Question

Mr. M. is a 40-year-old salesperson with a wife and three teenaged children. He recently began to have a beer at lunch and a few drinks after work to reduce his work-related stress. An economic downturn in the housing industry has reduced the need for new

home appliances, and his income and sales record was affected. Several other salespeople were laid off at his firm. He was told that if his sales and attendance records did not improve, he would be fired. He and his wife were constantly arguing about finances and the children's increasing demands for money. His drinking increased to several beers at lunch and continued drinking after dinner. When he returned to work one day with alcohol on his breath, he was dismissed from his job. He continues to consume alcohol during the day as he attempts a job search. His wife is very concerned, as are his teenaged children.

1. What is the action of alcohol on the CNS, and how has alcohol abuse affected Mr. M.'s ability to deal with customers and his coworkers?

2. Mr. M. states he is a social drinker and "can stop at any
time." How accurate is his self-assessment?

3. What stressors are present in Mr. M.'s case?

4. Why does Mr. M. continue to increase his alcohol intake?

5. What changes in liver function can Mr. M. expect if he continues to drink large amounts of alcohol?

Answer 1

Answer & Explanation:

1. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system (CNS), which means that it slows down brain functioning and impairs cognitive, motor, and sensory abilities. Mr. M.'s alcohol abuse has likely affected his ability to deal with customers and coworkers by impairing his judgment, reducing his ability to concentrate, and making him irritable or reckless. His alcohol consumption may also affect his communication skills and lead to poor solvency of problems.

2. Mr. M.'s self-assessment may not be accurate since he has already increased his drinking and is unable to stop drinking even during the day while he is looking for a job. This suggests that he may be struggling with alcohol dependency and may require professional help to manage his alcohol use.

3. Mr. M. is facing several stressors, including financial problems due to the loss of income, job insecurity, family conflicts, and the demands of raising three teenaged children. Mr. M. may also feel pressure to cope with these stressors and may turn to alcohol as a way of self-medication to alleviate his stress.

4. Mr. M. may continue to increase his alcohol intake as he develops tolerance to alcohol, meaning he needs more alcohol to achieve the desired effect. This is because the brain adapts to increased levels of alcohol and requires higher volumes to produce the same level of euphoria. Additionally, Mr. M. may be using alcohol to cope with his problems and may feel that he needs more alcohol to alleviate his stress.

5. If Mr. M. continues to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, he can cause severe damage to his liver, resulting in liver cirrhosis. This condition involves the gradual destruction of liver cells and scarring that impairs liver function. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. Without medical intervention, liver cirrhosis can be fatal.