ALCOHOL

Affects of Alcohol Consumption of alcohol may cause you to thay shings like thish. Consumption of alcohol may actually cause CAUSE pregnancy. Consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.

Test Your Knowledge of Drinking The best hangover cure is hair of the dog – a bit more alcohol the next day. Drinking is good for your heart. But only is you are a man over 40, or a women who can no longer have children. Alcohol slows down your brain and means you concentrate less well- making you a potentially dangerous driver. The more you drink the more your body can take it, so you can safely drink more without increasing the risks. FALSE FALSE TRUE FALSE

Test Your Knowledge Even though your hangover has worn off your brain can still be affected in the long-term Having a drink helps to steady your nerves and cope better with problems. Mixing drinks more quickly – and having accidents or getting into fights. TRUE FALSE TRUE

Did You Know This About Alcohol? Most popular drug in the U.S. # 1 drug problem in the U.S. During the Vietnam Conflict , there were more alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. then war deaths(1960-1971: 45,000-275,000) Nearly 90% of older teens feel that alcohol abuse is a critical problem in their schools. The legal drinking age is 21, even so the average age for taking a first drink is 13.

How About This Every year, the average American Drinks: 2.5 gallons of hard liquor (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.) 3 gallons of wine (including champagne, wine coolers, etc.) 33 gallons of beer (approx. 35% of adults do not drink Alcohol in the U.S.)

What is Alcohol? The word ALCOHOL refers to several related chemicals. The type found in drinks is, ethanol. Also called ethyl alcohol and grain alcohol. Methanol Alcohol, also called wood alcohol. Isopropyl Alcohol, the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol. Both Methanol and Isopropyl alcohol are highly poisonous.

What is Alcohol? Is found in beer, wine, whiskey, and other beverages. Alcohol: is a drug created by a chemical reaction in some foods, especially fruits & grains. Alcohol is a DEPRESSANT. Can have strong physical & mental effects on the drinker.

What Does It do In The Body?

Brain Short-term effects: Alcohol reaches the brain soon after it is swallowed. Impairs judgment, reasoning, memory, and concentration. Reaction time is slowed, coordination decreases & speech becomes slurred. Vision & hearing are distorted. It reduces peoples inhibitions – the ability or desire to control their behavior – leading them to engage in dangerous activities. Too much alcohol can lead to unconsciousness & death.

Brain More short-term: Long-term effects: Releases a Neurochemical in your brain called GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) – why people throw up when drinking. Long-term effects: Over time, alcohol use can cause brain cell destruction, nervous disorders, and memory loss.

Blood Vessels Long-Term Effects: Short-Term Effects: Blood vessels are enlarged (vasodilation) = false sense of warmth = Loss of Body heat = Increased risk of hypothermia. Long-Term Effects: Can lead to high blood pressure & stroke. High BP is when there is a larger amount of pressure pushing outward on your blood vessels. Stroke is when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.  When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

Heart Short-term Effects: Long-Term Effects: Heart & pulse rate are increased. Long-Term Effects: Extended use of alcohol can cause irregular heart beat & damage to the heart muscle.

Stomach Short-Term Effects: Long-Term Effects: Too much alcohol in the stomach can cause vomiting. If a person vomits while unconscious, choking may result. Long-Term Effects: Drinking alcohol can lead to ulcers or open sores in the stomach lining. Heavy use is also linked to stomach cancer.

Liver Basics Breaks down drugs to allow the chemicals to circulate throughout the body. Can metabolize approximately 10g of Alcohol per hour which is about 1 drink per hour. Anything over this will continue to circulate in the blood until it can ne Broken down.

= What is a Drink One 5 oz. Glass of One 1 oz. shot Wine. One 1 oz. shot Of Whiskey One 12 oz. mug of beer.

Liver Short-Term Effects: Long-Term Effects: Too much alcohol overloads the liver, which filters alcohol from the blood stream and removes it from the body. Liver poisoning can result. Long-Term Effects: Heavy drinking can lead to cirrhosis or scarring & destruction of live tissue, which can cause death. Heavy drinking is linked to liver cancer. Fatty liver: Build-up of fat in the liver cells. Hepatitis: Liver inflammation

Cirrhosis Destroyed liver cells are replaced by scar tissue Liver eventually gets hard, can’t function properly, and the person dies. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_STjZ5AcpHlk/SwuIRPWJMTI/AAAAAAAACBE/WizSeQEhcHw/s1600/cirrhosis1.jpg http://www.montana.edu/wwwai/imsd/alcohol/Vanessa/vwliver_files/image004.jpg

Absorption 20% of the alcohol is absorbed in the stomach 80% of the alcohol is absorbed in small intestine

General Short Term Effects Dilated blood vessels Impaired coordination, motor skills, judgment Impaired memory and possible black outs. Alcohol is a depressant. General Long Term Effects Alcohol blocks absorption of essential nutrients Contributes to malnutrition (Heavy drinkers) Contributes to mood and emotional changes Depression, alcoholism Amplifies any pre-existing disorders

Medical Complications Long Term Ulcers Cancers of lip, oral cavity, esophagus, larynx, stomach and liver. Anemia Menstrual irregularities Infertility/Impotence Reduced testosterone levels Irreversible brain damage Osteoporosis Depression Liver – alcohol dependant hepatitis Fatty liver Cirrhosis Pancreatitis

Alcohol Effects on the Body

Some Factors That Affect BAC Food in Stomach Health Gender: males, have an enzyme called Dehydrogenase in their stomach that helps break down alcohol. Females usually weigh less. Also females have more fat which doesn’t absorb alcohol. Dose – how strong in the drink Frequency (drinks per hour) Body size How fast you drink Type of Drink (also if drink is carbonated.) Temperature of the drink If a female is menstruating or on birth control.

How Do You Remove the Effects TIME BAC drops about 25% per hour

How Does it Affect a Developing Embryo/Fetus? Baby’s drink amniotic fluid & excrete it over & over. Does this with alcohol for up to 4 days Organs aren’t fully developed-can’t help. Possible brain damage (leading to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) May cause Fetal alcohol Effects Lifelong, irreversible, problems

FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Wide eyes, large forehead, cleft pallet, pallet gone. Birth defects Permanent mental/physical disabilities Learning disabilities Behavioral Abnormalities Motor impairments

FAS http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0715/afp20050715p279-f2.jpg http://www.brocku.ca/vrbaby/parenting/faces/fasface.gif

FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effects) Subtle version Hidden defects: Learning disabilities Behavior disabilities Motor impairments

Alcoholism What is it? Alcoholism: is an illness caused by a physical & mental need for alcohol. When a person is dependent on alcohol, (drink to feel normal). Cannot limit the amount of alcohol they drink. Need to drink more in order to experience the same effects.

Alcoholism – What is it? – Disease? Disease-Affected for the rest of your life. Disease: means an involuntary disability. Disease because once addicted the cells in your body actually change, PERMANENTLY. That’s why when people who are sober say, “I’m an alcoholic and have been sober for ___ years.” Genetic - especially males. Again, because once the body cells change and you become “addicted” those traits can pass on to your offspring. Alcoholism has been recognized for many years by professional medical organizations as a primary, chronic, progressive and often fatal disease.

Alcoholism – Signs Drinks increasing amounts of alcohol & becomes drunk often. Places drinking alcohol ahead of other activities. Drinks alone. Experiences blackouts & cannot remember what he or she said or did while drinking. Shows personality changes when drinking alcohol. Makes excuses for drinking, promises to quit but does not, or refuses to admit how much he or she is drinking.

Legal Ramifications of Drinking

Help for Alcoholism No medical cure – can be treated An alcoholic must go through a treatment process involving several steps to begin recovery. Admit they have a problem & decide to seek help. Go through detoxification, a process of removing all alcohol from the body. May need to be hospitalized to stop and detox. Get counseling & support to learn to avoid alcohol. Need LONG-TERM support. Once they stop, they must NEVER touch alcohol again. Alcoholics Anonymous is an organization of people who help each other avoid alcohol. Alateen is an organization for teens who have friends or relatives who are alcoholics. Al-Anon is a peer support organization of adult friends & relatives of alcoholics.