AlcoholAlcohol

Alcohol is a drugAlcohol is a drug

Alcohol: is the drug found in beer, wine, Alcohol: is the drug found in beer, wine, and liquor that causes intoxication. and liquor that causes intoxication. Changes a person’s emotional and physical Changes a person’s emotional and physical

state.state.

All forms are All forms are dangerousdangerous

Short Term EffectsShort Term Effects

Depends on:Depends on: Gender/sizeGender/size WeightWeight Medicines/drugs takenMedicines/drugs taken Amount of food in stomachAmount of food in stomach

Alcohol EffectsAlcohol Effects

Irritates mouth, throat, esophagus, and Irritates mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach (cause nausea and vomiting).stomach (cause nausea and vomiting).

Makes heart work harder (vessels dilate Makes heart work harder (vessels dilate heart has to pump harder).heart has to pump harder).

Makes body loose heat.Makes body loose heat.

Alcohol EffectsAlcohol Effects

Liver works harder: breaks down 1 drink Liver works harder: breaks down 1 drink per hour.per hour.

Causes dehydration.Causes dehydration. Breakdown requires water; taken from Breakdown requires water; taken from

kidneys, brain, and rest of body. Brain cells kidneys, brain, and rest of body. Brain cells begin to die. begin to die.

Hangover: physical effects caused by Hangover: physical effects caused by excessive use.excessive use.

Alcohol EffectsAlcohol Effects

Blood Alcohol Blood Alcohol ConcentrationConcentration

BAC: amount of alcohol in a person’s BAC: amount of alcohol in a person’s blood.blood.

Binge drinking: drinking 5 or more drinks Binge drinking: drinking 5 or more drinks in one sitting.in one sitting. Alcohol poisoning: usually 8 or more drinks Alcohol poisoning: usually 8 or more drinks

in an hour.in an hour. Extreme vomiting, loss of consciousness, Extreme vomiting, loss of consciousness,

dangerously slow breathing. dangerously slow breathing.

Blood Alcohol Blood Alcohol ConcentrationConcentration

Long Term EffectsLong Term Effects

Heart: hypertension (high BP), irregular Heart: hypertension (high BP), irregular beat, enlargement of heart.beat, enlargement of heart. Anemia: decrease in red blood cells that Anemia: decrease in red blood cells that

carry oxygen to the body.carry oxygen to the body.

Liver: Hepatitis (inflammation of the Liver: Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).liver), Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).

Esophagus & Stomach: irritation and Esophagus & Stomach: irritation and bleeding. Linked to cancers.bleeding. Linked to cancers.

Effect on the brainEffect on the brain Dementia: decrease in brain function.Dementia: decrease in brain function.

Alcoholism is second leading cause in US.Alcoholism is second leading cause in US.

High school use is High school use is decliningdeclining

Alcoholism StagesAlcoholism Stages

Problem Drinking: social drinking Problem Drinking: social drinking (parties), experimentation. Don’t drink (parties), experimentation. Don’t drink alone, or to get drunk.alone, or to get drunk.

Tolerance: user finds that it takes more Tolerance: user finds that it takes more and more to feel the same effects.and more to feel the same effects.

Dependence: body begins to need it.Dependence: body begins to need it. Alcoholism: addicted, craves it. Puts the Alcoholism: addicted, craves it. Puts the

drug before everything. drug before everything.

Risk Factors for Risk Factors for AlcoholismAlcoholism

Age: start before 15 four times likely to Age: start before 15 four times likely to become alcoholics than people who wait become alcoholics than people who wait till their 21. till their 21.

Social environment: peer pressure, Social environment: peer pressure, friends.friends.

Genetics: Runs in families. Children of Genetics: Runs in families. Children of alcoholic dads 25% risk of becoming alcoholic dads 25% risk of becoming alcoholics. alcoholics.

Risk Factors for Risk Factors for AlcoholicsAlcoholics

Risk taking personality: impulsive, risk Risk taking personality: impulsive, risk takers more likely.takers more likely.

Warning Signs of Warning Signs of AlcoholismAlcoholism

Drinking to deal with anger, frustration Drinking to deal with anger, frustration and disappointment.and disappointment.

Change in friends, personal habits, Change in friends, personal habits, interests.interests.

Being defensive about drinking.Being defensive about drinking. Feeling depressed.Feeling depressed. Drinking more for the same high.Drinking more for the same high.

Warning signs of Warning signs of AlcoholismAlcoholism

Drinking alone.Drinking alone. Drinking to get drunk.Drinking to get drunk. Experiencing Experiencing

memory lapses as a memory lapses as a result of drinkingresult of drinking

Fetal Alcohol Fetal Alcohol SyndromeSyndrome

Set of physical and Set of physical and mental defects that mental defects that affect a fetus that has affect a fetus that has been exposed to alcohol been exposed to alcohol because of the mother’s because of the mother’s consumption of alcohol consumption of alcohol during her pregnancy. during her pregnancy. Leading preventable Leading preventable

cause of mental cause of mental retardation in the US.retardation in the US.

The rate of current alcohol use among youths ages The rate of current alcohol use among youths ages 12-17 declined from 17.6% in 2004 to 16.5% in 12-17 declined from 17.6% in 2004 to 16.5% in

2005. Youth binge drinking also declined during 2005. Youth binge drinking also declined during that period, from 11.1% to 9.9%that period, from 11.1% to 9.9%

Drinking and DrivingDrinking and Driving

Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death among youth ages 15-20. There were 7,460 youth motor vehicle among youth ages 15-20. There were 7,460 youth motor vehicle deaths in 2005. (This includes both drivers and passengers.) deaths in 2005. (This includes both drivers and passengers.)

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of 15- to 20-year-old drivers who were Twenty-eight percent (28%) of 15- to 20-year-old drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 had been drinking.killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 had been drinking.

During the last 30 During the last 30 days, 28.5% of high days, 28.5% of high school students school students nationwide had nationwide had ridden one or more ridden one or more times in a car or times in a car or other vehicle driven other vehicle driven by someone who by someone who had been drinking had been drinking alcohol. alcohol.

Get home safe and Get home safe and sobersober

Don’t drink!Don’t drink! Plan ahead: Designate a driver (person Plan ahead: Designate a driver (person

who chooses not to drink).who chooses not to drink). Have an arrangement for someone to Have an arrangement for someone to

pick you up.pick you up. Call a cab.Call a cab.

Saying no to AlcoholSaying no to Alcohol

Give yourself some time Give yourself some time to get out of the to get out of the situation.situation.

Give a good reason to Give a good reason to choose not to drink.choose not to drink. ““I’m already having a I’m already having a

great time without it!”great time without it!”

State the consequences State the consequences that could happen if you that could happen if you do drink.do drink.

Saying no to AlcoholSaying no to Alcohol

Say NO firmly!Say NO firmly! If necessary, say no If necessary, say no

again and include an again and include an alternate activity.alternate activity.

Walk away!Walk away!