Alcohol In this chapter, you will Learn About… The harmful effects of alcohol. Three stages of alcoholism and the steps to recovery. The factors that underlie teen alcohol use. Ways to say no to alcohol use and healthy alternatives to drinking. Introduce the chapter objectives to students. Each objective represents a lesson within the chapter. Clicking the Health Online icon on the left bar takes you to the URL of Glencoe’s health Web page. The Web page features a Health Inventory to help students know how to help someone who has a problem with alcohol. Clicking the Foldables icon on the left bar leads to an activity. In this activity, students will create a Foldable to organize the information in Lesson 1 on alcohol and its effects on the body.

What Alcohol Does to the Body In this lesson, you will Learn About… The effects of alcohol on the body. Why alcohol affects each individual differently. The effects of alcohol on a fetus. The problems alcohol causes in teens.

What Alcohol Does to the Body The Vocabulary terms in this lesson are: Alcohol. Cirrhosis. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Intoxicated. Binge drinking. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Click each term to display its definition.

Alcohol and the Body Alcohol is a depressant that has powerful effects on the body. Alcohol, like other depressant drugs, slows down the functions of the brain and other parts of the nervous system. The law prohibits alcohol use by minors. To make responsible decisions about alcohol use, people need to understand how alcohol affects the body. Alcohol is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Adults can choose whether or not to drink alcohol. Alcohol affects the digestive and urinary systems. Excessive use of alcohol over a long period can damage almost every organ in the body.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body Mouth and Esophagus Tongue, gums, and throat are affected; breath smells of alcohol. Heart and Blood Vessels Perspiration increases and skin becomes flushed. Brain and Nervous System Speech is slurred and vision is blurred. Drinker has difficulty walking. Liver Liver changes alcohol into water and carbon dioxide. Stomach and Pancreas Stomach acids increase, which often results in nausea and vomiting. Short-term effects occur within minutes of drinking alcohol.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body Mouth and Esophagus Damage occurs to tissues of the esophagus, resulting in possible bleeding. Heart and Blood Vessels High blood pressure and damage to the heart muscle is common. Blood vessels harden and become less flexible. Brain and Nervous System Brain cells are destroyed. Damage occurs to nerves throughout the body, resulting in numbness in the hands and feet. Liver Liver is damaged, possibly resulting in cirrhosis. Stomach and Pancreas Irritation occurs in the stomach lining, causing ulcers. Long-term effects develop over time.

Alcohol and the Individual The effect that alcohol has on a person is influenced by a number of factors, including: Body size Gender Time frame Amount Food Medicine The effect that alcohol has on a person is influenced by a number of factors, including: Body size. The same amount of alcohol has a greater effect on a small person than it does on a larger person. Gender. In general, alcohol moves into the bloodstream faster in females. Time frame. A person who drinks a lot in a short period of time is more likely to become intoxicated. Rapid drinking overwhelms the liver’s ability to break down the alcohol. Amount. Drinking a large quantity of alcohol causes alcohol levels in the bloodstream to rise. If the levels become too high, alcohol poisoning can occur. The next slide shows the alcohol content of some common alcoholic beverages. Food. Food in the stomach slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream. Medicine. Alcohol can interfere with the effects of medicines, and medicines can intensify the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol Content of Different Drinks Each of the drinks below contains the same amount of alcohol—about 0.5 oz. of pure alcohol. Beer and wine contain a lower percentage of alcohol by volume than distilled liquors such as vodka or whiskey.

Blood Alcohol Concentration A person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) depends on the amount of alcohol consumed as well as body size and other factors. A person with a BAC of 0.1 percent—or in some states, 0.08 percent—is considered legally intoxicated. For anyone under 21, a BAC above 0 percent is illegal. Binge drinking can increase BAC sharply enough to stop breathing and cause death. The amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream is referred to as the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). BAC is expressed as a percentage of total blood volume. For example, if a person’s BAC is 0.1 percent, then 1/10 of 1 percent of the fluid volume of his or her blood is actually alcohol. Binge drinking—the consumption of several alcoholic drinks in a very short period of time—is especially dangerous. Because alcohol is a depressant, it slows body systems down. If the BAC of a binge drinker rises sharply enough, the person will stop breathing and will die.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome When a pregnant female drinks alcohol, it passes from her body into her developing baby’s bloodstream. A fetus exposed to alcohol in this way may be born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)—a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the United States. The good news is that it is entirely preventable. Since even small amounts of alcohol can harm a fetus, the only safe decision for a pregnant female is not to drink any alcohol at all.

Alcohol and Teens Teen alcohol use has many adverse consequences: Up to two-thirds of suicides on college campuses involve alcohol. Almost one-half of all traffic deaths of people under age 25 involve alcohol. Nearly a quarter of all violent crimes committed by teens involve alcohol. Between one-third and two-thirds of date rape cases among teens and college students involve alcohol. Alcohol can interfere with a teen’s growth process. Studies show that teens who abuse alcohol have poorer language skills than other teens. New research also suggests that exposure to alcohol during the teen years reduces levels of certain hormones essential to normal development. It may also delay the onset of the menstrual cycle and affect other aspects of sexual maturity.

Reviewing Terms and Facts ________ is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Alcohol Click to show the correct answer.

Reviewing Terms and Facts What is BAC short for? What does it measure? BAC is short for blood alcohol concentration. It measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. Click to show the correct answer.

Thinking Critically Why are pregnant females generally advised to avoid all alcohol during their pregnancies? Responses will vary. The responses should include some of the following facts: When a pregnant female drinks alcohol, it passes from her body into her developing baby’s bloodstream. A fetus exposed to alcohol in this way may be born with fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems.

Vocabulary Review Alcohol is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Vocabulary Review Cirrhosis is scarring and destruction of the liver. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Vocabulary Review Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Vocabulary Review Intoxicated is physically and mentally impaired by the use of alcohol. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Vocabulary Review Binge drinking is the consumption of several alcoholic drinks in a very short period of time. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Vocabulary Review Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems. Click the slide to go back to the Vocabulary Review home page.

Fold the sheet of paper into thirds along the short axis Fold the sheet of paper into thirds along the short axis. This forms three columns. Open the paper and refold into thirds along the long axis, then fold in half lengthwise. This forms six rows. Demonstrate the activity and have students follow the steps after you. Click to view the next steps in creating the Foldable.

Unfold and draw lines along the folds. Label the chart as shown. Demonstrate the activity and have students follow the steps after you. Click to view the next step in creating the Foldable.

In the appropriate section of the chart, take notes on the short- and long-term effects of drinking alcohol. Click to return to the Chapter Overview slide.

Find out how to help someone who has a problem with alcohol. Take the Health Inventory for Chapter 13 at http://www.glencoe.com/qe/qe66.php?qi=1716 Students can visit http://health.glencoe.com to take the Health Inventory and more. Click to return to the Chapter Overview slide.