Stress and Alcohol Study Guide

Stress The response of the body to the demands of daily living is stress. The cause or source of stress is called a stressor. Stressors may be physical, mental, social or environmental. A healthy response to a stressor is referred to as eustress. A harmful response to a stressor is referred to as distress.

General Adaptation Syndrome The General Adaptation Syndrome is a series of body changes that result from stress. The G.A.S. occurs in 3 stages – the Alarm Stage, the Resistance Stage, and the Exhaustion Stage.

The Alarm Stage Body gets ready for “quick action” Adrenaline (hormone) is produced to prepare the body to react during times of stress or in an emergency. Alarm stage is also referred to as the “fight or flight” response, because it gets you ready to either take action, or to run away to protect yourself. During alarm stage, the following body changes occur: pupils dilate to improve vision; hearing sharpens; saliva decreases; heart rate and blood pressure increase to stimulate blood flow to muscles; muscles tighten, palms become sweaty.

Resistance Stage Body is no longer in an emergency state Body attempts to regain internal balance Adrenaline is no longer produced The following body changes occur: pupils constrict; hearing is normal; saliva increases; heart rate and blood pressure decrease; muscles relax

Exhaustion Stage The Alarm Stage and Resistance Stage are considered normal. When you experience a stressor, the alarm stage helps your body to respond. After your initial response, the Resistance Stage occurs, and your body regains internal balance. For people who have difficulty managing stress, they stay in the alarm stage for long periods of time. The Exhaustion Stage is the stage where the wear and tear on the body from prolonged bouts of stress increase the risk of injury, illness, and premature death.

How Stress Affects Health Mental & Emotional Health: difficulty concentrating; depressed; express emotions in negative ways; physical illness and disorders increase. Social/Family Health: stressful home environments & stressful relationships can increase the likelihood of illness and injury. Growth & Development: as bodies reach puberty, some are unhappy with how they are developing and have difficulty adjusting to changes. Eating disorders are common with young adults unhappy with body changes.

How Stress Affects Health (cont.) Nutrition: some people become “eaters” when they are stressed, while others refrain from eating. Some resort to “junk food”, caffeinated beverages, etc. Eating foods with a lot of fat, sugar, salt, and or caffeine can lead to problems with obesity, high blood pressure, nervousness, and diabetes. Physical Activity: people who are very physically active can also “overdo” it, and exercise to exhaustion. It is important to remember your body needs time to repair itself and recuperate after long periods of exercise.

How Stress Affects Health (cont.) Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco: some people will turn to alcohol, drugs and/or tobacco as a means to “cope” with stress. However, drugs may cause the body to remain in the Alarm Stage. Also, once the effects of these wears off, the stressor is still there, and has not been dealt with in a healthful way. In reality, the problem may now be compounded, as the stress remains, and the person possibly puts themselves at risk for developing an addiction to alcohol, drugs and/or tobacco.

Coping With Stress Use responsible decision-making skills (ABCDE Model or FIND model) Keep a time-management plan Talk/communicate with parents, guardians, mentors or responsible adult Have a support network of friends Participate in physical activity Write in a journal Eat a healthy diet Get plenty of rest and sleep

How Alcohol Enters the Body Alcohol is a drug that depresses the brain and nervous system. About 20% of the alcohol a person drinks is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach. A majority of the rest is absorbed through the walls of the intestine. After it is absorbed, it moves quickly into the bloodstream. Remaining alcohol is excreted through urine, perspiration or breath.

Effects on Body Most alcohol is changed to harmless waste by the liver. The liver can process about one drink per hour. If a person has more than one drink, the excess alcohol builds up in the body. This excess alcohol goes into the body tissues before being excreted. The effects of alcohol increase as the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases. The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood is the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). The higher the BAC, the greater the effects of alcohol on the body.

How Much is One Drink? An alcoholic beverage that contains ½ ounce of alcohol is considered one drink. ½ ounce is equal to one beer, 4 to 5 oz. of wine, or one mixed drink. Drinking more than this amount will cause the BAC to rise. Getting “Drunk” Alcohol is a toxin (poison). If too large an amount is consumed, the body’s natural reaction is to reject it, causing a person to vomit. The body will work to break down and excrete the alcohol in the body as quickly as possible. Because this process takes time, people may still feel the effects the next day. There is no way to speed up this process – drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, etc. will not break down the alcohol in the body.

Factors that Affect BAC Amount of Alcohol consumed Speed at which alcohol is consumed Body weight Percentage of Body Fat (more body fat = higher BAC) Gender Feelings (stress, anger, fear speed up the time alcohol is absorbed) Amount of Food eaten Presence of other drugs in the bloodstream Age Drinking carbonated beverages

What Happens as BAC Increases 0.02 — 0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded — 0.06 BAC: Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad emotions are worse) 0.07 — 0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired (in some* states.08 is legally impaired and it is illegal to drive at this level). You will probably believe that you are functioning better than you really are. ( * —As of July, 2004 ALL states had passed.08 BAC Per Se Laws. The final one takes effect in August of 2005.) 0.10 — BAC: impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle at this level of intoxication in all states — 0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria* is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired. ( * —Dysphoria: An emotional state of anxiety, depression, or unease.)

What Happens as BAC Increases (cont.) 0.16 — 0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk." 0.20 BAC: Feeling dazed/confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand/walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people have nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may not remember what has happened BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falls or other accidents BAC: STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory arrest.

Factors That Affect Alcohol Use by Youth Alcohol is readily available to youth Being drunk is an expectation in most adolescent drinking situations Peer group influence is strongly evident Young drinkers tend to obtain alcohol from their parents Young drinklers tend to consume the alcohol at home Students who drink alcohol regularly are more likely to have someone close to them who also drinks alcohol Students tend to regard drinking as a legitimate pastime; they tend to regard drinking as an essential aspect of leisure and entertainment.

Factors That Affect Alcohol Use by Youth (cont.) Students lack knowledge about alcohol Students do not know how to monitor their intake to prevent intoxication Students lack knowledge of the properties and effects of alcohol. Students lack knowledge as to how alcohol is metabolized Alcohol is often readily available at most social functions