ALCOHOL Use & abuse…

What Is Alcohol? Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

What happens when you drink? When people drink alcohol, it's absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Because experts now know that the human brain is still developing during our teens, scientists are researching the effects drinking alcohol can have on the teen brain.

What does it look like? A person will progress through stages of poor judgment Inhibitions become lowered Show signs of physical impairment Loss of motor control or function, or poor coordination Reaction time slower Slurred speech – making no sense May act totally out of character (angry, skanky, aggressive, chatty, plain stupid)

What effects how drunk someone gets? 1. How much alcohol is consumed The more alcohol a person consumes the more it will effect them 2. Your size /weight If you are small, your blood volume is much less than that of someone who is larger. You are, therefore, likely to be affected more by the same amount of alcohol than someone much larger than you. 3. Your water level / Amount of food in stomach If you are dehydrated, alcohol will have a much greater effect than if your body's water concentration is normal. Less food in stomach = alcohol effects you more. If there is food in your stomach this process will be slowed down, and the alcohol will reach your brain and other parts of your body more slowly. 4. Sex of person Women are generally smaller than men and they also have proportionately less body water. Therefore, they are more easily affected by alcohol. Woman also process alcohol slower than men. 5. Tolerance When people build up a tolerance they then need to drink more for it to have the same effect.

Units of Alcohol

What is BINGE DRINKING? Drinking a LARGE amount of alcohol in a short amount of time Reaching a very HIGH blood alcohol level Experiencing problems as a result of your drinking

What’s the risk??? When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. (mixing drinks) Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like — the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.

Other risks…

What’s a black out? When someone drinks so much alcohol that he or she experiences amnesia in the morning, this is known as “blackout drinking.”amnesia Blackout drinking does not necessarily cause people to lose consciousness or “pass out.” Instead, high alcohol consumption temporarily interferes with the function of the brain, causing the brain to be unable to retain information in short term memory. brain In some cases, blackout drinking results in a large chunk of “lost time,” and the drinker will be able to remember events before and after the missing block of memory.

Why do teens choose to drink?

Why do teens drink? Curiosity To feel good, reduce stress, and relax To fit in To feel older Not meant to so rebel – be seen by friends as taking a risk We see advertising messages & tv shows showing beautiful people enjoying life — and alcohol. Many parents and other adults use alcohol socially — having beer or wine with dinner, for example — alcohol seems harmless to many teens. Use vs misuse?

Why shouldn’t I drink? Illegal at your age You can look really stupid Make bad choices Put your health at risk Drinking can lead to other things

Pressure…. How to avoid it? How would or could you do to avoid drinking if you were put in a situation where your friends were pressuring you to drink? What refusal techniques can you recall?

Use of an ANTI-DRUG Something that a person puts between them and a drug that helps you make positive choices. An anti drug can be, but is not limited to a person, goal, or dream. Examples: parents, brothers, sisters, dream of getting into a good college, getting a good job, excelling in athletics, in music, arts etc.