Many alcoholics think they are capable of driving, when their really not. The reaction time of an alcoholic can range from 7-32 seconds. They can cause car wrecks and this causes the person driving, along with others, to be at a high risk of injury or death("Effects of Alcoholism," Grace). Thousands of people die each year because they are addicted to alcohol. .
Women who abuse alcohol while pregnant may cause physical harm to their unborn child. Their babies could be born with fetal alcohol syndrome. This can result in incomplete growth, abnormal facial features, nervous system problems, and lack of intelligence. These kids will always be smaller than normal kids their age. Lack of coordination and behavior problems are also common in children who have fatal alcohol syndrome. Teenagers who are alcoholics are more at risk of having a baby with this syndrome. Some proof exists that women who drink more than 10 units a week are more are at risk of having low weight babies. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream passes through the placenta and then it goes to the baby. The baby takes in the same amount of alcohol the mother does. It is possible that the alcohol can be more damaging to the baby than the mother. .
The emotional effects of alcoholism can be just as damaging as the physical effects. Alcohol affects the person's brain. Every drink of alcohol a person takes in kills brain cells. New cells can never be produced. Heavy drinkers of alcohol can become depressed, uneasy, and sometimes suicidal. These effects can cause bad performance at a job, such as missing a lot of days and being lazy. Depression can mean that a person can feel sad and hopeless. It can also lead a person to being less concerned about their life. Being depressed can cause the person to have thoughts of suicide. Alcohol can cause the person to have less tension. The outcome of lowered tension is indirect changes in the way the person behaves.
