Chapter 21 Alcohol

Lesson 1 – Alcohol Use: A High Risk Behavior What Is Alcohol Ethanol – type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages A very powerful drug Produced by the chemical action of yeast on sugars (fermentation) Types – beer, wine, spirits Depressant – causes the central nervous system to slow down

Effects of Alcohol Intoxication – physical and mental impairment Impairs the ability to walk, drive, or operate machinery Robs the body of key nutrients and can lead to malnutrition over a long period of time Can cause unconsciousness

Alcohol and Teens Half of teens who die each year die as a direct result of alcohol or other drug use 80% of teens nationwide have had at least one alcoholic drink in their lifetime Alcohol is a factor in many unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, dating violence, rapes, suicides, and homicides Nearly 5 million problem drinkers in this country are between the ages of

Why Young People Drink To escape pressures and problems To feel better or get over being sad and lonely To deal with stress To feel more confident in social situations For excitement Because friends are doing it To deal with boredom To fit in To get away with something they are not supposed to do

Factors Affecting Teen Use Friends – usually unconscious, influence in order to be accepted Family – teens mimic behavior they see in their parents or close family members Advertising- by the 9 th grade, most will seen more ads for beer and wine than any other product

Advertising Shows young, healthy, attractive looking people Creates a party like atmosphere with upbeat music Often takes place in the beauty of the outdoors Presents an image of problem free drinking Presents nothing about the risks of drinking

Advertising Sends a hidden message that alcohol is an aid to successful, romantic, problem free relationships and recreational opportunities Many sporting events are sponsored by liquor or beer companies Many consumers provide free advertising by wearing hats or shirts with beer and liquor company logos

Reasons Not To Drink A hangover may diminish driving ability by as much as 20 % Death rate for alcoholics is 2.5 times higher than non alcoholics It increases one’s likelihood of taking dangerous risks

Lesson 2 – What Alcohol Does To The Body Brain depresses activity of the brain which slows the work of the central nervous system Decision making is badly affected

What Alcohol Does To The Body Liver – is responsible for oxidation (changes alcohol to water, carbon dioxide, and energy) Can only oxidize only about 1/3 to ½ of an ounce of alcohol per hour Until all alcohol is oxidized, it circulates through all the body parts Nothing can be done to speed up the process

What Alcohol Does To The Body Blood vessels Causes the blood vessels to dilate or widen There is an increased blood flow to the skin which causes the body to lose heat There is an increased risk of hypothermia in cold weather

What Alcohol Does To The Body Heart Alcohol causes an increased heart rate and an increase in blood pressure which can lead to arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) Scar tissue builds around the heart increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke

What Alcohol Does To The Body Kidneys Alcohol effects the pituitary gland which causes the kidneys to produce more urine Causes a person to feel dehydrated the day after heavy drinking

What Alcohol Does To The Body Stomach Increases the flow of gastric juices from the stomach lining which can lead to internal bleeding

Driving Under The Influence Signs of intoxication begin to appear at a BAC level as low as.02 BAC is effected by gender, weight, metabolism, the amount of alcohol consumed, how much a person ate before drinking, and the time elapsed between drinks

Driving Under The Influence Alcohol Reduces The ability to judge, distances, speeds, and turns The ability to judge one’s own capabilities The ability to concentrate Alcohol increases risk taking and adds to forgetfulness to take precautions Alcohol slows reflexes

Consequences of DUI Death – 11 teenagers a day Loss of license Arrest Possible jail sentence High cost for bail, insurance, lawsuits, and court fees

Reducing DUI Lowering BAC limit to.08 No open containers Mandatory test to determine BAC Jail MADD and SADD Stricter laws Designated drivers

Long Term Effects of Drinking Stomach and skin problems Brain damage Decrease in size Destruction of brain cells (moderate Drinking) Chronic liver problems Fatty liver - interferes with cell growth Cirrhosis – scarred liver that reduces functional ability Hepatitis – inflammation or infection of the liver

Long Term Effects of Drinking Dependence Regular use can create a tolerance making it necessary to drink more Body needs more alcohol to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms (jumpiness, sleeplessness, sweating, convulsions, hallucinations) Multiplier effect – results from combining alcohol with other drugs Make effects more intense and can cause death

Alcohol and Pregnancy Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Low birth weight Impaired speech General weakness Facial abnormalities-shape of eyes, cleft palate, placement of ears Mental retardation Hyperactivity Leading cause of mental retardation in the United States

Lesson 3 – Alcohol and Society Patterns of Abuse Binge drinking – periodic excessive drinking (high school and college students). These people think they don’t have a problem because they don’t drink every day. The danger of alcohol poisoning is associated with binge drinking Alcoholism – physical and psychological dependence on ethanol It is difficult to recognize an alcoholic

Traits of the Alcoholic Preoccupied with alcohol Cannot regulate how much they will drink Cannot manage tension without drinking Memory lapses or personality changes due to drinking

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1 Social drinking Dependency develops Memory loss and blackouts Makes excuses for behavior Stage 2 Physically dependent Drinks alone and every day Defensive behavior Poor performance

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 3 Drinking is more important than anything Hallucinations Isolation and aggressiveness Malnutrition Reverse tolerance Delirium tremens result when drinking stops (hot/cold flashes, nightmares, tremors, fear of people and animals)

Costs To The Family Major factor in the four leading causes of accidental death : car crashes, falls, drowning, and burns Alcohol is a factor in 25 to 30 % of all suicides Alcohol plays a major role in domestic violence Creates codependency Up to 5 million young people in this country are considered to be alcoholics

Costs To Society Alcohol Is a major factor in death among 16 – 24 year olds (car accidents, suicide, and homicide) Contributes to 6 million nonfatal and 15,000 fatal injuries per year Is linked to 40% of industrial fatalities Costs employers 30 billion dollars per year in lost revenue

Choosing To Be Alcohol Free Say No Many teens are realizing they don’t need it to cope or be popular Have a plan and rehearse saying no Alcohol and Sexual activity Interferes with decision making Results – unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, STD’s, date rape Abstinence is the best way to prevent problems