ALCOHOLISM Umesh Bhati 513 A

 The human brain doesn’t fully develop until the early 20’s. Alcohol use before then drastically impacts learning and memory.

Health Consequences of Alcohol Use  Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, Hypertension)  Increased risk of cancer: (liver, stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, mouth, throat)  Impaired immune system  Malnutrition  Reproductive problems

Behavioral Consequences of Alcohol Use  Contributes to 50% of all motor vehicle fatalities  Contributes to unsafe sex and increased risk of AIDS  Contributes to risky behavior and accidental death

Academic Consequences of Alcohol Use  40% of poor academic performance at college has been linked to drinking  7% of first year dropouts are related to alcohol

Why People Start Drinking  Peer pressure  Need to belong and be accepted  Media depiction of drinking  Easy access (often at home)  Absence of religious attachment  Cultural / sociological traditions  Social "lubrication"  Makes one "feel good"

There are more than 150 medications that should not be mixed with alcohol.  For example, drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen (Tylenol ® ) can increase the risk of serious liver damage.

Alcohol affects men and women differently. Women become more impaired than men from drinking the same amount of alcohol. This is because women: Are generally smaller in size Have less body water Have less dehydrogenase (Dehydrogenase is an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down alcohol.) Have more estrogen

 Low risk drinking =  1 drink a day for women  2 drinks a day for men

 Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.  In small amounts it can have a relaxing effect.  But, in large amounts it can cause impaired judgement, slurred speech, reduced reaction time, and difficulty walking.

Social factors  Alcoholism high in some cultures: Americans, Swiss, Irish, Polish, Russians.  Low in others: Chinese, Koreans, Orthodox Jews.

Alcoholism is low in cultures where  Children learn alcohol is a beverage.  Served in dilute forms.  Abstain okay.  Parents model moderate drinking  Getting drunk not seen as comical.  Everyone knows ground rules.

Media images of alcohol  Ireland has highest heavy drinking rates in Europe.  Youth bombarded with alcohol ads.  Have begun to restrict advertising.  Change the culture.

Pharmacology  Absorbed rapidly form GI tract  Rapidly equilibrates in blood and all tissues. Mouth Esophagus Proximal Small Bowel Stomach Large Bowel >>> >>

Treatment for Alcoholism   Successful treatment/cessation  Family, friends, & peers MUST be supportive & involved  Support groups Alcoholics Anon  Pharmacologic intervention – “antabuse”  Best if linked to the above