Chapter 10: Alcohol Use and Abuse Health Coach McElroy

What is Alcohol and Intoxication? The drug found in beer, wine, and liquor that causes intoxication. Intoxication is the physical and mental changes produced by drinking alcohol.

Why People Drink?  Adults  To celebrate  Its customs  To unwind  To be social  Likes the taste  For the effects  Teens  Peer pressure  To look grown up  To rebel against Authority  To be social  For the effects

Short Term Effects of Alcohol Nausea Vomiting Dehydration Reduced reaction time Poor vision Loss of judgment & self-control Memory Loss Blackouts Coma DEATH

Effects on the Body Alcohol irritates the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach. Alcohol makes the heart work harder. Alcohol makes the body lose heat. Alcohol causes the liver to work harder. Alcohol causes dehydration.

Effects on the Mind Alcohol slows down the nervous system. The drinker loses inhibitions. The drinker cannot focus his or her eyes. The drinker may have slurred speech. The drinker loses coordination and judgment.

Blood Alcohol Concentration BAC is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage. Effects at different BAC levels includes the following:

Effects at different BAC levels 0.02 – slowed reaction time; feeling of relaxation, warmth, and well- being 0.05 – feeling of euphoria; loss of inhibitions; decreased judgment 0.10 – impaired vision, judgment, reflexes, and coordination; mood swings 0.15 – seriously affected coordination; blurred vision; severely impaired speech; difficulty walking and standing; memory problems; mood swings; violent behavior 0.20 – blackouts; memory loss; stomach irritation; vomiting 0.30 – coma 0.40 – 0.50 – death from alcohol poisoning

What is a drink? –D–Drink – way people measure alcohol in servings; a standard drink –A–A standard drink delivers ½ ounce of pure ethanol. –P–Proof is the measure of alcohol in a drink. Ex. 100 proof = 50 percent alcohol

A standard drink includes: ounce Beer 2. 4 – 5 ounces of Wine 3. 1 (10 ounce) Wine cooler ounces hard liquor (Ex. whiskey, gin, brandy, rum, vodka, and tequila

Terms used to describe drinkers Abstainer - doesn’t drink at all; abstains from alcohol use Moderate Drinker – doesn’t drink excessively (no more than 2 drinks per day) Social Drinker – drinks only on social occasions Problem Drinker – suffers social, emotional, family and job-related problems because of alcohol use Alcohol Addict Alcoholic) – full blown disease of alcoholism; problems are out of control

Binge Drinking The act of drinking four or more drinks in one sitting is called binge drinking. A person can drink a fatal amount of alcohol before the effects of severe intoxication set in.

The Hangover The hangover is a mild form of withdraw the morning after. Four (4) factors that lead to a hangover: –Toxic effects of the congeners in the alcohol (different in gin, vodka, rum and whiskey – that is why some people are more sensitive to some more than others) –The amount of alcohol consumed –Dehydration of the brain –The effects of formaldehyde (forms when the body begins to break down the alcohol)

The Body’s Defense Against the Toxins in Alcohol The body protects itself from the toxins of alcohol in the following ways: 1. Throat stings as straight alcohol goes down and triggers the choking (gag) reflex 2. Stomach rejects too large of a dose of alcohol by vomiting 3. Body breaks down all alcohol into the blood stream ASAP

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol –Prolonged use of alcohol can damage the heart, blood, liver, kidneys, pancreas, the digestive tract, and the immune system. –Cirrhosis is a disease caused by long-term alcohol use in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue.

Section 1 Alcohol Affects the Body Chapter 10

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism –A–Alcohol Abuse is drinking too much alcohol, drinking it too often, or drinking it at inappropriate times. –A–Alcoholism is a disease that causes a person to lose control of his or her drinking behavior. –A–Alcoholics are physically and emotionally addicted to alcohol, and suffer painful symptoms when they do not have alcohol.

Stages of Alcoholism Problem Drinking Tolerance Dependence Alcoholism

Alcoholism Develops in Stages Chapter 10 Section 2 Alcoholism Affects the Family and Society

Alcoholism Affects the family Families of alcoholics may suffer from the following: –Guilty feelings –Unpredictable behavior –Violence –Neglect and isolation –Protecting the alcoholic (ENABLING) –Ignoring one’s own needs (CODEPENDENCY) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a set of physical and mental defects that affect a fetus that has been exposed to alcohol because of the mother’s alcohol consumption while pregnant.

Drinking and Driving: A Deadly Combination –M–Motor Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. –M–Many of these accidents are alcohol – related. –A–Alcohol impairs driving through the following means: »S»Slows your reaction time »A»Affects your vision »M»Makes you drowsy »R»Reduces your coordination »A»Affects your judgment

–Alcohol use is illegal for people under 21. –Driving under the Influence (DUI) applies to anyone with a BAC above A breathalyzer measures the amount of alcohol on one’s breath. –The law has zero tolerance for anyone under 21 driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood.

Drinking and Driving: A Deadly Combination To avoid getting in dangerous situations with an intoxicated driver: Don’t drink Plan ahead: pick a designated driver Make arrangements with a parent for a ride Call a cab

Chapter 10 Section 2 Alcoholism Affects the Family and Society

Binge Drinking…It’s not worth it!