Choosing to Be Alcohol Free

Immediate Effects of Alcohol Consumption Depressant – a drug that slows the central nervous system Affects motor skills Intoxication – the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced Intoxication varies from person to person Body size, stomach contents, amount of alcohol, etc.

Factors that influence alcohol use Peer pressure Family Media messages Many are targeted to a teen audience

Advertising Techniques Spend billions of dollars to sell their product Advertisements are every where Alcohol companies sponsor events (sporting events, concerts, art festivals, etc) to get their name out

Alcohol’s role in unsafe situations Accidents related to Drinking and Driving are the number one cause of death and disability for teens Alcohol is also linked with deaths by drowning, fire, suicide, and homicide Lowers your inhibitions

Statistics Alcohol is a key factor in … 33% of suicides 50% of homicides 62% of assaults 68% of manslaughter cases 50% of head injuries 41% of traffic fatalities Domestic abuse and injury, child abuse and neglect, and workplace injuries More than 50% of all drowning incidents

Alcohol and the Law If you are under 21, it is illegal to buy, possess or consume alcohol Can be arrested, fined and sentenced to a youth detention center MIP – Minor in Possession PI – Public Intoxication DUI – Driving Under the Influence DWI – Driving While Intoxicated

Alcohol, Violence, and Sexual Activity Teens who drink alcohol are more likely to be involved in violent crimes Rape, aggravated assault, and robbery Also fights Alcohol and sexual activity Teens who drink are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, engage in sexual activity more often, and engage in unprotected sex more often Impairs a person’s judgment Lowers inhibitions Compromises moral standards

Alcohol Abuse Alcohol abuse – the excessive use of alcohol 25% of youth are exposed to family alcohol abuse Higher risk for neglect, abuse, economic hardship, and social isolation Sometimes these problems can lead to trying alcohol to escape

Extracurricular Activities Zero-tolerance policy If students are caught using alcohol, they may become ineligible or suspended from activities or school

Being Alcohol Free Maintain a healthy body Make responsible decisions Avoid risky behavior Avoid illegal activities

Strategies for Preventing Use of Alcohol Be assertive Refuse to drink Leave the situation quickly Call for a ride home Avoid parties where alcohol is served Practice refusal skills

Harmful Effects of Alcohol Use

Short-term Effects of Drinking Nervous System Brain – less able to control the body Movement, speech and vision may be affected Memory – thought processes are disorganized Memory and concentration dulled Judgment is altered Coordination is impaired

Short-term Effects of Alcohol Cardiovascular system Heart Low intake  Increase in heart rate and blood pressure Higher intake  Heart rate and blood pressure decrease  Heart rhythm becomes irregular  Risk of cardiac arrest increases Blood Vessels Blood vessels expand  Increased surface area of blood vessels allows body heat to escape and body temperature to drop

Short-term effects of alcohol Digestive system Stomach Some alcohol passes quickly from the stomach to the blood stream Stomach acid production increases…often results in nausea and vomiting Liver Toxic chemicals are releases as the liver metabolizes alcohol…causing inflammation and scarring Kidneys Increase in urine output…can lead to dehydration

Short-term effects of alcohol Respiratory system Lungs Carbon dioxide is formed by the liver and released through the lungs Breathing Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary functions (breathing) In excess, breathing may slow, become irregular, or stop

Factors that influence the short-term effects Body size and gender Smaller people feel the effects faster Food Slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream Amount and Rate of intake When a person drinks faster, the liver can’t break it down quickly enough…leading to intoxication

Alcohol and Drug Interactions Alcohol-drug interactions are a factor in ¼ of all emergency room visits Multiplier effect – the medicine has a greater or different effect than if it were taken alone

Driving Under the Influence Drinking and Driving is the leading cause of death for teenagers Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) – the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood DUI – Driving Under the Influence DWI – Driving While Intoxicated

Consequences of DWI Harm to driver and others Restricted driving privileges and/or confiscation of driver’s license Alcohol-related injuries, property damage, and death Living with regret Loss of parental trust and respect Arrest, jail time, court appearance, heavy fine or bail Police record and possible lawsuits Higher insurance rates – up to 3x higher than non- drinking peers

Every day, eight teens die in alcohol-related car crashes in the United States

Binge Drinking Drinking five or more alcohol drinks at one sitting Can cause alcohol poisoning…can lead to death Alcohol poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose Depressant – shuts down involuntary actions (breathing and the gag reflex – prevents choking)

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning Passing out Alcohol is still entering the blood stream after a person passes out BAC continues to rise Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning Mental confusion, coma, vomiting and seizures Slow respiration – less than 8 breaths a minute Irregular heart beat Hypothermia – low body temperature Severe dehydration

Long-term Effects of Alcohol Abuse Changes to the Brain Addiction – inability to stop drinking Loss of brain functions – loss of verbal skills, visual and spatial skills, and memory Brain damage Reduction of brain size and Frontal Lobe Development

Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Cardiovascular changes Heart – damage to the muscle Enlarged heart – from increased workload High blood pressure – damages the heart and can cause heart attack/stroke

Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Liver Problems Fatty liver Fats build up in the liver and cannot be broken down Excess fat blocks the flow of blood – leads to cell death Alcohol hepatitis Inflammation or infection of the liver Cirrhosis Liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue Can lead to live failure and death – need a liver transplant

Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Digestive System Problems Irritation Digestive lining is damaged – can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer Pancreas Problems Lining of the pancreas swells to block the passage from the pancreas to the small intestine Chemicals (needed for digestion) can’t pass Chemicals begin to destroy pancreas – causes pain and vomiting – can lead to death

Alcohol during pregnancy When a mother drinks, alcohol passes from the mother’s body into the bloodstream of the fetus Fetus’ liver is not developed enough to filter alcohol Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems Can occur even if the mother drinks before she knows she is pregnant

Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Born with a small head and deformities of the face, hands, or feet Heart, liver, and kidney defects Vision and hearing problems Experience slow growth and coordination Have difficulties with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving FAS is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the US

Preventing FAS There is NO safe amount of alcohol to drink Even small amounts can harm a fetus NO safe time to drink alcohol

Alcoholism Alcoholism – a disease in which a person has a physical or psychological dependence on drinks that contain alcohol Characterized by an impaired ability to study, work, and socialize normally

Alcoholism Alcoholic – an addict who is dependent on alcohol Symptoms Craving – a strong need to drink Loss of control – cannot limit his/her drinking Physical dependence – may experience withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety) when not drinking Tolerance – need to drink more to feel the effects Health, family, and legal problems

Factors Affecting Alcoholics Genetic link Children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become alcoholics Environmental factors Family Friends Culture Peer pressure Availability of alcohol Stress

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1 – Abuse Begins with social drinking A person begins to drink and become intoxicated regularly A person may start to lie or make excuses about his/her drinking Start to develop a tolerance May be a problem drinker

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 2 – Dependence The person cannot stop drinking – physically dependent on the drug Alcohol is the person’s central focus Drinker tries to hide the problem Performance starts to suffer Makes excuses/blames others for the problem

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 3 – Addiction Drinking is the most important thing in the person’s life Liver damage is common at this stage – less alcohol may be required to intoxicate the person If they stop drinking, they would experience severe withdrawal symptoms

Effects on Society Estimated 14 million alcoholics in the US Factor in the 4 leading causes of death Car accidents Falls Drowning House fires Plays major role in violent crimes ~40% (3 million) crimes are alcohol-related 2/3 domestic violence cases are alcohol-related ½ of all homicide victims have alcohol in their system

Effects on Family Codependency Codependents learn to ignore their own needs and focus their energy and emotions on the needs of the alcoholic Codependents lose their trust in others, their self- esteem, and sometimes their own health

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Recovery – the process of learning to live an alcohol-free life Steps to recovery Admission – person admits to having a problem Detoxification – a process in which the body adjusts to functioning without alcohol Counseling – to help learn to live without alcohol Recovery – takes responsibility of his/her own life Sobriety – living without alcohol Lifelong commitment

Getting help For the alcoholic Alcoholics Anonymous – AA For friends and family of alcoholics Al-Anon/Alateen National Association for Children of Alcoholics To get information National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information National Drug and Treatment Referral Routing Service Provides treatment referral and information about treatment facilities