The Facts Served “Straight Up” “Straight Up” Alcohol

What Happens When You Drink?  Alcohol enters the stomach and small intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream.  Once in the bloodstream, alcohol quickly travels to every organ in the body, including the brain.  As you continue to drink, the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream continues to increase.  The more alcohol the body absorbs, the higher the Blood Alcohol Concentration – and the drunker the person gets.

Blood Alcohol Concentration – How does this affect you? . 02% - Alcohol immediately slows the nervous system and reaction time is impaired to some extent. You become more relaxed .04% - Reaction time continues to slow. A “buzz” develops. Relaxation deepens. .055% -.06% - Effects of alcohol change. Good feelings get less positive and negative feelings more negative. The negative effects will continue as long as you continue to drink. Brain’s ability to process information and make judgments is greatly impaired.

BAC - How it affect you ? Continued .08% - Legally Drunk. Decrease in Motor coordination. May feel nauseous and throw up. This can occur in some people with just one or two drinks. .10% - A clear breakdown in judgment and motor coordination, visibly sloppy. .15% -.25% - High risk of blackouts and injuries. .25% -.35% - Can pass out. Risk of death. .40% -.45% - Lethal dose for most.

What Is A Standard Drink?

Factors that may influence alcohol concentration levels:  Gender – body compositions differ  Body weight  Alcohol content in drinks  How much you drink  Food intake  Age  Mood

Myths Associated With Alcohol:  Alcohol is a sexual stimulant Alcohol actually decreases your ability to function sexually Alcohol actually decreases your ability to function sexually You may be less inhibited, but are less likely to be able tp follow through You may be less inhibited, but are less likely to be able tp follow through  One or two drinks has no noticeable effect on a person’s behavior and/or judgment Behavior and judgment changes with the first drink Behavior and judgment changes with the first drink Some people are legally drunk with just one or two drinks Some people are legally drunk with just one or two drinks  You can sober someone up faster with food or coffee It takes the liver one hour to burn off about.016 of your blood alcohol level. It takes the liver one hour to burn off about.016 of your blood alcohol level. As a rule it will take a 150lb male one hour to metabolize one glass of wine, one shot of liquor, or one bottle of beer As a rule it will take a 150lb male one hour to metabolize one glass of wine, one shot of liquor, or one bottle of beer  Beer doesn’t contain as much alcohol as hard liquor A 12 ounce bottle of beer has the same alcohol content as a standard shot of 80-proof liquor or a 5 ounce glass of wine. A 12 ounce bottle of beer has the same alcohol content as a standard shot of 80-proof liquor or a 5 ounce glass of wine.

Health problems associated with long term use of alcohol:  Alcoholism (addiction to alcohol)  Cancers Esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box). Esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box). Increase risk of colon and rectal cancer Increase risk of colon and rectal cancer  Heart damage Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) High blood pressure High blood pressure High triglycerides leading to heart attack or stroke. High triglycerides leading to heart attack or stroke.  Liver damage Cirrhosis Cirrhosis Hepatitis Hepatitis  Stomach Chronic irritation of the stomach lining and bleeding ulcers Chronic irritation of the stomach lining and bleeding ulcers pancreatitis pancreatitis

Binge Drinking Drinking too much alcohol too fast Can result in the brain’s control center closing down, at which point you can black out, slip into a coma, Stop breathing, and die.

Binge drinking is associated with many health problems including:  Unintentional injuries (e.g. car crash, falls, burns, drowning)  Intentional injuries (e.g. firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence)  Alcohol poisoning and death  Sexually transmitted diseases  Unintended pregnancy  Children born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects, such as mental and physical disabilities, abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, vision, hearing and learning disabilities. one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects, such as mental and physical disabilities, abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, vision, hearing and learning disabilities.  High blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases  Liver disease, Neurological damage, Poor control of diabetes  Sexual dysfunction

Alcohol Poisoning  This is a Medical Emergency – Call 911 If alcohol poisoning is not treated, a person may become comatose, suffer brain damage and die!  Alcohol poisoning is when someone overdoses on alcohol.  Alcohol depresses nerves that control breathing and the gag reflex. This may cause one or both of the following: pass out, stop breathing and die. pass out, stop breathing and die. pass out, choke on their own vomit and die pass out, choke on their own vomit and die  Even after a person passes out their alcohol level keeps rising. The alcohol in the stomach and intestines continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body. The alcohol in the stomach and intestines continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will just sleep it off. It is dangerous to assume the person will just sleep it off.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning  Mental confusion, unable to wake them  Vomiting while asleep  Seizures  Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)  Irregular breathing ( 10 seconds or more between breaths)  Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color and cold to the touch

If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning  Call 911  Keep the person warm and turn them on their side to prevent them from choking on vomit.  Don’t worry about the drinker being mad or embarrassed because you sought medical help. Be safe – not sorry.

40% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related. Could this be you someday?