The Future of America: DRUNK
            
             Losing your consciousness is not the only thing that's being lost when one abuses alcohol. When the average college student is out drinking, do they understand the ramifications of their actions? The effects of alcohol abuse has become a serious issue in our nation's colleges. The broad effects on a college student who abuses alcohol can include parental concern, changes in behavior, and emotional distress.
            
             Recently, an American Medical Association survey showed binge drinking is among parent's top concerns. Nearly every parent polled said, "excessive drinking is a serious threat to their children." In 2000, college students drank an average of two gallons of alcohol per student, per year. This translates roughly into one six-pack of beer, two glasses of wine and three or four mixed drinks per week. These startling facts leave parents uneasy about the well being of their children. This uneasiness is the result of parents concern on the overwhelming amount of toxins being consumed by their child.
            
             Furthermore, alcohol has many effects on the body, especially a person's behavior. A person who drinks may be the "life" of the party or they may become melancholy and depressed. Their speech can become slurred and they may have trouble driving or even walking. A person that has consumed an excessive amount of alcohol can lose their inhibitions, and loss of good judgment, leading to actions that may be regrettable at a later time. Alcohol may affect different people in many different ways. It all depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, a person's history with alcohol, and a person's personality.
             In addition, alcohol abuse and dependence can cause emotional and social problems. Because alcohol affects emotional centers in the nervous system, alcoholics can become anxious, depressed and even suicidal all of which can detrimental to a college age student away from home fo...