Alcohol

WHY YOUNG PEOPLE DRINK? *escape problems or pressures To feel better or get over being sad or lonely To deal with stress To feel more confident in social situations. For excitement. Fit in/friends are doing it. Around adults who are doing it.

Alcohol is made up of ethanol Alcohol is made up of ethanol. Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol is made synthetically, or it can be produced naturally by fermentation. Fermentation is the chemical action of yeast on sugars. Water, flavoring, and minerals are added to ethanol to form several beverages. Alcohol is a depressant. Intoxication is physical and mental impairment resulting from the use of alcohol and can be range from the inability to walk to unconsciousness

One common myth is people believe that liquor has more alcohol than beer or wine.

Factors that Affect Teen Alcohol Use It can be hard to say no alcohol especially when you want to be accepted by others. If teens see their parents doing it, then they are more likely to drink. Advertisers try to influence teens to drink by having ads or commercials that make getting drunk look fun or cool.

Advertisement Hidden message advertisers are sending through these images is that alcohol is an aid to successful, romantic, and problem free relationship, working situations, and recreational opportunities. Any sporting event you go to you see alcohol advertised at. Promotions such as T-shirts, hats, and lanyards are an example of gimmicks used to promote their product.

Good Reasons not to Drink Alcoholics have a death rate that is 2.5 times higher than that of non alcoholics. Why do you think that is? At low doses, alcohol has some of the effects of a stimulant, but the more you drink the more it acts as a depressant. Alcohol decreases fear and increases ones likelihood of high risk behavior. Not to mention it is ILLEGAL, unsafe, and unhealthy.

What does Alcohol do to the body? Short term effects include: Brain: Alcohol reaches the brain almost as soon as it is consumed. The depresses brain activity and slows down the central nervous system. Thought processes are disorganized, and memory/concentration are dulled. Decision making is also affected. Liver: The liver changes alcohol to water, carbon dioxide, and energy through a process called OXIDATION. The liver can only oxidize about 1/3 to ½ of an ounce of alcohol an hour. Until the alcohol has time to oxidize all the alcohol, it keeps circulating through all body parts. Blood vessels: When alcohol enters the blood, it causes blood vessels to dilate, or widen. This results in an increased blood flow to the skin. Body temperature actually decreases. People who drink are at a risk of hypothermia,

Heart – Alcohol causes an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure. It can lead cardiac arrhythmias and can also cause scar tissue to build up in the muscle fibers in the heart. Increases risk for heart attack and stroke as well. Kidneys – Alcohol causes a reaction with the pituitary gland, which, in turn, acts on the kidneys causing them to produce more Urine. Causes a person to feel dehydrated the day after the person had been drinking heavily. Stomach – Having food in the stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream. However, having a full stomach does not mean that a person cannot get drunk if they drink too much. Large amounts of alcohol increases the amount of acidic juices in your stomach and repeated irritation of the stomach because of this can cause internal bleeding as well.

Driving Under the Influence Among all the problems related to short-term effects of drinking, the most common and most dangerous is Driving While Intoxicated. A person is said to be Driving While Intoxicated when his or her Blood-Alcohol Concentration is above the legal limit for the state that they are in. Blood-Alcohol Concentration is the amount of alcohol in person’s blood expressed as a percentage Ex: The state of Georgia has a legal limit of .08 or 8% Signs of being Intoxicated can begin to appear at Blood Alcohol Concentrations as low as .02

Factors that Determine Amount of Alcohol in a Person Gender Weight Metabolism The Amount of Alcohol Consumed Whether the Person Ate Before Drinking The Elapsed Time Between Drinks or After Drinking

Alcohol’s Effect on Driving Driving experts and medical researchers have found that drinking on any level can: Reduce the ability to judge distances, speeds, and turns Reduce the ability to accurately judge a person’s own capabilities and limitations Increase the tendency to take risks Slow a person’s reflexes Add to forgetfulness to take precautions Ex: Using turn signal, headlights, etc. Reduce the ability to concentrate

Leading cause of death among teenagers Each day, 11 Teens are killed and at least 350 are injured in alcohol-related vehicular incidents Almost 50% of crashes in which the PASSENGER dies occur because the DRIVER was legally drunk Other Costs of DWI: Immediate confiscation of driver’s license Arrest, trip to jail, court appearance, and an expensive fine Probable suspension of license Possible mandatory jail sentence Higher insurance rates Possible lawsuits

Ways to Reduce DWI’s Over the past several years, many steps have been taken to reduce the number of Drunk Driving incidents New Laws put in place in most states No open containers in cars Mandatory blood and chemical testing for blood, breath, and urine New initiative campaigns by the government and police forces Organizations formed to help the prevention of drunk driving MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving SADD – Students Against Destructive Decisions Designated Drivers People in social settings who choose not to drink so that they can safely drive themselves and others

Consequences of DWI Leading cause of death among teenagers Each day, 11 Teens are killed and at least 350 are injured in alcohol-related vehicular incidents Almost 50% of crashes in which the PASSENGER dies occur because the DRIVER was legally drunk Other Costs of DWI: Immediate confiscation of driver’s license Arrest, trip to jail, court appearance, and an expensive fine Probable suspension of license Possible mandatory jail sentence Higher insurance rates Possible lawsuits

Long-Term Effects of Drinking Long-Term effects of alcohol on the body can include: Vitamin Deficiencies Stomach Problems Skin Problems Loss of Appetite Prolonged alcohol consumption can lead to even greater problems

Prolonged Alcohol Problems Brain Damage Can lead to: Decrease in Brain Size Hospitalization in a Mental Institution Loss of Intellectual Abilities Memory and Problem Solving Capability Liver Problems Alcohol interferes with the liver’s ability to break down fats Fatty Liver A condition in which fats build up in the liver and cannot be broken down The increased amount of fat in the liver prevents it from completing its normal functions and also interferes with the growth of new liver cells as well. Cirrhosis A condition in which liver tissue is destroyed and then replaced with useless scar tissue

Fatty Liver Cirrhosis Hepatitis An inflammation or infection of the liver that can cause weakness, jaundice, fever and sometimes even death

Tolerance and Dependence People who drink often may build up a Tolerance for alcohol Makes it necessary for the person to drink even more for the same effects that they may have had previously Some people can even become physically dependent on alcohol Body develops a need for it to continue its daily function

Traits of an Alcoholic