Prepared by: Andrew Owusu Ph.D.

© 2011 Cengage Higher Education

An Invitation to Health

Chapter 12: Alcohol Use, Misuse, and Abuse

Chapter 12 Objectives

Define a standard drink.

Describe symptoms of alcohol poisoning and state what you should do if someone exhibits any of the symptoms.

Describe the impact of alcohol misuse among college students, and define binge drinking.

List the effects of alcohol on the body systems.

Evaluate your drinking habits and list any health risks you are taking.

Define alcohol abuse, dependence, and alcoholism, and list their symptoms.

Who Should Not Drink?

Anyone younger than 21.

Anyone who plans to drive, operate motorized equipment or engage in other activities that require

alertness and skill.

Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

Individuals taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications.

People with medical conditions that can be made worse by alcohol.

Recovering alcoholics.

Why People Drink

Inherited susceptibilityChildhood traumas

DepressionRelationship issues

Psychological factorsSelf-medication

Social easeRole modelsAdvertising

Drinking on Campus

No accessParental pressure

Peer pressureUnderage

CostsReligious reasonsUnpleasant taste

Why Students Don’t Drink

Drinking on Campus

Why Students Drink

Social norms Party schools Living arrangements Celebrations Participation in sports Parental approval First-year transition Positive expectations Coping

High-Risk Drinking on Campus Binge Drinking

Men: 5 or more alcoholic drinks at a single sitting.

Women: 4 or more alcoholic drinks at a single sitting.

Predrinking Consuming alcoholic beverages

before going out to bars or parties.

Underage Drinking

Why Do Students Binge Drink?

Recreational drinking

at a young age

Low price ofalcohol

Parental acceptanceof drinking Peer pressure

and drinking games

Residing with binge drinkers

Easy access toalcohol

Binge DrinkingMen: 5+ alcoholic drinks

Women: 4+ alcoholic drinks

Consequences of Drinking

Atypical behavior

Academic problems

Risky sexual behavior

Sexual assault

Unintentional injury

Consequences beyond college

Illness and death

How to Prevent Drunk Driving

Designate a driver. Never get behind the

wheel if you have had two or more drinks within two hours.

Never let intoxicated friends drive home.

Changing Drinking Patterns on Campus

Social norms

Motivational enhancement

Freshman education

E-interventions

Alcohol policies

Understanding Alcohol

Ethyl Alcohol/Ethanol The intoxicating agent in alcoholic beverages.

Proof The alcoholic strength of a distilled spirit, expressed

as twice the percentage of alcohol present.

Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) The amount of alcohol in the blood, expressed as a

percentage.

How Many Standard Drinks Are You Drinking?

Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC)

BAC Levels 0.08 percentThe legal limit.

The BAC that a 150-pound man would have after consuming about three mixed drinks within an hour.

0.20 percent the individual may pass out.

0.30 percent the individual may go into coma.

0.40 percent the individual may die.

Alcohol Impairment Chart

Alcohol Impairment Chart

Factors Affecting An Individual’s BAC

How much and how quickly you drinkWhat you’re drinking

Your sizeYour gender

Your ageYour race

Other drugsFamily history of alcoholism

EatingExpectations

Physical tolerance

Alcohol Intoxication

Signs: Slurred speech, poor

coordination, unsteady gait, abnormal eye movements, impaired attention or memory, stupor, or coma.

Medical Risks: Falls, hypothermia in cold

climates, and increased risk of infections.

Alcohol Poisoning

Signs: Mental confusion, stupor, coma,

vomiting, seizures, slow breathing, irregular breathing, and hypothermia.

Potential Complications: Cardiac arrest, permanent brain

damage, or death.

The Impact Of AlcoholSome Interesting Facts

Alcohol in a typical drink reaches the bloodstream in 15 minutes and rises to peak concentration in about 1 hour.

Alcohol only leaves the body after metabolism by the liver.

Alcohol is a diuretic, a drug that speeds up the elimination of fluid from the body.

Alcohol lowers body temperature.

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse On

The Body

Race and Gender

Alcohol and Race

African-American Community

Native AmericanCommunity

Hispanic Community

Asian-AmericanCommunity

Defining Alcohol ProblemsAlcohol Abuse

Continued use of alcohol despite awareness of social, occupational, psychological, or physical problems related to its useUse of alcohol in dangerous ways or situations, such as before driving.

Alcohol DependenceDevelopment of a strong craving for alcohol due to the pleasurable feelings or relief of stress or anxiety produced by drinking.

Defining Alcohol Problems

Alcoholism A chronic, progressive, potentially fatal

disease characterized by impaired control of drinking, a preoccupation with alcohol, continued use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distorted thinking, most notably denial.

What Causes Alcohol Dependence and Abuse?

Genetics

Stress and traumatic

experiences

Parental alcoholism

Drug abuse

Medical Complications of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Liver DiseaseCardiovascular

DiseaseCancer

VitaminDeficiencies

DigestiveProblems

Accidents &Injuries

Higher Mortality

Brain Damage

Normal Liver Cirrhosis

Alcoholism Treatments

Detoxification Delirium tremens (DTs)

Medications Antianxiety and antidepressive drugs Disulfiram (Antabuse)

Inpatient and Residential Treatment Outpatient Treatment

Behavioral interventions Moderation training 12 step self-help programs Harm reduction therapy

Recovery

If Someone Close to You Drinks Too Much

Try to remain calm, unemotional, and factually honest in speaking about the drinker’s behavior.

Discuss the situation with someone you trust.

Never cover up or make excuses for the drinker, or shield him or her from the consequences of drinking.

Refuse to ride with the drinker if he or she is driving while intoxicated.

Encourage new interests and participate in leisure-time activities that the drinker enjoys.

Try to accept setbacks and relapses calmly.

Responsible Drinking

Set a limit on the number of drinks consumed. When you’re mixing a drink, measure the

alcohol. Alternate nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Drink slowly. Eat before and while drinking. Develop alternatives to drinking. Avoid tasks requiring skilled reactions during or

after drinking. Don’t encourage or reinforce others’

irresponsible behavior.