ALCOHOL

Alcohol Alcohol, or more accurately, ethanol (the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages) is a powerful and addictive drug. Ethanol can be produced synthetically or naturally through the fermentation of fruits, veggies, and grains. Fermentation is the chemical action of yeast on sugars. Alcohol is a depressant- a drug that slows down the central nervous system (CNS)

Alcohol Today Nation’s #1 Drug Problem 100+ million adults (60-70% of total population use) Used more than any other drug 10+ million adult alcoholics 4.5 million teenage alcoholics/ problem drinkers 40,000 + alcohol poisoning cases a year 8,000 teens die each year in alcohol related crashes

Alcohol Today Alcohol is linked to violence, rape, suicide, breaking the law, accidental death, injuries, irresponsible decisions, STI/ STDs, job loss, divorce, and serious illness. Alcohol related diseases lead to 12,000 deaths/ year #1 Cirrhosis of the liver ( hardening of the liver)

Effects on Society 40% of all violent crime is alcohol related. 2/3 (66%) of those who encounter domestic violence report that alcohol was a factor in the crime Almost 50% of all homicide victims have alcohol in their bloodstream. Source: CDC

Short Term Effects of Alcohol Use Movement, speech, and vision may be affected. Memory and judgment become affected. Heart rate and blood pressure decrease. Heart rhythm may become irregular. Risk of cardiac arrest increases. If an excessive amount of alcohol is consumed breathing may become slow, irregular, or stop.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol Use Changes to the brain- addiction, loss of verbal/memory skills, and brain damage. Cardiovascular changes- damage to the heart and increased blood pressure Liver problems Fatty liver: fats build up in the liver and blocks the flow of blood to the liver cells. Alcoholic hepatitis: inflammation/infection of the liver Cirrhosis: liver tissue is replaced with useless scar tissue which leads to liver failure.

Classes of Drinkers (3 classes) Social Moderate, safe amounts consumed by adult (21 yrs or older) Problem Self or others at risk, binge drinker Alcoholic dependent

Binge Drinking Binge Drinking: NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.

Factors that affect BAC Amount consumed Body weight Amount of food eaten Alcohol Content Speed consumed % of body fat Gender Presence of other drugs in blood Age

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Higher the BAC, the greater the effects of alcohol on the body. If the amount of alcohol (a toxin) is too large, stomach will reject it Vomiting Too much of a toxin (alcohol) can be poisonous. BAC is a percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Alcohol Poisoning A severe and potentially fatal reaction to an alcohol overdose. A fatal dose of alcohol will shut down involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex which prevents choking. Symptoms include: Mental confusion, vomiting, seizures, coma Slow breathing- about 10 seconds between each breath or fewer then 8 breaths per minute. Irregular heartbeat Hypothermia- low body temperature (look for pale or bluish skin) Severe dehydration from vomiting Call 911 if an individual is showing these symptoms.

Alcohol Laws Liquor Control Board Underage Drinking Controls all sales of alcoholic beverages Underage Drinking Zero-tolerance law Lowers the legal BAC level for intoxicated drivers under 21 yrs of age Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Breathalyzer test: accurate and common way police check BAC Under 21 yrs = 0.02 21 yrs & over = 0.08

Laws Cont. Parents can not buy alcohol for their children even if it is their own home. Parents can be held accountable & face fines for serving minors on their property. A person under 21 can be arrested for underage drinking in PA if they are: consuming, transporting & possessing alcohol.

Alcoholism Difficulty controlling behavior Denial Withdrawal Disease in which there is physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Alcohol is a Sedative Hypnotic. Difficulty controlling behavior Denial Withdrawal Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Is the reaction of the body when someone stops drinking all of a sudden.

Genetic Predisposition Definition- you are at a HIGHER risk of developing that disease if one or more of your BIOLOGICAL family members have that disease.