1. Long-Term Risks of Alcohol

2. Damage to the body
Long-term alcohol abuse may have serious physical effects on the brain, liver, heart, and digestive system. Continue through the slides to learn more about each of these effects!

3. Brain Damage Long-term alcohol abuse destroys never cells in the brain
The loss of many nerve cells cause permanent changes that impair memory, the ability to concentrate, and the ability to make sound judgments.
Teenage drinkers may suffer long-term learning and memory problems

4. Liver Damage
Alcohol interferes with the livers ability to metabolize, or break down, fats
Heavy drinking causes the liver to fill with fat, which blocks the flow of blood in the liver
This is called Cirrhosis and may
lead to liver failure or death

5. Heart Disease
Excessive drinking contributes to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States
Alcohol may cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and a buildup of fatty deposits in the heart muscle

6. Digestive Problems
Ongoing drinking irritates the tissues that line the digestive system, causing inflammation
Repeated irritation increases the risk of:
Cancers of the mouth, tongue, esophagus and stomach
Recurring diarrhea
Chronic indigestion, heartburn or ulcers

7. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
A group of birth defects caused by the effects of alcohol on an unborn child
Babies born with this syndrome may suffer from heart defects, malformed daces, delayed growth, poor motor development, and mental retardation
Even small amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can cause brain damage

8. Alcoholism A disease where someone cannot control their use of alcohol
Psychologically, alcoholics consider drinking a regular essential part of coping with daily life

9. Changes to the Brain
When repeated use of alcohol, its effects in the brain become reduced- the body has developed tolerance to alcohol
With increasing tolerance, the body will eventually develop dependence- the brain develops a chemical need for alcohol and cannot function normally without it
Addiction- the drinker no longer has control over his or her drinking

10. Who is at Risk Anyone who drinks is at risk of becoming an alcoholic
Alcoholism is 4-5 time more common among children of alcoholics than in the general population
Underage drinking increases a persons risk of becoming an alcoholic

11. 3 Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1: Problem Drinking
What begins as problem drinking becomes absolute dependence, and finally later stage, alcoholism
Stage 1: Problem Drinking
Stage 2: Absolute Dependence
Stage 3: Late Stage Alcoholism

12. Stage 1: Problem Drinking
Even a “social drinker” – someone who occasionally drinks small amounts with meals, at parties, or on special occasions- can become an alcoholic Having a social drink to relieve stress or escape from problems can quickly become a problem

13. Stage 2: Absolute Dependence
At this stage, the drinker becomes totally dependent on the drug, alcohol dominates the drinkers life They usually cannot stop after one drink, and feels a constant need to drink Signs of alcoholism may include frequent absences from work or school and strained relationships

14. Stage 3: Late Stage of Alcoholism
During this stage, alcoholics rapidly lose their mental, emotional, and physical health During this stage, alcoholics experience reverse tolerance for alcohol, a condition in which less and less alcohol causes intoxication Without medical and psychological help, an alcoholic may die

15. Effects of Alcohol on Others
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism affect many people other than the drinker Alcohol is involved in approximately 150,000 deaths per year. Most of those deaths are due to violence committed under the influence of alcohol and car crashes involving drunk drivers

16. 3 Stages in an Alcoholics Recovery
Stage 1: Acknowledging the Problem – Alcoholics must acknowledge they have a problem and ask for help Stage 2: Detoxification – removing all alcohol from a persons body, the alcoholic will suffer from withdrawal – a group of symptoms that occur when a dependent person stops taking a drug Stage 3: Rehabilitation – the process of learning to cope with everyday living without alcohol, during this stage alcoholics receive counseling to help them understand their disease and behavior