A. Alcohol is a DEPRESSANT, a drug that slows brain and body reactions. Alcohol can cause confusiuon, poor coordination, blurred vision, and drowsiness. › Consuming large amounts of alcohol can seriously affect vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing. Death can result from this.

 Not all alcoholic beverages contain the same amount of alcohol. It typically ranges from 4-50 %.  Calculating Alcohol Content : Multiply the drink volume by percent of alcohol. › 12 oz beer x 4% alcohol  12 x 0.04= 0.48  0.50 oz alcohol › 1.25 oz shot x 40% alcohol  1.25 x 0.40= 0.50 oz alcohol › 5 oz glass wine x 10% alcohol  5 x 0.10= 0.50 oz alcohol

A. Influence of Peers B. Influence of Family C. Influence of Media D. Risks of Underage Drinking – Teens who use alcohol are more likely to be injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash, and are more likely to be a victim of sexual assault or violence. E. Legal Risks – Underage drinkers also face legal risks, such as seizure of property, fines, loss of driver’s license, or jail time.

 nervous system = brain slows down, coordination impaired, reflexes sluggish  cardiovascular system = heart rate and blood pressure increase, core body temperature decreases  digestive system = too much alcohol leads to vomiting  excretory system = increase in urine production, increasing the loss of body fluids

 loss of judgment, self-control, a decrease in natural fears  blackouts  blackouts: a period of time that a drinker cannot recall

 the amount of alcohol in the blood, expressed as a percentage. The higher a person’s BAC, the more severe the physical and behavioral effects of alcohol. BAC is a better measure of intoxication than the number of drinks consumed.

 Rate of Consumption- The liver can metabolizes ½ - 1 oz alcohol per hour  Gender  Body Size Food  Amount of Food in the Stomach

B. After Drinking Ends - (and all the alcohol is absorbed) BAC begins to decrease. Nothing speeds up the liver’s ability to break down alcohol. C. Hangovers – the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol include nausea, upset stomach, headache, and a sensitivity to noise

A. Motor Vehicle Crashes Driving Under the Influence (DUI) : A driver will be charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) if their BAC is 0.08 or above o A suspended license o Prosecution in court o $ fines o Jail time Zero Tolerance Laws - It is illegal for minors to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.

B. Overdose (Alcohol Poisoning) - Taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death. This can occur when someone is Binge drinking —drinking excessive amounts of alcohol at one time. C. Interactions with Other Drugs - Mixing alcohol with other drugs can be extremely dangerous or fatal.

A. Brain Damage  destroy nerve cells in the brain. The damage can affect memory, concentration, and judgment.

B. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome  (FAS) - a group of birth defects, including brain damage, caused by the effects of alcohol on a fetus.

C. Liver Damage  cirrhosis a disease that may lead to liver failure or death. D. Heart Disease  cause increased blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. E. Digestive Problems  can lead to cancers, indigestion or heartburn within the digestive system.

 Tolerance occurs with repeated use of alcohol and the effects of alcohol become reduced. The drinker will consume more to achieve the original effect, leading to dependence and later an addiction.

 Anyone who drinks…..but it is 4-5 X’s greater for those who are children of alcoholics.

 Stage 1- Problem Drinking: social drinker who try to drink to relieve stress, escape from problems  Stage 2- Absolute Dependence: alcohol dominates the drinkers life and may lead to absences from work or school  Stage 3- Late Stage of Alcoholism: rapid loss of mental, emotional, and physical health with isolation from society. Here they may also experience Reverse tolerance, a condition where they need less and less alcohol to become intoxicated.

 Crimes + medical expenses + injuries + lost productivity on the job + treatment programs = $ BILLION price for the U.S.  150,000 deaths/year involve alcohol  1/8 Americans grow up in an alcoholic family  Verbal and Physical Abuse in an alcoholics family