Wendy McGurk

What is Alcohol?  Alcohol is produced by fermenting and sometimes distilling various fruits, vegetables, or grains. Fermentation is the process where sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose are converted into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide.  Alcohol is classified as a drug  Depresses Central Nervous System

Alcoholism Also know as alcohol dependence is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.

Where Wisconsin Rates for Alcohol Consumption  Wisconsin ranks number one in:  Binge drinking  Driving under the influence  Percentage of drinkers in the population  Top in Brandy consumption  Top in Vodka consumption  Near top of Beer consumption

Drinking in Wisconsin WWisconsin is the highest state for binge drinking TThe annual economic impact of alcohol-related health and social problems in Wisconsin is nearly $5 billion. EEvery year alcohol in Wisconsin is responsible for: 11,300 deaths 88,500 traffic crashes 66,800 traffic injuries 22,400 cases of child abuse 990,000 arrests 668% of fatal and serious injuries are first-time drunken driving

Standard Measure of Alcohol  In the United States a standard drink is any drink that contains 0.6 ounces (13.7 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol.  Regular beer or wine cooler 12 ounces  Malt liquor 8 ounces  Any wine 5 ounces  80 proof distilled spirits or liquor 1.5 ounces.

Physiological Effects of Alcohol Abuse 1. Inhibitions become effected blood alcohol level 0.05 person behavior begins to change. 2. Loss of muscle Control at 0.10 slurred speech, impaired judgment, poor coordination. 3. Memory loss/blackouts alcohol suppress brain control mechanisms. 4. Stupor at 0.40 person can hardly function, dazed and confused. 5. Coma at 0.50 person is at risk for coma/maybe death.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence  Tolerance:  Tolerance: you need more and more alcohol to feel same effect  Withdrawal:  Withdrawal: as alcohol wears off you may experience anxiety, shaking, vomiting,  Loss of Control:  Loss of Control: Drinking more than you want despite telling yourself you’re not going to.  Desire to stop-but can’t:  Desire to stop-but can’t: Persistent desire to stop drinking and being unsuccessful.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence (cont.)  Neglecting other activities:  Neglecting other activities: spending less time on activities that used to be important, because of the use of alcohol.  Alcohol takes up all your time:  Alcohol takes up all your time: spend all your time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects.  Continued used despite negative consequences:  Continued used despite negative consequences: you drink even though it’s causing serious problems in all aspects of your life.

Withdrawal Symptoms mild to moderate  Feeling jumpy, shakiness, nervous (anxiety)  Irritability, rapid emotion change,  Depression, mood swings, can’t think clearly  Fatigue, bad dreams, insomnia  Headaches, sweating, nausea,  Paleness, rapid heart rate, skin is clammy  Abnormal movements, tremors of the hands  Involuntary, movements of the eyelids

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms With in 48 hours alcohol withdrawal can turn very serious. Seizures, convulsion, and hallucinations can occur. The symptoms may progress into Delirium Tremens (DT’s) after 3 to 5 days without alcohol. DT’s include; profound confusion, disorientation, extreme cardiovascular changes, and hyperactivity. Heart attack, seizures, and this can be fatal.

Short and Long Term Health Risks  Short term health risk  Disinhibition occurs  Increase heart rate  Lowers blood pressure  Stimulates appetite  Increases urine output  Increases production of gastric secretions  Hangover  Long term health risks  Heart damage  Kidney and Liver damage: alcohol hepatitis, cirrhosis  Cancers  Gastrointestinal disorder  Malnutrition

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome  Physical and mental birth defects that can result from a women drinking to much during pregnancy.  This syndrome is characterized by  Brain damage/ retardation  Growth deficiency  Vision and hearing problems  Facial deformities,  Infants usually have learning and attention problems.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome cont.  Fetal alcohol syndrome is something that never needs to happen. Alcohol passes easily through the placenta, and often damages the fetus. It can be total avoided if women would just not drink alcohol during pregnancy. One study reports that 30-40% of women who are moderate to heavy alcohol consumers will give birth to a child with FAS.

Alcohol Screening Quiz  Do you lose time from work due to alcohol drinking? Y or N  Is drinking making your home life unhappy? Y or N  Do you drink to escape your troubles ? Y or N  Is drinking affecting you reputation? Y or N  Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? Y or N  Do you drink alone? Y or N

Quiz cont.  Have you had financial difficulties as a result of drinking? Y or N  Does your drinking make you careless of your families welfare? Y or N  Has your ambition decreased since drinking? Y or N  Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? Y or N  Do you want a drink the next morning? Y or N

Quiz Results  If you answered yes to more than three of these questions, than it is possible you might have a drinking problem. I suggest being evaluated by a health care professional as soon as possible. DO NOT FEEL ASHAMED!! Many people have struggled with the same addiction and there is treatment available for anyone who wants it.

References  Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal  CDCs alcohol use.  symptoms. NCAAD symptoms  5-Physical-Effects-Of-Alcohol-Abuse.html. Alcohol Abuse Effect 5-Physical-Effects-Of-Alcohol-Abuse.html  consumption/ Alcohol consumption. consumption/  Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein. (2012). Drugs and Society, Jones and Bartlett Learning.  What is Alchohol  AlcoholFacts.aspx Alcohol the Facts AlcoholFacts.aspx