Drunk Driving And Alcoholism Essay, Research Paper

My bookreport is about living with someone who drinks too much. I chose this

topic because hit its very close to home. In the book that I read it tells about

other children who are or have grown up with an alcoholic parent. I learned alot

about acoholism which is what makes you an alcoholic. I also learned about what

some kids go through while growing up. This book tells you how to deal with

someone who is an alcoholic and how to deal with your self as well.

This book was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. First I would like to

point out that kids who live with a parent that drinks all of the time feel as

thogh they are the reason why that person drinks all the time. Children often

tell that person that they do not like them when they have been drinking. The

first chapter in my book was about a girl named Amy who wanted to tell her story

about her mother that drank too much. She writes in here about her quite spot

which was her room. She went there when her mother was drinking because often

her mother was not herself. She tells about how she first noticed that her

mother was not like other mothers when she went to other peoples homes. The next

chapters explain what acoholism is. It is a disease that when a person wants to

quite drinking can not.

First of all you will notice that an alcoholic will often gulp their drinks,

they can probably drink alot before the get drunk, they may stay drunk for

several days, they will also have a favirote drink, and mya change their

favirote drink to another. They may also hide thier drinking. Acoholism is an

illness and is very sick. It is very hard for an alcoholic to stop drinking

because they are afraid to and they know how they feel when they do not drink.

Alcoholics usually try to stop drinking because they maybe have hurt someone

they love or may also be on the verge of losing their job.

People who stop drinking sometimes may have to go to the hospital for a period

of time this is called detoxification. This is the best way for treatment when

it is hard for them to stop.

The withdrawl symptoms are things such as shaking, sweating, fever, pains and

nausea. These can be severe and dagerous to that persons health. After

detoxification comes rehabilitation this is a period of time which the person

starts to recover mentally and physically. Most alcoholics will go to AA

meetings during this time. This is where they can go and meet other alcoholics

just like them. You may want to go to Alateen where you will meet other children

that are also dealing with a parent who is recovering from alcoholism. Most

alcoholics have lost there place in the family and by going to these meetings

they will learn that they are going to have to gain that place back. What if

that parent goes back to drinking? That is called a setback or a slip those are

very common. Most children will be disappointed with their parent but you must

understand that it is very hard.

Life with your family is the hardest thing when living with an alcoholic. Living

with an alcoholic is very diffrent then living with out one. You must be ready

to expect the unexpected. An alcoholic is very unpredictable. One day you may be

in trouble and the next day they will act as though nothing ever happend. They

may also forget what they have told you. Children of an alcoholic learn to live

one day at a time and accept that rules and plans will change almost daily. You

will also notice that there is alot of fighting and emotional neglect. Some

alcoholics my get violent and use vulgar language often. Money is also a big

issue. You may need money for something and they will not have it because the

alcohol is the most important thing to them. You will find that if you want to

have money for yourself that you have to earn it on your own.

The other parent is often not an alcoholic and is very confused and unhappy

about their life. The reason for this is they did not think that this is the way

life would be. They may also ask you to go and get the other parent from the bar

or put you in the middle they do not mean to hurt you and it is not your fault

they just need some help. If you are living with an alcoholic do not pretend

that you are not you have to find someone to talk with it will be better for

your own health if you talk to someone that you can trust. You also need to tell

your parents how you feel. Build up your own world by getting a job, being in

sports and getting good grades. Do not pretend that everything is fine and that

it is normal at your home. Also remember that if you have a parent that is an

alcoholic that it is more likely that you will also be one.

I really enjoyed this book because it has helped me understand that I am not the

only person that is living with an alcoholic and that I must also help with the

problem. I think that if you wanted to know more about alcoholism that this

would be a book to read because it has alot of interesting facts in it.

This is a checklist to find out if alcohol is a problem for you:

1. Are you ever absent from school because of drinking?

2. Do you need to drink to make you feel better around other people?

3. Do you ever hid your beer, liquor, or wine?

4. Do you feel braver when you drink?

5. Do you ever drink alone?

6. Do you drink as a way to stop worring?

7. Do you feel guilty about your drinking?

8. Do you get upset when anyone says you drink to much?

9. Is it necessary for you to drink in order to have fun?

10. Does drinking make you feel equal to other kids?

Those are just some quetions to ask yourself if you think that alcohol is a

problem for you. If you answered yes to one or more than it may become a problem

in the future or may already be a problem.