Alcohol (Chapter 21) Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the CNS and affects every part of your body. The damage it does now can impact the rest of your life. What is it? Alcohol is derived from the natural fermentation (is the chemical action of yeast on sugar) of fruits, vegetables and grains. These are brewed and distilled into a wide range of beverages with various alcohol contents.

You may hear that it will loosen you up and help you relax… What you may not hear is that… it can damage the part of your brain that controls SHORT TERM EFFECTS coordination memory judgment/decision-making reactions become slower Slurs your speech Straight up, drinking makes you DUMBER

Facts About Alcohol  Alcohol goes directly to the bloodstream, which is why it effects every system in the body.  The peak Blood Alcohol Level occurs 60 to 90 minutes after ingestion when the stomach is empty.  The presence of food in the stomach slows the rate of alcohol absorption… However the amount of alcohol absorbed remains unchanged. Factors that Influence Alcohol's Effects Body SizeGender FoodAmount Rate of IntakeMedicine

Long Term Effects Alcohol travels through your bloodstream and damages your brain, stomach, liver, kidneys and muscles. As a teenager, your body is still developing, so damage done to it now will affect the rest of your life. Over time, drinking destroys your body and your looks, so all that work you've done to look good, keep strong and stay fit goes down the drain fast.

Standard Alcoholic Drink What is proof when referring to hard liquor? The % of pure alcohol in the hard liquor = ½ the proof EX: 100-proof liquor is about 50% pure alcohol. Thus, the higher the proof, the more pure alcohol the hard liquor contains These alcoholic beverages contain the same amount of alcohol, total liquid volume is different. Why is doing shots of hard liquor (distilled spirits more dangerous?

Alcohol Vocabulary Intoxication – the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol &physical and mental control is reduced Binge Drinking – drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time (fast) Five or more drinks at one sitting Usually bets, dares, & games Alcohol Poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to alcohol overdose Slows down body organs functioning; Involuntary suppresses breathing & gag reflex that prevents choking; coma; seizures Hangover - describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption

Alcohol abuse – excessive use Psychological dependence – condition in which the person believes that the drug is needed to function and feel normal Physiological dependence – body now has a chemical need Alcoholism – disease in which a person has physical and psychological dependence Factors that contribute to becoming an Alcoholic: 1.Family (children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become one) 2.Friends 3.Culture 4.Peers 6. Stress 5.Availability*7. Age at which a person starts drinking

Blood Alcohol Concentration(BAC) –amount of alcohol in the blood (expressed as a percentage) Adult > 0.08 percent (8% of total blood volume is alcohol)

A standard alcoholic drink = approx 0.6 oz alcohol (ethanol) A healthy liver can metabolize approx. 0.4 oz and hour How long would it take the body to rid the alcohol from one drink? 1 ½ hours Now, you are out drinking…had 6 drinks…how long to rid the alcohol?…do the math! 0.6 x 6 = 3.6 ounces of alcohol = 9 hours No wonder there is a hangover!!! Can you cure a hangover? Yes…. TIME

Effects of Alcohol within the Environment ViolenceSexFamilySchoolPregnancy More fights Lowers inhibitions Economic hardship Ineligible for school activities FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Discipline (school and police) Become more sexually active at an earlier age Neglect, abuse Suspension/exp elled -Small head -facial deformities -Vision/Hearing Victim of rape, assault, & robbery Unprotected sex (more hook ups) Personal use themselves (25%) Alternative education programs -CNS; ADD/ADHD developmental disabilities Twice as likely to contract an STD Mental illness or physical problems Drop out-Difficulties learning, -

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Al-Anon/Alateen- helps family and friends learn to deal with the effects of living with and alcoholic AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)- helps alcoholics MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) – provides education to prevent underage drinking SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) – provides peer led education about avoiding alcohol