1. Harmful Effects of Alcohol Use
Chapter 22

2. Objectives
List the factors that influence the onset of alcohol’s effects
Be able to define multiplier effect and binge drinking
Understand the dangers of alcohol poisoning
Understand the consequence of DUI

3. Drinking alcohol = a high-risk behavior
Short term effects of drinking
different for everyone
factors that influence onset of effects
body size & gender
food
amount & rate of intake

4. Alcohol & Drug Interactions
Mixing drugs & alcohol can cause death
Multiplier effect = medication has a greater or different effect than if taken alone
Metabolism = process by which the body breaks down substances
Typical interactions include:
alcohol may slow down the drug’s absorption
increase the number of metabolizing enzymes in the body
metabolizing enzymes can change some medications into damaging chemicals
alcohol can increase the effects of some drugs

5. Driving under the influence - DUI
Impaired vision, reaction time, & coordination
Leading cause of death among teens = car accidents
60% of teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol related
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) = amount of alcohol in a person’s blood
Drinking of any sort:
Slows reflexes
Reduces ability to judge distances & speeds
Increases risk-taking behaviors
Reduces a person’s concentration while increasing forgetfulness

6. Consequences of DWI (just list 3-4)
Harm to self or others
Restricted driving privileges
Injuries, damage, death
Regret, remorse
Loss of trust & respect
Arrest, jail time, court appearance, heavy fine or bail
Police record, lawsuits
Higher insurance rates

7. Binge drinking Drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting
Serious problem among teens
1 in 5 teens binge drink
Can cause alcohol poisoning

8. Alcohol poisoning
Severe & potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcoholic overdose
Alcohol = depressant
shuts down central nervous system
Can be deadly
Effects of alcohol poisoning
Mental confusion, stupor, coma, vomiting, seizures
Slow respiration
Irregular heartbeat
Hypothermia
Severe dehydration

9. Alcohol poisoning
CALL 911!!!!!

10. Fact: In 2010, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. That makes one every 51 minutes
Fact: Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually
Fact: Of the 1,314 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2009, 181 (14 percent) involved an alcohol-impaired drive
Fact: An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest
Fact: In 2009, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That's less than one percent of the 147 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.
Fact: percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.
One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

11. Texting is just as dangerous!