Alcohol Intro to Wellness

Underage Drinking Facts The minimum legal drinking age is 21 The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days 39% drank some amount of alcohol. 22% binge drank. 8% drove after drinking alcohol. 24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

What is alcohol? Alcohol is a drug Classified as a depressant Slows down organ activity Affects the central nervous system In small amounts, it can help you feel relaxed More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain

Moderate Alcohol Consumption According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.

What is a drink?

How much alcohol is considered a standard drink? 14 grams of pure alcohol

What is binge drinking? Any time someone sets out to get drunk, then consumes a large about of alcohol in a short period of time In about two hours: Men: 5 or more drinks Women: 4 or more drinks

Binge Drinking & Teens About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks Unintentional injuries Intentional injuries Alcohol poisoning Sexually transmitted diseases Unintended pregnancy Neurological damage Unintentional injuries (e.g., car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)Intentional injuries (e.g., firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence) "We believe that the adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol than the adult brain." he said. Alcohol was found to impair activity in the brain receptors responsible for memory and learning.

Alcohol & Brain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXjANz9r5F0

Blood Alcohol Concentration The relationship between: Total amount of alcohol Total body water BAC goes up if the person is taking in alcohol faster than the body can metabolize it It takes about 1 hour to metabolize 1 standard drink It is illegal to drive in MA with a BAC of .08 or higher

Effects of alcohol varies on… Age. Physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc). Amount of food consumed before drinking. How quickly the alcohol was consumed. Use of drugs or prescription medicines.

Alcohol & Women Hormonal Factors Ability to metabolize alcohol Premenstrual hormonal changes cause intoxication to set in faster during the days right before a woman gets her period. Ability to metabolize alcohol Less liver enzyme dehydrogenase Ability to dilute alcohol 25% less water in the body

What is a hangover? The body’s reaction to poisoning and withdrawal from alcohol Intoxicated= alcohol is toxic to the body Begins 8 – 12 hours after last drink & severity of symptoms based on amount you drank Headache Irritability Stomach ache/Nausea Drowsiness Sensitivity to light & noise Dizziness Bloodshot eyes Thirst

Blackout It’s the inability to recall any memories that may have been formed during the period of intoxication. The individual can experience both total memory loss of what happened during the period of intoxication OR partial memory loss where portions of time or specific actions completed while intoxicated cannot be recalled.

Alcohol Poisoning Alcohol poisoning results from drinking a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short amount of time The signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: Fatigue Confusion Vomiting Seizures Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute) Cold, clammy, pale-bluish skin – caused by a dangerous drop in body temperature

Coma or Death Extreme intoxication can lead to a slowing of brain function and a loss of oxygen to the brain. This can ultimately lead to brain damage, coma, and even death if not treated.

Long-Term Risks of Alcohol Use Neurological Problems Dementia, stroke Cardiovascular Problems High blood pressure, thickening & hardening of heart Social Problems Liver Disease Cancer Mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon Psychiatric Problems Depression, anxiety, suicide Alcohol dependence (Alcoholism) consists of four symptoms: Craving: a strong need, or compulsion, to drink.  Loss of control: the inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance: the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get high.

Final Note… Death – 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning, and other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning. Serious injuries – More than 190,000 people under age 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries in 2008 alone. Impaired judgment – Drinking can cause kids to make poor decisions, which can then result in risky behavior like drinking and driving, sexual activity, or violence. Increased risk for physical and sexual assault – Youth who drink are more likely to carry out or be the victim of a physical or sexual assault. Brain development problems – Research shows that brain development continues well into a person’s twenties. Alcohol can affect this development, and contribute to a range of problems.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Abnormal facial features, growth problems, central nervous system problems In the U.S., 40,000 babies a year are born with FAS