Ch 15 - Alcohol

Section 15.1 - Alcohol is a Drug

I. Facts About Alcohol: Alcohol is a drug. A drug is a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior.

• A. Alcohol is a DEPRESSANT, a drug that slows brain and body reactions. Alcohol can cause confusiuon, poor coordination, blurred vision, and drowsiness.

› Consuming large amounts of alcohol can seriously affect vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing. Death can result from this.

B. Alcohol Production occurs from a process called fermentation.

C. Alcohol Content Not all alcoholic beverages contain the

same amount of alcohol. It typically ranges from 4-50%.

Calculating Alcohol Content: Multiply the drink volume by percent of alcohol.› 12 oz beer x 4% alcohol 12 x

0.04= 0.48 0.50 oz alcohol› 1.25 oz shot x 40% alcohol1.25 x

0.40= 0.50 oz alcohol› 5 oz glass wine x 10% alcohol5 x

0.10= 0.50 oz alcohol

II. Teens and AlcoholA. Influence of Peers B. Influence of FamilyC. Influence of Media D. Risks of Underage Drinking – Teens who use

alcohol are more likely to be injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash, and are more likely to be a victim of sexual assault or violence.

E. Legal Risks – Underage drinkers also face legal risks, such as seizure of property, fines, loss of driver’s license, or jail time.

Section 15.2 - Alcohol’s Effects on the Body

I. Physical and Behavioral Effects: Alcohol is absorbed into the blood from the stomach where it then circulates throughout the body.

A. Effects on Body Systems - Intoxication is the state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance.

nervous system= brain slows down, coordination impaired, reflexes sluggish

cardiovascular system= heart rate and blood pressure increase, core body temperature decreases

digestive system= too much alcohol leads to vomiting

excretory system= increase in urine production, increasing the loss of body fluids

B. Effects on Behavior loss of judgment, self-control, a decrease in

natural fears blackouts: a period of time that a drinker cannot

recall

II. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

the amount of alcohol in the blood, expressed as a percentage. The higher a person’s BAC, the more severe the physical and behavioral effects of alcohol. BAC is a better measure of intoxication than the number of drinks consumed.

Estim

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A. Factors Affecting BAC Rate of

Consumption- The liver can metabolizes ½ - 1 oz alcohol per hour

Gender Body Size Amount of Food in

the Stomach

BAC continued….

B. After Drinking Ends - (and all the alcohol is absorbed) BAC begins to decrease. Nothing speeds up the liver’s ability to break down alcohol.

C. Hangovers – the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol include nausea, upset stomach, headache, and a sensitivity to noise

III. Life-Threatening EffectsA. Motor Vehicle Crashes

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): A driver will be charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) if their BAC is 0.08 or aboveoA suspended licenseoProsecution in courto$ fineso Jail time

• Zero Tolerance Laws - It is illegal for minors to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.

Life-Threatening Effects Continued…..

B. Overdose (Alcohol Poisoning) - Taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death. This can occur when someone is Binge drinking—drinking excessive amounts of alcohol at one time.

C. Interactions with Other Drugs - Mixing alcohol with other drugs can be extremely dangerous or fatal.

Section 15.3 - Long-Term Risks of Alcohol

I. Damage to the Body

A. Brain Damage destroy nerve cells in the brain. The

damage can affect memory, concentration, and judgment.

Damage to the Body Cont.

B. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - a group of birth defects,

including brain damage, caused by the effects of alcohol on a fetus.

C. Liver Damage cirrhosis a disease that may lead to

liver failure or death.

D. Heart Disease cause increased blood pressure and

irregular heartbeat.

E. Digestive Problems can lead to cancers, indigestion or

heartburn within the digestive system.

II. Alcoholism is a disease in which people can no longer control their use of alcohol

A. Changes to the Brain

Tolerance occurs with repeated use of alcohol and the effects of alcohol become reduced. The drinker will consume more to achieve the original effect, leading to dependence and later an addiction.

B. Who is at Risk?

Anyone who drinks…..but it is 4-5 X’s greater for those who are children of alcoholics.

C. The Stages of Alcoholism

Stage 1- Problem Drinking: social drinker who try to drink to relieve stress, escape from problems

Stage 2- Absolute Dependence: alcohol dominates the drinkers life and may lead to absences from work or school

Stage 3- Late Stage of Alcoholism: rapid loss of mental, emotional, and physical health with isolation from society. Here they may also experience Reverse tolerance, a condition where they need less and less alcohol to become intoxicated.

D. Effects on Others

Crimes + medical expenses + injuries + lost productivity on the job + treatment programs = $100-200 BILLION price for the U.S.

150,000 deaths/year involve alcohol 1/8 Americans grow up in an alcoholic

family Verbal and Physical Abuse in an

alcoholics family

III. Treating AlcoholismA. Acknowledging the ProblemB. Detoxification – removing all alcohol from a person’s body. The alcoholic will experience withdrawal for 3-7 days.C. Rehabilitation – learning to live without alcoholD. Support Groups

Section 15.4 - Choosing Not to Drink (pp. 392–394)I. Abstaining From Alcohol - Sticking to your decision not to drink means being able to say no with confidence in situations where other people are drinking.A. Prepare for PressureB. Stick to your DecisionII. Avoiding High-Pressure SituationsA. Alternatives to PartiesB. Refusing Rides from Drinkers - Call a parent, a trusted adult, or a taxi if you need a safe ride home