Alcohol Abuse By: Reece Yeager

What is Alcohol? Alcohol is a very common drug among people today. It may not have immediate effects, but it has some very serious long term effects.

What is Alcohol made up of? Alcohol is also known as ethanol. Ethanol’s chemical formula is 3 three atoms of Carbon, 5 atoms of Hydrogen, and one atom of Hydroxide. Alcohol is also very water soluble.

What are some street names for Alcohol? Some Street names for alcohol include: “Booze” “Brew” “Juice” “Hard Stuff” “Moonshine”

What are the short term effects of Alcohol Abuse? Some short term effects are: Slurred Speech Drowsiness Vomiting Diarrhea Headaches Upset Stomach And many others

What are the long term effects of Alcohol Abuse? Some long term effects may include: Increased family problems Liver disease Nerve Damage High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart related problems Ulcers Cancer of the mouth and throat Gastritis (inflammation in the stomach walls) And many others as well

Regional Statistics of Alcohol It has been proven that 45.2% (756) students in Lenawee County (where we live) have reported drinking alcohol at some point in their life. It has also been shown that 29.6% (494) in Lenawee County have reported experiencing being drunk before. Many teenagers, when asked, in this area said that they were around the age of 14 when they were drunk for the first time, also telling that they were around age 13 when they took their first sip of alcohol.

National Statistics of Alcohol Did you know that in 2015, almost 53% of people 12 and older reported using alcohol in the past month? Almost 88,000 die from alcohol related problems each year. In 2016, 22.8% of Eighth graders, 43.4% of Tenth graders, and 61.2% of Twelfth graders reported using alcohol at some point in their lifetime. Although the majority of people that use alcohol are older (82.4%~ Ages 18- 25, 87.1%~Ages 26 or older), there is still a reported 81% of people ages 12 and older that have done alcohol in their life (2015).

Legal issues for Teens that Drink Nationwide, there are about 10 million underage drinkers. Out of this 10 million, 1.5 million reported being casual drinkers, 2 million reported being heavy drinkers, and the other 6.5 million underage people who drink alcohol reported being binge drinkers. Minors who are under the age of 18 will have the consequences of: Driver’s License Suspension (At least 60 days) A $200 fine for the first offense, $500 for a second offence (penalties for underage possession, purchase, or attempt). Not the mention the consequences of drinking and driving or hurting someone or something while under the influence of alcohol.

Forms of Alcohol Addiction There are two forms of addiction: physical addiction and psychological addiction. To physically get addicted to alcohol, it would have to cause physical effects, such as health problems like, strokes and high blood pressure. To get psychologically addicted to alcohol, it would need to cause psychological effects, such as deprssion and anxiety.

Addiction Help There are many options for help if you are addicted to alcohol. Some choices are: Rehab Programs Support Groups Hotlines to call for help And many others. There are also hotlines, support groups, and rehab programs for basically any addiction you can think of.

Works Cited Https://www.facebook.com/NIDANIH. "Alcohol." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., 09 Sept. 2016. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. "Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance Addiction. Get The Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs." Foundation for a Drug-Free World. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. Brande, M.A. Lauren, and B.A. Maria Gifford. "Street Names and Nicknames for Alcohol." Trusted Resources for Addiction and Rehabilitation. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. "Underage Drinking - Teenage Alcohol Abuse and Addiction." Addiction Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. Portman, Attorney Janet. "Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Underage Drinking Laws & Penalties | Criminal Law." CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2017. "Alcohol Dependence." Alcohol Dependence | Drinkaware. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.