Ethyl alcohol is produced through fermentation of the sugar contained in fruits and grains. Beverages such as wine and beer have low alcohol content, but hard liquor such as vodka and whiskey is distilled in able to increase the alcohol concentration. Alcohol is usually consumed orally, and in rare cases injected. It distributes itself fast and evenly through body water, and it easily trespasses the blood-brain barrier and the placental barrier. Even at low levels, alcohol disrupts performance and interferes with complex activities. It generally causes feelings of happiness and reduces the ability of aversive events to control behavior. High doses cause loud, energetic behavior, and even higher doses cause loss of consciousness and death.

Tolerance to alcohol develops after regular and large amounts of consumption. It also creates physical dependence and serious withdrawal symptoms that can cause death if left untreated.

Excessive drinking, or alcoholism has many explanations. The disease model claims that alcoho

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In conclusion, AA works. It delivers sobriety to its members, but only to those who are willing to sacrifice some things and those who really want to stay sober. Like every other treatment, it is only effective and helps those who want to be helped.

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by an alcoholic stockbroker and an alcoholic physician, both of who were unsuccessfully trying to quit drinking. They found that their fellowship and that of the group helped them to stop drinking and helping other alcoholics to stay sober seemed to be making an important contribution to the maintenance of their own sobriety. The organization has grown rapidly, and as of 1999 it is estimated that there are two million members around the world.

In able to have a realistic perspective of what an AA meeting was, I personally attended one here on campus. Since I assumed they did not want anyone who was not an alcoholic to participate in their meetings, I lied and said I thought I could be an alcoholic. On this particular meeting there were only three women. At the beginning of the meeting they read out loud the AA Twelve Traditions and the AA Twelve Steps toward sobriety (copies of these are attached to the paper). After that they each said their name and talked about their ideas, beliefs and personal problems with AA

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Twelve Steps, Alcoholics Anonymous, Service Conference-approved, loss control alcoholics, aa twelve, AA Twelve, behavior doses cause, behavior doses, organized alcoholics, loss control, control alcoholics, stay sober, stop drinking, doses cause,
Approximate Word count = 933
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)