1. Alcohol

2. Learning objectives
Alcohol is a depressant that affects many areas in the brain, generally by suppressing neuron activity.
Effects on heart: weakness of heart, arrhythmia, stroke, hypertension
Effects on liver: toxic by-products of breaking down alcohol damages liver
Effects on pancreas: damage and risk of pancreatic cancer
Several other cancers (esp of upper digestive tract) associated with alcohol.
Immune system compromised
Genetics of alhololism:
Acetaldehyde is toxic, and if a person’s genetic makeup produces a slow-acting acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, the toxin will build up, and will reduce the incentive to drink alcohol
Alcohol affects people largely based on their body size.
Blood alcohol content decreases over time as liver breaks it down

3. Prevalence % of people reporting that they drink Ever: 87%
In past year: 71%
In past month: 56%
% of people 18 and older that, in the past month
binge drinking: 25%
heavy drinking: 7%

4. Alcohol use disorders (AUD)
16.6 million adults (7% of people in this age group)
10.8 million men5.8 million women
1.3 million people received treatment
700,000 youth (age 12-17)70,000 received treatment
88,000 deaths10,000 traffic deaths due to alcohol
700,000 students (18-24) assaulted by someone who has been drinking
97,000 students (18-24) report alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape
1 in 4 college students report academic consequences from drinking.

5. Alcohol is a Stimulant and Depressant
Stimulant – Activates norepinephrine
Fight or flight response
Depressant – Activates GABA
Depresses activity of neurons in many regions of brain

6. Regions affected by alcohol

7. Why do people drink?
Why do people develop drinking problems?

12. Genetics of alcoholism
Alcohol  Acetaldehyde  Acetic acid