Alcohol

THE FACTS

Alcohol• Is a drug that is produced by a chemical

reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains.• It is a depressant that has powerful effects

on the body.• In the United States it is illegal for minors

to use alcohol until the age of 21.• Your brain is developing protein remember

the egg white with the organ lady.

Alcohol Continued• Adults can choose whether to use alcohol

or not.• To make responsible decisions about

alcohol use, people need to understand how alcohol effects the body.

• Alcohol like other depressants slows down the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

Alcohol• It also affects the digestive and urinary

systems.• Excessive use of alcohol over long periods

of time could damage almost every organ in the body.

Effects of Alcohol on the Body

• The following slides will show how alcohol effects the systems in the body.

Digestive System

Mouth and Esophagus Short Term Effects• tongue, gums, and throat are affected,

your breath smells of alcohol.• Your ability to taste food is dulled• If somebody drinks a lot of alcohol at one

time could potentially vomit and or result in death.

Digestive System

Long Term Effects• Damage occurs to tissues of the

esophagus, resulting in possible bleeding.• Permanent loss of taste buds• Alcohol typically is mixed with soda which

is high in sugar, which could result in dental problems.

Circulatory System

Heart and Blood Vessels

Short Term Effects• Perspiration increases and skin becomes

flushed.• Increased heart rate• Increased blood pressure

Circulatory System

Long Term Effects

• High blood pressure and permanent damage to the heart muscle.

• This could lead to a heart attack or stroke.• The blood vessels harden and become

less flexible.

Nervous System

Brain and nervous system

Short Term Effects• Speech is slurred• Vision is blurred• Impaired judgment, reasoning, memory,

and concentration

Nervous SystemShort Term Effects continued

• Slowed reaction time• Decreased coordination• Distorted hearing• Reduced inhibitions• Alcohol poisoning, potentially causing

unconsciousness and even death.

Nervous System

Long Term Effects• Damage to brain cells, of which cannot be

replaced.• Damage to nerves throughout the body,

resulting in numbness to certain areas such as your hands and feet.

• Memory loss

Digestive System

Liver

Short Term Effects• Processes of the liver which filters out over

90% of the alcohol in the body may be unbalanced.

Digestive System

Long Term Effects

• Cirrhosis or scarring and destruction of the liver tissue

• Can cause death

Digestive SystemStomach and Pancreas

Short Term Effects• Stomach acid increases, which results in

nausea and vomiting.Long Term• Ulcers- irritations of the stomach lining

causing open sores.

Alcohol and the Individual

Body Size• The same amount of alcohol has a greater

effect on a small person than it does a larger person.

Gender• Alcohol moves into the bloodstream faster

in females

Alcohol and the IndividualTime Frame• A person who drinks a lot in a short period

of time is more likely to become intoxicated.

Amount• Drinking a large quantity of alcohol causes

alcohol levels in the bloodstream to rise.• If the level rises too much, alcohol

poisoning could occur. (DEATH)

Alcohol and the Individual

Food• Food in the stomach slows down the

passage of alcohol into the bloodstream.Medicine• Alcohol can interfere with the effects of

medicines, and medicines can intensify the effects of alcohol.

Drinking and Driving• Driving under the influence of alcohol

(DUI)• Drunk driving is illegal.• One alcoholic beverage can impair your

coordination and make driving unsafe.• The more alcohol you drink, the more

dangerous you will be behind the wheel.

Drinking and Driving Continued

• Slower reaction times and impaired judgment make drunk drivers dangerous to other drivers and pedestrians.

• Alcohol use contributes to almost half of all motor vehicle related deaths.

• It is the most frequent cause of death among teens age 15-20.

Blood Alcohol Concentration• The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood

stream.• 0.1 = 1/10 of 1 percent of the fluid volume

of his or her blood is actually alcohol.• A person’s BAC depends on the amount of

alcohol consumed as well as the body size and the other factors previously discussed.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)• Is a group of alcohol related birth defects

that include both physical and mental problems.

• Kids born with FAS develop slower than normal students and have difficulty in school both academically and behaviorally.

Stages of Alcohol Addiction

Stage 1• A person drinks to relieve stress or relax.Stage 2• The person needs alcohol to cope with life.Stage 3• The person starts to make excuses about

drinking habits. (Missing work, family events)

Alcohol and Teens

• Alcohol can interfere with a teens growth process.

• Studies show that teens that abuse alcohol have poorer language skills, than other teens.

• New research suggests that exposure to alcohol during the teen years reduces the levels of certain hormones essential to normal development.

Alcohol and Teens

• May delay the onset of the menstrual cycle and affect other aspects of sexual maturity.

• Up to 2/3 of suicides on college campuses involve alcohol.

• Almost ½ of all traffic deaths of people under 25 involve alcohol.

Alcohol and Teens

• Nearly ¼ of all violent crimes committed by teens involve alcohol.

• Between 1/3 and 2/3 of date rape cases among teens and college aged students involve alcohol.

Alcohol and Society

• Nearly 14 million Americans have physical, social, and psychologicalproblems related to alcohol use.

• Alcohol use impairs a person’s ability to ride a bike, skateboard, or scooter.

• Alcohol use is linked to 1/3 of all drowning deaths and 1/2 of all fire deaths.

Places to get help

Alcoholics Anonymous • A 12 step program to quit drinking.AL-Anon• For family members of alcoholics and

friends to get help.Alateen• Helps young people cope with having

family members that are alcoholics.