1. Alcohol
What is it?
Alcohol often means ethanol, also called grain alcohol; and sometimes any alcoholic (alcohol-containing) drink. Alcohol is categorized as a depressant.
Depressant- lowering or tending to lower functional or vital activity
Ethanol- a flammable, colorless, mildly toxic chemical compound with a distinctive perfume-like odor. Also is found in alcoholic drinks.

2. One Standard Drink
These three drinks all have the same amount of alcohol!!!

3. Path of Alcohol The Path of Alcohol in the body
Mouth: alcohol enters the body.
Esophagus: Alcohol travels to the stomach
Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream in the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine.
Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.
Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.
Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.
Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour.
Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide and energy.

4. Effects of Alcohol Low doses A relaxing effect Slower reflexes
Reduces concentration
Low Coordination
Medium doses
Slurred speech
Drowsiness
Alters Emotions
High doses
Vomiting
Breathing Difficulties
Unconsciousness
Coma

5. Alcoholism
Chronic drinking can lead to dependence and addiction to alcohol and to additional neurological problems.
Alcoholism: a chronic disorder characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages, the development of withdrawal symptoms on reducing or ceasing intake, morbidity that may include cirrhosis of the liver, and decreased ability to function socially and vocationally
Symptoms of a Person who needs alcohol
but cannot have it include:
- Shaking (tremors)
- Sleep Problems
- Nausea
- Hallucinations
- Seizures

6. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Babies are fed through the placenta while in the mother. If the mother drinks alcohol, the baby is fed alcohol through the placenta. This disrupts normal brain development.
Compared to normal babies, babies with FAS have:
- Smaller heads/ brains
- Forms of mental retardation
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactivity
- Abnormal Facial features

10. Did you know?
Americans drink the equivalent of 500 gallons of pure alcohol each year.
Alcohol consumption by college students is linked to at least 1,400 student deaths and 500,000 unintentional injuries each year.
The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed in 1919 and was made effective in This started the period known as prohibition. The 18th Amendment declared that alcohol could not be manufactured, sold, imported, exported or transported in the United States. In 1933, the 21st amendment was passed and repealed the prohibition to alcohol and made alcohol legal again.

11. Key Terms: Alcohol and other Drugs
Tolerance: Needing more and more of a substance to feel its effects
Reverse Tolerance: Needing less of a drug to feel “high”
Synergism: When two drugs are mixed, the effect is magnified. 1+1≠2
Withdrawal: Physical and psychological symptoms that occur when the drug is stopped.
Antagonism: when two drugs cancel each other out.