1. ALCOHOL AND ADDICTION

2. What is Alcohol?
Ethyl Alcohol is the only alcohol the human body can detoxify (destroy toxic properties).
It is a colorless, odorless toxic liquid found in beer, wine, wine coolers, and distilled spirits.

3. How Alcohol Enters the Body
20% of the alcohol is absorbed through the stomach
80% is absorbed through the small intestine
It then is carried by the blood and exerts its effects on the body
Mouth
Stomach: 20%
Small Intestine: 80%
Heart: Pumps throughout body
Brain
Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour.

4. *How fast alcohol is absorbed depends upon several things:
Alcohol Absorption
*How fast alcohol is absorbed depends upon several things:
The concentration of the alcohol
The type of drink (carbonated beverages)
Whether the stomach is full or empty
40% Alcohol= 80 Proof
80 Proof = 40 % Alcohol

5. Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use
Alcohol progressively affects the brain causing:
Loss of judgment
Loss of inhibitions
Drug-affected emotional behavior
Nausea
Coma
Death

6. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Blood Alcohol Content: percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood by volume.
For example: if a person’s BAC is 0.10%, one tenth of a person’s blood is alcohol.
The legal limit for 21+ in Massachusetts is 0.08%.

8. A PERSON CAN DRINK ENOUGH ALCOHOL
AT ONE TIME TO CAUSE AN ALCOHOL OVERDOSE AND DEATH

9. Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
Tolerance: you need more to produce the same effect
Dependence: your body needs alcohol to function
Body develops a chemical need for alcohol
Liver Damage, Nerve Damage, Brain Damage

11. Causes and Effects of Cirrhosis of the Liver

12. Alcoholism
IT IS A DISEASE WHY? Some people are born with a certain gene that makes them addictive to alcohol.

13. IS THE INABILITY TO STOP DRINKING
ALCOHOLISM
IS THE INABILITY TO STOP DRINKING
The alcoholic does not plan to get drunk.
It is progressive
It is fatal
The only cure available to people is to stop drinking

14. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL

15. BEGINNING BLACKOUTS (YOU DO NOT REMEMBER)
BEHAVIOR IS GETTING YOU IN TROUBLE
(SCHOOL, HOME, WORK)
SNEAKING DRINKS

16. MIDDLE PHASE LOSS OF CONTROL ONE DRINK WILL NOT HURT ME
CHANGE OF FRIENDS
BEING DISHONEST

17. FINAL PHASE
BENDERS
ANGERS
TREMORS
HIDING DRINKS

18. Alcoholism A Family Disease
The use of alcohol by someone in the family affects everyone in the family
Each member of the family may be affected differently
The term COA means Children of Alcoholics
Family members that have someone in their family that is an alcoholic are 6 times more likely to become an alcoholic

19. ALCOHOLISM IS PROGRESSIVE
PHASES OF ALCOHOLISM
ALCOHOLISM IS PROGRESSIVE
Acquisition
Maintenance
Addiction

20. ACQUISITION
PRIMING
INITIATION
EXPERIMENTATION
(BEGINNING)

21. MAINTENANCE
BECOMES A HABIT
DEPENDANCE
OBSESSIVE

22. ADDICTION
GENETIC
PSYCHOLOGICAL
SOCIOLOGICAL

23. Children Of Alcoholics
There are over 28 million
1/3 of all families have an alcoholic member
1 in 4 children in school have an alcoholic relative
25-35% of children of alcoholics become alcoholics
Children of alcoholics are at high risk of marrying an alcoholic
90% of child abuse cases, alcoholism is a significant factor
Children of alcoholics are prone to learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression

24. How to get help AA is for the alcoholic
Al-ANON is for the spouse of an alcoholic
ALATEEN is for young people whose lives have been affected by someone’s drinking

25. The Elephant in the Living Room

26. Visible Qualities
Inner Feelings
Represents to Family
Characteristics
Possible Future
Without help
Possible
Future
With help
Family Hero
Visible success
Does what’s right
Inadequate
Self-worth
Family can be proud
High achiever
Grades
Friends
Sports
Workaholic
Responsible for everything
Marry dependent
Accept Failure
Responsible for not all
Good executive
Scapegoat
Hostility
Defiance
Anger
Hurt
Guilt
Takes focus off the alcoholic
Negative attention
Won’t compete with family hero
Unplanned pregnancy
Trouble maker in school
Prison
Accepts responsibility
Good counselor
Courage
Ability to see reality
Lost Child
Withdrawn
Loner
Loneliness
Unimportant
Relief
One child in the family
Doesn’t have to worry about
Invisible
Quiet
No friends
Follower
Little zest for life
Sexual identity problems
Promiscuous or stays alone
Often dies at an early age
Independent
Talented
Creative
Imaginative
Mascot
Fragile
Immature
Needs protection
Fear
Fun
Comic Relief
Hyperactive
Learning disabilities
Short attention span
Ulcers
Doesn’t handle stress
Compulsive
Clown
Marry hero for care
Takes care of self
No longer clown
Fun to be with
Good sense of humor

27. REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT ALONE! YOU DID NOT CAUSE THE DRINKING
YOU CANNOT CURE THE DRINKING
PEOPLE CAN RECOVER
YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF