Some people who are shy in social situations who use alcohol to loosen up, frequently end up making fools of themselves and doing things that they later regret. Alcohol goes directly into the bloodstream which is why it has effects on every system in the body. Heavy drinking can cause cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. Children in families with alcoholic members are at a higher risk for alcoholism. Excessive drinking can decrease the amount of testosterone in a man's body and cause impotence.
Alcohol abuse can lead to both homicides and suicides.
Long-term effects of heavy alcohol use include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, sexual impotence, liver damage, heart and central nervous system damage, and memory loss. Chances are if you're even asking the question, you have a drinking problem. It affects virtually every organ in the body and chronic use can lead to numerous preventable diseases, including alcoholism. According to the 1994 Monitoring the Future survey, alcohol remains the number one substance used by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. Over 50 percent of 12th graders report drinking alcohol within the past month.