Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 1 of 21 Objectives Summarize the effects of intoxication on the body systems. List four factors that affect blood alcohol concentration. Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Identify three ways that intoxication may lead to death.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 2 of 21 Health Stats What trend does this graph reveal? How is reaction time—the time it takes people to respond to a situation—affected by alcohol? Explain how an increase in reaction time affects a person’s safety on the road.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 3 of 21 Unlike food, alcohol does not have to be digested in the stomach before it is absorbed into the blood. Physical and Behavioral Effects Alcohol gets into a person’s bloodstream within minutes of being consumed. Once in the blood, alcohol circulates throughout the body, where it has widespread effects.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 4 of 21 Intoxication is the state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance. Effects on Body Systems Many negative effects on a drinker’s body and behavior accompany intoxication by alcohol.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 5 of 21 Cardiovascular System Heart rate and blood pressure increase. More blood flows to the skin’s surface. Core body temperature decreases. Effects of Intoxication Excretory System Kidneys increase urine production. Drinker loses more water from body than usual. Nervous System Brain activity slows down. Coordination becomes impaired. Sensations and perception become less clear. Reflexes become sluggish. Digestive System Too much alcohol in the stomach may cause vomiting.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 6 of 21 As intoxication takes effect, drinkers begin to lose judgment and self-control. Effects on Behavior At the same time, alcohol decreases drinkers’ natural fears. A blackout is a period of time that the drinker cannot recall.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 7 of 21 Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage. Blood Alcohol Concentration The higher a person’s blood alcohol concentration, the more severe the physical and behavioral effects. Blood alcohol concentration is a more reliable measure of intoxication than the number of drinks consumed.

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Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 9 of 21 Rate of Consumption People who have a few drinks in one hour have a higher BAC than people who drink the same amount over several hours. Factors Affecting BAC Gender Males generally will have a lower BAC than females. Body Size In general, smaller people—by weight and height—feel the effects of alcohol more than larger people. Amount of Food in the Stomach Drinking on an empty stomach increases the rate of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 10 of 21

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 11 of 21 Once a person stops drinking, BAC begins to decrease. After Drinking Ends The intoxicating effects of alcohol slowly diminish, and the person’s reflexes and coordination return to normal. Nothing can speed the liver’s ability to break down alcohol.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 12 of 21 Hangover is a term used to describe the aftereffects of drinking too much alcohol. Hangovers Symptoms of a hangover include nausea upset stomach headache sensitivity to noise

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 13 of 21 The short-term effects of intoxication can put a drinker at serious risk. Life-Threatening Effects Intoxication increases the risk of death from motor vehicle crashes alcohol overdose interactions of alcohol with other drugs

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 14 of 21 Alcohol is involved in about 40 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes. Motor Vehicle Crashes Driving While Intoxicated A driver over age 21 caught driving with a BAC that exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 is charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). Zero Tolerance Laws There is no acceptable BAC for underage drivers. The penalties for underage drivers may be more strict than those for other drivers.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 15 of 21 Taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death is called an overdose. Overdose Alcohol overdose, also called alcohol poisoning, can cause the heart and breathing to stop. Binge drinking is the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol at one sitting.

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Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 17 of 21 Alcohol is a depressant drug. Interactions With Other Drugs When a person drinks alcohol and takes another depressant, the combination can cause drastic changes in the body. In extreme cases, combining alcohol and other depressants leads to coma or death.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 18 of 21 Vocabulary intoxicationThe state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance. blackoutA period of time that an intoxicated person cannot recall. blood alcohol concentration (BAC) The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage. hangoverA term used to describe the aftereffects of drinking too much alcohol.

Section 15.2 Alcohol’s Effects on the Body Slide 19 of 21 Vocabulary driving while intoxicated (DWI) The charge given to a driver over age 21 caught driving with a BAC that exceeds 0.08 percent, or to a driver under the age of 21 with any detectable BAC. overdoseThe consequence of taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death. binge drinkingThe consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol at one sitting.