1. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
Objectives:
Summarize the effects of intoxication on the body systems.
List 4 factors that affect blood alcohol concentration.
Identify 3 ways that intoxication may lead to death.
Key Words:
Intoxication
Blackout
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
Hangover
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
Overdose
Binge Drinking
Warm-Up:
How is reaction time affected by alcohol? Explain how a longer reaction time affects a person’s safety on the road.

2. Physical & Behavioral Effects: Effects on Body Systems
Cardiovascular System:
Heart rate & blood pressure increase
More blood flows to skin surface
Core body temperature decreases
Excretory System:
Kidneys increase urine production
Drinker loses more water from body than usual
Nervous System
Brain activity slows down
Coordination becomes impaired
Sensations & perception become less clear
Reflexes become sluggish
Digestive System
Too much alcohol in the stomach may cause vomiting
Intoxication is the state in which a person’s mental & physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance. Many negative effects on a drinker’s body accompany intoxication by alcohol. These are just some of the short-term effects. Which effects would reduce a person’s ability to drive safely?

3. Physical & Behavioral Effects: Effects on Behavior
With intoxication:
Drinkers lose judgment & self-control
Natural fears are decreased
Express anger in violent or destructive ways
Shy people may behave in outgoing ways, acting foolishly
Blackout: period of time a person cannot recall
No memory of events while intoxicated
May harm others or be harmed & not know it
Can happen to 1st time & experienced drinkers

4. Blood Alcohol Concentration
Amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage.
The higher a person’s BAC, the more severe the physical & behavioral effects
Alcohol is absorbed, not digested
Stomach absorbs 20%
Small intestine absorbs 80%
Factors affecting BAC
Rate of Consumption :Liver oxidizes approx. 1 drink per hour
Gender: Males have lower BAC than females
Body Size:
Smaller people have higher BAC than larger
Higher % fat = more drunk
Amount of Food in Stomach: empty stomach increases rate of absorption
Distribution is the process by which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream & travels to all body parts.
Oxidation is the process by which the livers burns up alcohol consumed. The liver changes alcohol to water, energy, and carbon dioxide.
The main factors that affect BAC are amount of drinking, rate of consumptions, body size, & % body fat.
Gender, emotions, amount of food in stomach, the presence of other drugs, age, & carbonated beverages can also affect the BAC.

5. When Blood Alcohol Concentration Is…
: Reflexes & alertness decline
: Judgment & self control are impaired; Reaction time slows
: Muscle coordination & balance decreases; 0.08=legally drunk
: Vomiting occurs; emotions become exaggerated, unstable or violent; possible blackout; memory loss
0.20: Confusion, dizziness, disorientation; vision & speech impaired; blackouts typical
*0.30: Unable to stand/walk; loss of consciousness may occur; drunken stupor
*0.40: loss of consciousness usually occurs; death may occur; level of surgical anesthesia; may stop breathing
*0.50+: Death usually occurs
* People have died at this level

6. Blood Alcohol Concentration
After Drinking Ends
“Sober Up:
BAC begins to decrease
Effects slowly diminish
Only Time will help to sober a person
Estimating BAC:
Hangovers: after-effects of drinking too much alcohol
Nausea
Headache
Sensitivity to Noise
After a person stops drinking, the body will continue to absorb alcohol for up to another minutes. Only after all the alcohol has been absorbed can the BAC begin to decrease.
Cold showers, exercise, fresh air, coffee or caffeine will not help a person sober up because it won’t help the liver oxidize the alcohol. These tricks may help a person to stay awake, but does not eliminate the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
The chart estimates what a person’s BAC could be after a certain number of drinks; but remember—there are many factors that can affect this number.
# Drinks (per hour)
Males
Females lb lb lb 1
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.05 3
0.10
0.08
0.07
0.13
0.11 5
0.18
0.15
0.12
0.21 7
0.24
0.20
0.17
0.30
0.25
0.22

7. Life-Threatening Effects
Motor Vehicle Crashes
Alcohol involved in 40% fatal MVA.
DWI:
Over the age of 21 & BAC > 0.08
Lose Driver’s License
Fines & Jail Time
Zero-Tolerance Laws:
Under 21: Any BAC above 0.00 is illegal
Interactions with other drugs-exponential effects
Overdose
Taking excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death
Alcohol Poisoning
BAC can continue to rise for minutes after last drink as it is absorbed
Binge Drinking: consumption of excessive amounts of 1 sitting
≥ 4 drinks: females
≥ 5 drinks: males
1 in 5 binge drinkers is an alcoholic
Intoxication increases the risk of death from motor vehicle accidents, alcohol overdose, and interactions of alcohol with other drugs.
Driving can be impaired by any amount of alcohol, even those under the legal limit.
Alcohol impairs the driving skills of underage drinkers because of their lack of experience.
BAC is measured using a breathalyzers by police officers, or by blood samples in a medical setting.
In North Carolina, teens caught drinking & driving could lose their license until they reach the age of 21.
Alcohol poisoning can cause the heart and breathing to stop. Many people think they will pass out before drinking a fatal amount, but your BAC continues to rise, even after you’ve stopped drinking. It’s unsafe to let somebody “sleep it off’ because they could stop breathing & you not know it.
Binge drinking is the most serious problems on campuses today.
Each year, 1400 college students die
500,000 injuries caused by intoxication
70,000 cases of reported sexual assault or date rape
400,000 students have unprotected sex
More than 100,000 students are too intoxicated to know if they consented to sexual intercourse or if they were raped.

8. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
What is intoxication?
Describe the effects of intoxication on four body systems.
List 4 factors that affect blood alcohol concentration.
What are 3 ways that intoxication can lead to death?
For drives over 21, how is DWI defined?
What is an overdose? How could binge drinking cause an alcohol overdose?