Alcohol and Binge Drinking

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the US.

Teen alcohol use kills about 6000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about 1/3 of those are alcohol related.

Youth who drink are 7.5 times more likely to use other illegal drugs and 50 times more likely to use cocaine than young people who never drink.

One in five teens binge drink. Only 1 in 100 parents believes his or her teen binge drinks.

College students spend more on alcohol than on textbooks.

Of the 3.9 million Americans who received treatment for a substance abuse problem in 2005, 2.5 million of them were treated for alcohol use.

Approximately 300,000 adults drink and drive each day.

There are 1.4 million drunk driving arrests in the US every year.

An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before his or her first arrest.

On average, one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime.

Almost every 90 seconds, a person in injured in a drunk driving crash.

Someone dies in a drunk driving crash every 53 minutes.

In 2010, 211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. 131 were riding with the drunk driver.

Do we have a drinking problem???

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down vital functions

A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 72-proof distilled spirits

The amount of alcohol consumed determines the type of effect Most people drink for the stimulant effect, such

as a beer or glass of wine to “loosen up” If a person consumes more than the body can

handle, they experience alcohol’s depressant effect

Alcohol Facts

The average person metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about one drink per hour

Only time will sober a person up Drinking strong coffee, exercising, or

taking a cold shower will not help The speed of absorption affects the rate

at which one becomes drunk If a person drinks faster than the alcohol

can be eliminated, the drug accumulates in the body, resulting in higher levels of alcohol in the blood

Short-term effects

Slurred speech Drowsiness Vomiting Diarrhea Upset stomach Headaches Breathing

difficulties Distorted

vision/hearing

Impaired judgment

Decreased perception and coordination

Unconsciousness Anemia (loss of

red blood cells) Coma Blackouts

Long-term effects

Unintentional injuries—car crashes, falls, burns, drownings

Intentional injuries—firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence

Increased family problems, broken relationships

Alcohol poisoning High blood pressure, stroke

Long-term effects

Liver disease Nerve damage Sexual problems Permanent brain damage Ulcers Gastritis (inflammation of the

stomach walls) Malnutrition Cancer of the mouth and throat

Why do we make young people wait until 21 to drink alcohol?

Research shows that young people react differently to alcohol

Teens get drunk twice as fast as adults, but have more trouble knowing when to stop

Teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults

Enforcing the legal drinking age of 21 reduces traffic crashes, protects young people’s maturing brains, and keeps young people safer overall ***

Can’t parents teach their teens how to drink alcohol responsibly?

Some states do permit parents to do this with their own children

No evidence that this actually works When teens feel they have their

parents’ approval to drink, they do it more and more often when they are not with their parents

When parents have concrete, enforced rules about alcohol, young people binge drink less

Would lowering the legal drinking age make alcohol less of a big deal?

History says no When states had lower legal drinking ages

in the US, the underage drinking problem was worse

Before the 21 minimum drinking age was implemented by all states, underage drunk drivers were involved in over twice as many fatal traffic crashes as today

16% decline in motor vehicle crashes among underage youth in states that increased the legal drinking age to 21 years

Do Europeans have fewer underage drinking problems?

European countries have worse problems than America does, as far as binge drinking and drinking to intoxication

Studies show that Europe has more underage drunkenness, injury, rape, and school problems due to alcohol

Since alcohol is more available there, it actually increases the proportion of kids who drink in Europe

The younger you are when you start drinking, the more likely you are to have a problem with alcohol

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)/Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)

Chart A 150 pound male who consumes five drinks

over the course of two hours will have a BAC near 0.1

A 115 pound female who consumes four drinks over the course of two hours will also have a BAC near 0.1

At a BAC of 0.1, you and your friends are most likely drunk. Your thinking will be slowed and your vision, hearing, reaction time, movement and judgment of speed and distance will be seriously impaired.

What does the law say?

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Title 18 It is illegal for anyone under 21 to

possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, consume or transport any alcohol, liquor, malt or brewed beverages. (Sections 5505, 6307, 6308, 6309, 6310, 6310.1, 6310.7, 7513)

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to lie about their age or to carry a false I.D. card to obtain alcohol, liquor, malt or brewed beverages. (Sections 6310.2, 6310.3)

Any teen who drives should be aware that…

Anyone under 21 found driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.01% or higher will automatically lose their driving privilege for one year

Minors found driving with alcohol in their systems who don’t yet have a driver’s license will be disqualified from applying for a license for one year

Anyone under 21 who is arrested for any alcohol or drug offense will have his/her license suspended for at least one year

Any teen who drives should be aware that…

It is a crime for anyone under age 18 with a blood alcohol level of 0.05% or higher to operate a motor vehicle

Anyone convicted of this crime will be sentenced and fined as an adult but will spend his/her sentence in a juvenile correctional facility/detention center

Also mandatory alcohol-education program Court may order that all fines and fees be

paid by the parent(s) of the minor

Occupations that may deny employment based on alcohol offenses

Accountant Architect Chiropractor CIA Agent Dentist Engineer Funeral Director Insurance Adjuster Lawyer/ Attorney Medical Doctor

Nurse Occupational

Therapy Pharmacist Physical Therapy Police Officer Psychologist Real Estate Broker Social Worker Teacher Veterinarian

How do I know if my friend has a drinking problem?

Look for these signs in a friend, OR YOURSELF! Getting drunk on a regular basis Lying about how much alcohol they are

consuming Having frequent hangovers Feeling run-down, depressed or suicidal Having blackouts or memory lapses

Respect Yourself

Respect your decision and others will respect you for it

Real friends won’t push you to do things you don’t want to do

Hanging out with people with the same values will help make it easier to have fun without alcohol!

Values locked in at age 20

Definitions

Drug—any substance other than food that, when put into the body, changes the way the body works or the way a person thinks or feels

Abuse—the illegal, improper, or harmful use of something

Dependence—having a physical or mental “need” to use a drug or other substance regularly, despite the fact that it is likely to have a damaging effect

Addiction—a state of physical and/or mental dependence on a drug to such an extent that stopping causes severe trauma