Coach Martin

What is Alcohol ? Alcohol is a drug that depresses the

brain and nervous system. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

• Fermentation is a process in which yeast, sugar, and water are combined to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.

• The type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages is Ethanol.

Types of Alcohol Beer– Beer is an alcoholic beverage that

is made by fermenting barley, corn, rye, hops.

– Most beers are about 4 percent alcohol. (check label)

• Wine– Wine is an alcoholic beverage

made by fermenting grapes or other fruits.

– Most wines are about 12 to 14 percent alcohol. (check label)

Types of Alcohol Cont.• Liquor• Liquor is an alcoholic beverage that is made by

distillation. • Most liquors are about 40 percent alcohol.

• Proof is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in a beverage and is 2x the percentage of alcohol in the Proof is a For example: Whiskey labeled 80 Proof has about 40% Alcohol.

– About 10 percent of the alcohol is absorbed in the mouth.

– About 20 percent of the alcohol that a person drinks is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach.

– A majority of the rest of the alcohol is absorbed through the walls of the intestine, where it moves quickly into the bloodstream, then to the brain.

• Alcohol enters the bloodstream within seconds of absorption and will reach the brain within one minute.

How Alcohol Enters the Body

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

BAC is the number of grams of alcohol per 100 mL of Blood and is expressed in a Percentage (%).

There are many factors that can affect a person’s BAC.

1. Amount of alcohol consumed– The number of drinks people have affects their

BAC (blood alcohol concentration) while the alcohol content of each drink determines the effects of the alcohol.

2. Speed at which alcohol is consumed– Drinking at a faster rate

increases BAC, is dangerous,

and can be fatal.

Factors that Affect your BAC

3. Body weight• People who weigh more will generally have

more water present in their bodies. This water has a dilution effect on alcohol that is consumed, resulting in lower blood alcohol content.

• If two people consume the same amount of alcohol, the person who weighs more will generally have a lower blood alcohol content if other factors are equal.

4. Percentage of Body Fat Body fat doesn’t absorb alcohol. Therefore a person

with higher body fat percentage will have a higher BAC than a person who has less body fat.

HIGHER Body Fat = HIGHER Blood Alcohol Content Body fat cannot absorb alcohol, it instead forces the

alcohol to remain in the bloodstream until the liver can break it down. The liver can only break down about one alcoholic drink per hour. The longer the alcohol remains in a person’s bloodstream, the longer they will feel drunk.

5. Gender

• Women typically has more body fat and less water than men. (What did you just learn about body fat vs. alcohol?)

• Because alcohol does not enter fat cells as easily as other types of body cells, alcohol tends to remain in the bloodstreams of women longer, which causes them to reach higher BAC than men with the same amount of alcohol consumed.

6. Feelings • Feelings, such as stress, anger, and fear, can affect

BAC by speeding up the time it takes alcohol to enter the bloodstream.

7. Amount of food eaten  Food in the stomach will slow the absorption of consumed alcohol into the bloodstream. This is because a valve at the bottom of the stomach closes after meals so that food can stay in the stomach and be digested. This keeps the consumed alcohol in the stomach, where it is absorbed less efficiently than in the small intestine.

8. Rate of Elimination 

Blood Alcohol Concentration Calculator

Check yourself…What is your BAC?

http://bloodalcoholcalculator.org/

BAC Transparency

Alcohol and the body Every major organ system of your

body is affected when you use alcohol.

Nervous System Alcohol is highly

neurotoxic, meaning it directly destroys nerve cells - both those in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal chord).

Unfortunately, nerve cells do not re-grow as well as ordinary tissue, so such damage can be irreparable.

Nervous System Drinking alcohol can cause a general

decline in all areas of mental functioning: Judgment—ability to estimate the

consequences of one’s choices Reaction Time—time it takes to respond

to stimulus Self-Control—ability to direct one’s own

actions-loosens inhibitions Consciousness-awareness—senses are

dulled; vision is also affected; vision is the FIRST sense to be affected by the intake of alcohol

Immune System

Depresses the function of the immune system which increases the risk of developing certain illnesses, such as respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and certain cancers.

Long-term drinking lowers the number of infection-fighting cells in the body.

Cardiovascular System

Alcohol raises the risk of › High blood pressure› blood lipids or cholesterol/fat in the

blood› stroke and heart disease in

heavy drinkers. 

Skeletal System

Causes the body to lose calcium. Frequent, long-term use is a risk factor

for developing osteoporosis. Increases the risk of arthritis.

Urinary System Increases urine flow Enlarges the kidneys Alters hormone functions Increases the risk of kidney failure

› An alcoholic with kidney failure will not be place on a transplant list until the alcoholic becomes sober for an extended period of time.

Digestive System

– Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver caused by chronic damage to liver cells.

– Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition in which the liver swells due to alcohol, resulting in serious illness or death.

– A liver transplant is the only effective treatment for people with advanced cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis of the LiverA healthy liver in adults weighs about 3 pounds (left). A liver damaged by alcoholism shows a buildup of fatty tissue (middle), and a liver with cirrhosis is enlarged and swollen (right).

Reproductive System

Significant effects on this system during puberty

Females: delays first menstrual cycle and can causes irregular periods

Males: affects size of testes and development of muscle mass

Why People Start Drinking Social Pressures:

- Peer Pressure (social environment where alcohol is being used)- Stress (escape pressures of life, deal with depression, boredom, anxiety, being uncomfortable)

Advertising:-Commercials show healthy, fun, sophisticated people drinking-Seen more and more in movies and TV shows. Looked at as normal daily behavior.

Way to Rebel:-Want to do it because they know it is wrong.

– A hazing activity is an activity in which a person is forced to participate in a dangerous or demeaning act to become a member of a club or group such as fraternities or sororities.

• Drinking can be considered a hazing activity. 

Drinking Games & Hazing

– Binge drinking is consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time.

– More high school and college students die from binge drinking that any other drug or activity.

 

Binge Drinking Experiment A British TV documentary on what happens to a woman

when she becomes a binge drinker for 30 days reveals rapid aging and weight gain. Taking its cues from Morgan Spurlock's film Super Size Me, the documentary follows 39-year-old Nicky Taylor as she descends into temporary alcoholism.

Alcohol Offenses/Charges by Minors

Any persons under 21 years of age who are convicted of the following offenses will receive a 30 day suspension for the first offense, 60 day for a second offense, and 180 day for a third offense. Minors are required to attend an Alcohol Awareness Course. Failure to complete the program will result in a 180-day driver license suspension.  › Purchase of alcohol› Attempt to purchase alcohol › Consumption of alcohol (Minor in Consumption)› Possession of alcohol (MIP or Minor in

Possession)› Misrepresentation of age› Public Intoxication (PI) – An Adult can also be

charged with this offense.

Legal Limit in Texas

In the State of Texas…› It is illegal for any driver to have a BAC

over 0.08› It is illegal for an individual under the age

of 21 to have a BAC of 0.01 or higher› It is illegal for the driver of a commercial

vehicle (school bus driver, truck driver) to have a BAC of 0.04 or higher

Alcohol Offenses while Driving Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) – A person

who is convicted of drunk driving who is 21 years of age or over.

› License suspended › Required to attend a Alcohol Education Program› May receive probation› Required to pay a fine of $10,000.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – A person who is convicted of drunk driving and is 20 years of age or younger.

› Police do not have to prove you are intoxicated to charge you with DUI if you are a minor. The presence of alcohol just has to be detected.

› Same punishments as a DWI.

Drunk Driving In 2010, 10,228 people were killed and

approximately 350,000 were injured. Each crash, each death, each injury

impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more.

Drunk Driving: Meet Jacqueline and Sean

Jacqueline’s Story:› http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OBBqe6Wo1c&safety_mo

de=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Sean’s Story:› http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kKjXkQzrV4

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

• Surgeon General Warning states…..

• Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the presence of severe birth defects in babies born to mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy.

• FAS is a leading cause of mental disability.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease in which there is a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.

• Alcohol dependence, another term for alcoholism, can destroy the life of an individual and the lives of those around him or her.

• Alcoholism is a disease, that usually begins as depression or a mental health disorder.

•

Stages of Alcoholism Stage One: Uses to relieve stress or to relax.

Uses alcohol to cope with the day-to-day pressures of life. Person may become drunk.

Stage Two: The body develops a need for more and more alcohol. The drinker spends a lot of time figuring out when they will have their next drink.

Stage Three: The FINAL stage. The drinking is out of control. Without alcohol, the drinker experiences mental and physical pain.

Withdrawal– Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the

reaction of the body to the sudden stop of alcohol consumption.

– Delirium tremens syndrome is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in which there are hallucinations and muscle convulsions.

– Many individuals experience severe headaches, body pain, irritability.

– Treatment usually involves short- or long-term stays at a recovery facility (rehab) and may involve recovery programs.

– Some recovery programs for people who have alcoholism and their families and friends include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Al-Anon, Alateen, and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA).

Treatment for Alcoholism