Mazie B.

 Curiosity  It is being modeled by others  Belief that it will relieve stress  They expect a good experience  It is accessible  It has become culturally normalized  They believe it will make them look “cool”

 Slurred speech  Drowsiness  Vomiting  Diarrhea  Upset stomach  Headaches  Breathing difficulties  Bad breath  Distorted vision and hearing  Impaired judgment  Decreased perception and coordination  Unconsciousness  Blackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence) This didn’t really make you look cool did it? Some of these effects could also lead to you hurting yourself or others.

 Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases.  Heavy drinking can lead to anemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis, dementia, seizures, gout, high blood pressure, infectious disease, nerve damage, and pancreatitis.  Information verified by a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and researcher at the University's Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies.  For more information on these health risks and how the consumption of alcohol leads to them read the next two slides.

 Anemia - Heavy drinking can cause the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to be abnormally low.  Cancer- risk comes when the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen.  Cardiovascular disease- Heavy drinking, especially bingeing, makes platelets more likely to clump together into blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.  Cirrhosis- Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, and many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, a sometimes-lethal condition in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it is unable to function.  Dementia- heavy drinking speeds the shrinkage of certain key regions in the brain, resulting in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Brain shrinks as a person gets older.  Seizures- Heavy drinking can cause epilepsy and can trigger seizures even in people who don't have epilepsy.  Gout- alcohol and other dietary factors seem to play a role in the risk of gout which is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints.

 High blood pressure- Alcohol can disrupt the sympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to stress, temperature, exertion, etc. High blood pressure can lead to many other serious diseases.  Infectious disease- Heavy drinking suppresses the immune system, providing a toehold for infections, including tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.  Nerve damage- alcohol is toxic to nerve cells. Heavy drinking can cause a form of nerve damage known as alcoholic neuropathy, which can produce a painful pins-and-needles feeling or numbness in the extremities as well as muscle weakness, incontinence, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and other problems.  Pancreatitis- In addition to causing stomach irritation, drinking can inflame the pancreas. 60% of chronic pancreatitis cases stem from alcohol consumption.

It can be hard for some people to talk to adults about these issues, but a supportive person in a position to help can refer students to a drug and alcohol counselor for evaluation and treatment. In some states, this treatment is completely confidential. After assessing a teen's problem, a counselor may recommend a brief stay in rehab or outpatient treatment. These treatment centers help a person gradually overcome the physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help as soon as possible. Easiest thing to do is talk to an adult you trust. If you can not approach your parent, talk to your doctor, school counselor, or a church member.

 Maintaining a healthy body  Establishing healthy relationships  Making healthy decisions  Avoiding risky behavior  Avoiding illegal activity  Saving money There are better things to do with your life.

This topic is important to me because my life was affected by someone I knew drinking alcohol. Today, they no longer drink and have been sober for years. The change was amazing. It made that person happier and able to enjoy life more. Drinking alcohol is a personal choice. As you can tell in this presentation there are many risks to alcohol consumption. On the other hand there are many benefits of living an alcohol free life. Ultimately the decision is up to you.

"Alcohol." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Steven Dowshen. The Nemours Foundation, 01 June Web. 16 Mar "Alcohol Linked to 75,000 U.S. Deaths a Year." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar "Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse." Drug Addiction Drug Abuse Alcoholism Alcohol Abuse Dual Diagnosis Treatment Summit Malibu RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar Feature, David FreemanWebMD. "Health Risks of Alcohol: 12 Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 16 Mar "Short and Long Term Effects of Alcohol - Effects of Binge Drinking - Truth About Alcohol." Short and Long Term Effects of Alcohol - Effects of Binge Drinking - Truth About Alcohol. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar "Understanding Alcohol's Effects." - Online Medical Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar