Bell Ringer Open your student workbook to page 54. Under the heading titled Journal Entry, write 5 things you know about alcohol.

Unit 5: Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention Lesson 6: Alcohol: Get the Facts

Healthy Behavior Outcomes Avoid the use of alcohol. Avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Avoid riding in a motor vehicle with a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Lesson Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Summarize the harmful short- and long-term physical, psychological and social effects of alcohol use. Analyze the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Describe the harmful effects of binge drinking. Analyze the short- and long-term benefits of remaining alcohol free.

Alcohol is a drug that affects people physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Its use can also lead to legal consequences. You will be working in groups to share what you already know about the effects of alcohol in these different areas.

Key Points About Alcohol Turn in your workbooks to page 20. Each group will write down at least two key points from each group’s presentation on alcohol, including your own group’s presentation.

What effects of alcohol make it risky for people to drive after drinking? What is the risk of riding in a car with a driver who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs?

Summary Because driving a car takes so much concentration and skill, drivers need to constantly stay alert, focused and able to make quick decisions. Alcohol seriously compromises a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who has been drinking is not able to judge distance and speed well or look ahead to avoid a crash. Alcohol also slows down a person’s reflexes and response time.

Why do you think teens choose to drink? How could perceived norms – what people believe about other people’s behaviors – around drinking, affect a teen’s choice about alcohol use?

Summary Teens may drink in many of the same situations or for many of the same reasons you brainstormed at the beginning of class –to celebrate, change the way they feel, feel less shy in social situations, or escape their problems. They may use alcohol to feel like part of the group or because of social pressure to drink. When teens think more people their age drink alcohol than actually do, it can add to this pressure.

A disturbing norm found by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey is that nearly 22 % of those students who drink had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row within a couple of hours on at least 1 day during the past 30 days. This fits the definition of binge drinking, or drinking a dangerous amount of alcohol in a short time.

Why is binge drinking dangerous?

Summary A person’s body needs time to process alcohol. Size, weight, and gender all affect how fast this can happen. When a person binge drinks, he or she ingests more alcohol than the body can handle at one time. This can lead to rapid intoxication, vomiting or passing out, blackouts, and developing a tolerance for alcohol. A blackout is when a person cannot remember what happened when he or she was drinking.

The ratio of alcohol to blood in the bloodstream is measured in terms of blood alcohol level, or BAL. The more alcohol the body absorbs, the higher the person’s BAL and the more intoxicated or drunk he or she becomes. BAL is measured in tenths of a percent, and even a small rise affects people.

.02%: At as little as .02% BAL – or two-tenths of a percent – reaction time is impaired. .04%: The person develops a buzz from drinking. .06%: The effects of drinking alcohol change. Good feelings become less positive, and negative effects become more negative. .08%: Coordination and judgement are impaired. This is considered legally drunk for a person who is driving. .10%: As BAL rises over .10%, the person is at high risk of injuries or blackouts. .25%: If BAL reaches .25% or higher, the person is at risk of alcohol overdose. .40%: A BAL of .40% is fatal for most people.

What do you think are the most serious consequences of alcohol use for teens who drink and why? Which of these consequences would have the biggest impact on your own life?

Summary Under the influence of alcohol, young people have poorer judgement, are clumsier and become less inhibited. Alcohol use may lead teens to make poor decisions in social situations and put themselves in danger of physical injury, social embarrassment, legal problems and violence, including sexual assault.

What do you think the biggest benefit of being alcohol free is for teens in the short term? What do you think the biggest benefit of being alcohol free is for teens in the long term?

Summary Keeping a clear head, making smart choices, protecting their physical health and social reputations, and avoiding the risks that come from driving under the influence or riding with an intoxicated driver are all good reasons teens choose to be alcohol free. Over time, avoiding alcohol use can help teens avoid future health problems, legal problems and possible addiction.

What is 1 way alcohol use could negatively affect your life?