Alcohol And Drug Addiction Drugs - 1498 Words

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Xinge Xu University of Toronto Throughout the vast history of mankind, alcohol has always been a popular and controversial topic. Unlike other illegal drugs with strict rules, alcohol seems to be a more universal and socially acceptable drink. In fact, it is the most widely used drug substance in the world. However, with the gradually increasing amount of problems associated with alcohol, people should weigh and examine the medicinal purposes and its side effects. People are paying attention to alcohol and the famous one among them is Marc Lewis, who shares his own alcohol abuse experience in the book Memoirs of an Addicted Brain. The detailed explanations of underlying†¦show more content†¦19). Meanwhile, he â€Å"starts to experience an accelerating clarity, a rising confidence†. He is â€Å"giddy and gleeful with excitement, cheerful and light-headed, and [suddenly] nothing seems threatening anymore† (Lewis, 2011, p.20). Drinking enables him to abandon all ideological constraints, unplea sant memories and feelings of inferiority and powerlessness. At this moment, he is aware of the incredible changes that alcohol brings. He is no longer afraid of isolation and loneliness. Instead, he feels carefree, confident and bold. His mind has already been detached from reality, and is immersing in beautiful illusions. These are specific, elaborate body feelings that Marc Lewis experiences. For an anonymous family who joins Al-Anon program, they depict their feelings separately. The son tells people that â€Å"when his mother gets drunk, she sometimes hits him and gives him a black eye. But she’s really great when she’s not drinking† (Al-Anon, 1995, p.19). Surprisingly, his mother does not realize how violent she is when she gets drunk. She only knows that alcohol is a quick way for her to get rid of economic pressure and unhappy relationships. Alcohol enables her to have a sense of undeniable feeling of satisfaction, contentment and happiness. Besides,