1. Chapter 6 Alcohol

2. History of Alcohol Use Colonial Times Pilgrims anchored at Plymouth because their supply of beer and spirits was becoming depleted Beer and wine was a part of daily living and considered a “good creature from God”

3. Alcohol was probably safer to drink than water because of poor sanitation Alcoholic beverages during colonial times were a source of nutrients

4. In 1640, the Dutch opened the first distillery on Staten Island The rum trade because New England’s largest and most profitable business. Yankee traders would ship “demon rum” to Africa’s west coast to be traded for slaves

5. Alcohol consumption peaked in the United States during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency Temperance Movement Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence was one of the first people to identify alcoholism as a disease

6. In the early 1800 a temperance movement was started to curb the use of alcohol In 1826 the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was started The temperance movement remained strong until the Civil War

7. After the Civil War the temperance movement became strong agan The Anti-Saloon League grew into a powerful political force with an emphasis on supporting candidates who supported controls on alcohol

8. Prohibition In the early 1900s efforts to impose a national ban on alcohol gained strength In 1917, the U.S. Senate adopted the 18 th Amendment (Volstead Act) and it went into law in 1920.

9. The Volstead Act prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol There were so many criminal problems associated with prohibition that the law was repealed in 1933.

10. Current Alcohol Use Most people who drink today are social drinkers and their drinking patterns do not lead to long-term health or social problems Alcohol consumption rates vary greatly by state (1.67 gallons per capita in West Virginia to 4 gallons per capita in New Hampshire)

11. Abstinence, overall is increasing for men and women The proportion of heavy drinkers in their 20s has increased slightly in recent years along with problems associated related to alcohol dependency

12. College students who are fraternity and sorority members have higher alcohol consumption rates than students who are not affiliated with fraternities and sororities Gay, lesbian and bisexual college students drink more alcohol than heterosexual students

13. Full-time college students aged 18-21 have higher rates of binge drinking than nonstudents Alcohol-related problems are greater where there is more access to places to drink or buy alcohol

14. Per capita alcohol consumption is highest in the Northeast and lowest in the West The rate of binge drinking increases steadily from ages 12 to 21 then steadily decreases

15. Binge Drinking Binge drinking typically starts around age 13 and increases during adolescence. Students who feel that parties were “very” or “somewhat” important were far more likely to binge drink

16. Alcoholic Beverages Beverage alcohol is ethyl alcohol. Alcohol is produced through a process called fermentation (fermentation yields beverages that are about 14% alcohol)

17. Distillation involves boiling alcohol, collecting the vapor and the result is an increased level of alcohol – up to almost 100%

18. Proof is a term used to describe the percentage of alcohol in a beverage ½ the proof number = the percentage of alcohol in the beverage

19. Pharmacology of Alcohol Alcohol in the body will be transformed by the liver into acetaldehyde then further broken down into acetate then water and carbon dioxide The concentration of alcohol in the blood is referred to as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or blood alcohol level (BAL)

20. Blood Alcohol Concentrations and Effects 0.05% Less alert; less inhibited; slightly impaired judgment 0.10% Slower reaction time; impaired muscle control; reduced visual and auditory acuity 0.20% Markedly affected psychomotor ability; difficulty staying awake

21. 0.40% State of unconsciousness or coma;half will fatally overdose without medical intervention 0.50% Deep coma or complete unconsciousness if not already dead

22. Alcohol and the Liver The liver is the main site of metabolism of alcohol – alcohol is oxidized by the liver Overuse of alcohol is related to fatty liver, alcohol hepatitis, and cirrhosis

23. Alcohol and the Gastrointestinal Tract In moderate amounts, alcohol aids digestion by increasing gastric juice in the stomach Alcohol can irritate the stomach leading to internal bleeding Heavy alcohol use is implicated in acute pancreatitis

24. Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System Heavy alcohol use affects the cardiovascular system adversely. High blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias,strokes, and alcoholic heart muscle disease (AHMD) are related to heavy alcohol intake over time

25. Alcohol and the Immune System Many studies show that moderate alcohol use reduces immunity. Heavy drinkers are more prone to infections such as pneumonia

26. Alcohol and Cancer Considerable research links alcohol abuse and certain forms of cancer, especially cancers of the nasopharynx, esophagus, throat and the liver

27. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome The leading cause of mental retardation is fetal alcohol sysndrome (FAS) Alcohol traverses the placenta and interferes with fetal development

28. Alcohol-Related Issues Underage Drinking Nearly 20% of persons aged 12-20 engage in binge drinking and 3 billion are alcohol dependent Alcoholism Difficult term to define so it is discussed in terms of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence

29. Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence Alcohol abuse refers to continued drinking despite recurring social, interpersonal, and legal problems Alcohol dependence is predicated on the presence or absence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

30. Causes of Alcoholism Alcoholism is multicausal and strongly related to  Genetics  Psychosocial Factors  Culture

31. Alcohol and Society Alcohol use, misuse and abuse strongly related to: Automobile accidents Accidents Suicide Family Violence Children of Alcholics

32. Summary  Alcohol has a very interesting history and is tied into both social forces and economics  Most people today are social drinkers  Per capita alcohol consumption is highest in the Northeast and lowest in the West

33.  Binge drinking typically starts around age 13 and increases during adolescence  The effects of alcohol are related to the concentration of alcohol in the blood  Alcohol affects all body system

34.  Alcohol abuse and Alcohol dependence help to distinguish between psychosocial and physical aspects of problem drinking  Alcoholism is multicausal