ALCOHOL

Why do people drink?

•

To Celebrate•

Traditions/Holidays

•

To cope with feelings •

To relax/unwind

•

Religion•

To be social

What is alcohol?

•

Alcohol-

the drug found in beer, wine, and liquor that causes intoxication

•

Intoxication-

the physical and mental changes produced by alcohol

•All of these beverages contain the same about the AMOUNT of alcohol

How does alcohol affect us differently?

Short term effects depend on several things:– How much did the person drink?– Did the person have food in

their stomach?– Was the person on medication?– Genetic factors– Man or woman?– Big or small?

Short Term Effects (PHYSICAL)

•

Irritation of digestive tract (mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach)

•

Heart works harder•

Loss of body heat

•

Overworks liver•

Dehydration

•

Raises BAC (blood alcohol concentration)

Short Term Effects (PSYCHOLOGICAL)

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Depresses central nervous system and brain

•

Lowers inhibitions (natural limits people put on behavior)

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Reduces judgment•

Reduces coordination

•

Lengthens reaction time

Blood Alcohol Concentration

0.02 0.05 0.08 0.10 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.4-0.5

•Slower 

reaction time

•Relaxation, 

warmth, well-

being

•Loss of inhibitions

•Decreased judgment

•Over 21 No longer able to drive (by LAW)

IMPAIRED: vision, judgment, reflexes, coordination

•Mood swings•Memory problems•Hard to walk/stand•Blurred vision•Impaired speech

•Blackouts

•Memory 

loss

•Stomach 

irritation

•Vomiting

•Loss of consciousness

•Numbness

•Slow breathing

COMA

D

E

A

T

H

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

•

Heart–

Irregular heart beat–

High blood pressure–

Enlarged heart

•

Brain–

Brain damage–

Shrunken/dead brain cells

•

Liver–

Hepatitis–

Liver cancer–

Cirrhosis-

healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue

More Long Term Effects

•

Digestive Tract

(mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach)

–

Ulcers

–

Stomach bleeding

–

Cancers

•

Immune System–

Ineffective against disease

•

Small intestine–

Decreases ability to 

absorb vitamins

Label each symptom “short term (st)”

or “long term (lt)”

1. Heart works harder

2. Weakened immune system

3. Stomach ulcers

4. Cirrhosis

5. Dehydration

6. Lowers inhibitions

7. Raises BAC

8. Brain damage

Alcoholism

•

What is alcohol abuse?–

Drinking too much alcohol, drinking it too 

often, or drinking it at inappropriate times.

•

What is alcoholism?–

A disease that causes 

a person to lose control of his/her drinking behavior-

Physically and emotionallyaddicted to alcohol.

Stages of Alcoholic Addiction

•

PROBLEM DRINKING–

Experimentation (to have fun)–

Social Drinking–

To avoid boredom, relieve stress/anxiety

•

TOLERANCE–

Takes more alcohol to feel same effect–

Secretive, paranoid, defensive

•

DEPENDENCE–

Needs alcohol to function properly (physical dependency)–

Withdrawals: anxiety, sweating, shaking, nausea

•

Alcoholism: addicted to alcohol

Questions to discuss: (With your cool partner)

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Why do some people become addicted and others don’t? What are the risk factors?

What do you think could be some warning signs of alcohol addiction?

Treatment of Alcoholism

• Treatment Programs– In and out patient care– AA– Alateen– Al-Anon