Alcohol Chapter 21 pp

The Health Risks of Alcohol Use Lesson 1 pp Alcohol is a drug that is addictive, physically damaging, and a gateway to other drugs!

What is Alcohol? »Ethanol: Type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Very powerful and addictive. »Using alcohol during teen years can affect and damage brain development »Produced synthetically and naturally by fermenting fruits, vegetables, and grains Fermentation: Chemical action of yeast on sugar. »Water, flavoring, and minerals are mixed with ethanol to produce beverages like beer, wine, and flavored malt-liquors (whiskey & vodka)

Short-term Effects »Depressant: Alcohol is a powerful depressant that slows the central nervous system. »Slows reaction time, impairs vision, diminishes judgment »Intoxication: State in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance; and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly damaged. »Stays in a person’s system until liver can metabolize it.(break it down). »Toxic levels vary from person to person

Factors that Influence Alcohol’s Effects »Body Size: A smaller person might feel the effects faster than a larger person does. »Gender: Moves faster into the bloodstream in females than males. »Food: Slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Alcohol’s Effects Cont’d… »Rate of Intake: If you drink alcohol faster than what your liver can metabolize, you’ll become intoxicated. »Amount: The more you drink, the higher the level of alcohol is in your bloodstream. »Medicine: Can interfere with the effects of medicines. Can heighten the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol and Drug Interactions »Can lead to illness or death. »Body may absorb the drug or alcohol more slowly, increasing the length of time that alcohol or the drug is in the body. »Enzymes in the body can change some medications into chemicals that can damage the liver or other organs.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol »Not only affects your life, but the lives of others around you. Damage brain cells and a reduction in overall size. Increase blood pressure. Increase fat cells in liver. Can lead to death. Destruction of pancreas.

Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning »Binge Drinking: Drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting. This is a serious problem. »Done by bet or dare/any other reason »Serious consequences: physical and mental abilities lost (no control) »Alcohol Poisoning: A severe and potentially fatal reaction to an alcohol overdose. »Depressant on body organs »Involuntary actions (breathing, gag reflex to prevent choking) may be impaired »Alcohol is a stomach irritant

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning »A person who drinks too much may pass out. »Its not ok to let someone who drank too much just “Sleep it Off” »Mental confusion »Coma »Vomit and Seizures »Slow respiration »Irregular heartbeat »Low body temp »Mental confusion »Coma »Vomit and Seizures »Slow respiration »Irregular heartbeat »Low body temp

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