alcoholics can experience violence and/or perhaps even neglect because of alcoholism. It is a very unpleasant disease.
There no magic cures yet for alcoholism. An alcoholic must seek treatment if he or she wants to get well. This may include some form of therapy. Sometimes an alcoholic must move into a facility away from their family and friends in order to get better.
It is a hard road to sobriety. It is not easy for an alcoholic to stay sober. It is only accomplished day by day. A.A. members say there are twelve steps to recovery. Attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings is another way alcoholics can begin recovery. The situation is not hopeless. Help is there for those who want it.
It takes a lot of courage for kids to say "no" to alcohol when many of their friends are drinking. When friends ask you to join them in "just one drink," it is not easy to be "different." According to a website called "Alcohol Free Children," of the people who began drinking before age 14, 47% became dependent at some point, compared with 9% of those who began drinking at age 21 or older. This means that you will be less likely to have a problem with alcohol if you wait until you are of legal age before you start.
