An Educational Perspective Based on Information Contained In The Indiana Prevention Resource Center Factline on Alcohol.

By the end of this presentation: you will have… (1) Been exposed to general information about Alcohol. (2) Learned some basic facts about Alcohol users in Indiana. (3) Viewed the potential consequences of Alcohol use, both short-term and long-term. (4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Alcohol is a colorless liquid, completely soluble in water, and is one of the oldest drugs of abuse. Alcohol is typically produced by the fermentation process of cereals such as barley, corn, and rice. Indiana Prevention Resource Center The percent, or proof, of an alcohol varies by beverage. Beverages such as beer or wine contain 5% to 12% alcohol, whereas brandy, whisky, or vodka contain 40% to 50% alcohol.

Ethyl alcohol Ethyl alcohol is the psychoactive drug found in alcoholic beverages. This drug produces a sedative effect and acts as a brain depressant. Ethyl Alcohol remains the most frequently used brain depressant in the United States. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Research indicates that the rates of alcohol use among students in Indiana are declining at present.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center In 2003, the prevalence of monthly use of alcohol among 8th graders in Indiana was 24.3%, and the corresponding figure for 12th graders was 46.1% (National figures were 19.7% and 47.5%, respectively). Over the years, binge drinking gained much popularity, especially among college students across the country, but a downward trend of binge drinking among teenagers in Indiana has been observed in the last few years.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center The effects produced by alcoholic beverages on humans are determined by the amount of alcohol In the bloodstream, Blood Alcohol Content or BAC. Significant motor skill impairment and loss of good judgment occurs if BAC is 0.1%.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Short term effects of alcohol include: Anxiety Restlessness Slowed heart and respiratory rates Blurred vision Poor motor coordination

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Long term effects of alcohol abuse include: Cirrhosis Cancers Cardiac diseases Skin diseases Gastritis Sexual dysfunction As well as a number of other irreversible neurological and psychological health conditions

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Motor vehicle crashes are the number one leading cause of death for people ages In 2002, 29% of year old drivers fatally injured due to a motor vehicle crash had been drinking and 24% were intoxicated. Of the traffic accidents occurring in Indiana 2002, 34%, 269, were alcohol-related.

A person with a blood alcohol content, BAC, of 0.08% or above is considered to be intoxicated. It is illegal for such persons to operate a vehicle. Alcohol Impairs: Vision Hearing Reaction Time Emergency Response Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Any liquid or solid that contains 0.5% alcohol by volume is considered to be an alcoholic beverage under Indiana law. The minimum drinking age is 21 years and it is illegal to sell, barter, exchange, provide or furnish an alcoholic beverage to a minor (a person less than 21 years of age).

Indiana Prevention Resource Center It is estimated that nearly 65% of alcohol outlets across the country sell alcohol to minors without asking for identification. A person 21 years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, or enables a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage commits a class C infraction.

Public health education campaigns designed to develop skills to resist social influence and peer pressure Community level strategies such as policies and regulations to discourage minors from accessing and consuming alcoholic beverages Individual and interpersonal alcohol preventive strategies such as those aforementioned are the primary preventive efforts implemented by government and community organizations in Indiana Indiana Prevention Resource Center

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute The National Institute on Drug Abuse Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center. Contact us Indiana Prevention Resource Center 2735 East 10th Street, CA110 Bloomington, IN Phone: or Fax: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center