Alcohol is a Depressant that is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the United States. Alcohol is also the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the US which contributes to 100,000 deaths annually. What is Alcohol?

A Drink is considered !! 12 oz. beer 4-5 oz. wine 1 oz shot of 100 proof liquor

Question? Alcohol is classified as a(n) A. Stimulant B. Anti-anxiety Drug C. Depressant D. Party essential

Question? A 2 oz. shot of 100 proof spirit has roughly the same amount of pure alcohol as ___oz of beer. a. 20 b. 10 c. 12 d. 16

Absorption rate factors: Alcohol is absorbed into the body through the digestive tract, where it enters the bloodstream and is dispersed throughout the body. That creates the sense of the buzz!!

Cont……… The liver processes most of the alcohol out of the body as waste by transforming it into acetic acid. The kidneys remove some of it through the urine, and the rest is exhaled, which is how breathalyzers can determine how many drinks you have taken.

Question? Which of the following is not an absorption rate factor? a. Mood b. Rate of consumption c. Size d. Strength of drink e. Clothes you have on

SIZE Smaller people are sometimes affected more quickly by alcohol than larger people.

Gender Women are generally smaller than men, have more body fat and tend to reach higher BAC’s more quickly Fat Does not absorb alcohol

FOOD A full stomach slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream

Strength of Drink Drinks can give different effects based on their composition: e.g. straight, carbonated or juice mixer.

Rate of Consumption Gulping or “chugging” drinks will increase the amount of alcohol taken into the system. It takes the liver 1 hour to process 1 drink

Mood A person who is obviously upset, exhausted, or under stress feels the effects of alcohol more quickly than others Alcohol is a depressant

Question? Absorption rate factors a. Speed up or slow down alcohol as it gets into the bloodstream b. Can explain why some people seem to be affected more quickly by alcohol c. Don’t affect beer drinkers d. Both a and b

Question? Women tend to reach higher BACs faster than men because a. They are generally smaller and have more body fat. b. They drink faster c. They drink stronger drinks d. They eat less than men

Question? Carbonated mixers in a drink speed the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream A.true B. false

Behavioral Cues Behavioral cues are things you can look for to see how intoxicated a person is. There are four behavioral cues to look for.

Cont…… 1. Lowered inhibitions. Some of the signs of lowered inhibition include: Excessive talking, being in a relaxed state, being over- friendly, displaying mood swings. 2. Decrease in judgment, which includes: behaving inappropriately, using foul language, telling off color jokes, annoying others 3. Slowed reactions, which include: glassy unfocused eyes, slurred speech, talking and moving very slow, forgetting things 4. Loss of coordination, which includes swaying, dropping things, having trouble picking up items, passing out

Question? Which of the following is not a sign of a behavioral cue a. Being over- friendly b. Annoying others c. Extremely quiet d. Annoying others

Question? Telling off-color jokes and having trouble picking up items ore often signs of impaired judgment a. True b. false

Signs of alcohol poisoning The first sign of alcohol poisoning is vomiting Have cold, clammy, unusually pale or bluish skin Breathing slowly or irregularly- less than eight times a minute or ten seconds or more between any two breaths Unconscious and cannot be awakened(passed out)

Question? Some of the signs of alcohol poisoning include all of the following but a. Bluish skin b. Dry skin c. Irregular breathing d. Unconsciousness

Question? The first sign of alcohol poisoning is getting another drink a. True b. false

What can you do to HELP!!! If you encounter a person who exhibits one or more of the signs and symptoms CALL 911 Do what you would do in any medical emergency– call immediately While waiting for 911, gently turn intoxicated person on his/her side and maintain that position by placing a pillow in the small of the person’s back If a person appears to be sleeping it off it is important to realize that even though a person may be semi-conscious, alcohol already in the stomach may continue to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. The person may still be in danger. If you are having difficulty in determining whether an individual is acutely intoxicated, contact a health professional immediately- you cannot afford to guess