Riddle Monday, May 19 “A” Day STD/HIV Test Begin Alcohol Unit  In a one-story pink house, there was a pink person, a pink cat, a pink fish, a pink computer, a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower– everything was pink! What color were the stairs? There weren’t any stairs, it was a one story house!

Did You Know….. The punishment for drinking and driving in Australia includes fines, suspension of license, imprisonment, and medical assessment before a driver’s license is reinstated. A first time offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution. In France, drinking and driving is punishable by the equivalent of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. In England, a drunk driver pays the equivalent of a $250 fine, spends a year in jail, and then loses their license for one year. In Russia, drunk drivers simply lose their license for life.

Did You Know… Finland and Sweden automatically sentence drunk drivers to one-year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa, drinking and driving results in a ten-year prison sentence or the equivalent of a $10,000 fine and, in some cases, both. In Canada, the first drinking and driving offense warrants loss of license for one year and the equivalent of a $600 fine. The second offense warrants two weeks in jail and loss of license for two years. The third offense warrants three months in jail and loss of license for three years. Turkey punishes drunk drivers by taking them 20 miles from their town and making them walk back with a police escort.

Did You Know… In Poland, drunk drivers are subject to jail, fine, and even worse, mandatory attendance at political lectures. In Malaya, if a man is caught driving drunk he is jailed. If he is married, his wife is jailed, too. In Costa Rica, the license plates are removed immediately from the cars of those who drink and drive. Source http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/drinking-and-driving-the-laws-in/page-2/

FUN FACTS The word “toast,” meaning a wish of good health, started in ancient Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine. Texas state law prohibits taking more than three sips of beer at a time while standing. Suppose you overbuy your favorite alcohol beverage for a big party and your brother agrees to take a bottle or two and reimburse you. Anywhere in the US, doing that would make you guilty of committing a punishable crime.

FUN FACTS Anyone under the age of 21 who takes out household trash containing even a single empty alcohol beverage container can be charged with illegal possession of alcohol in Missouri. The United States has the highest minimum drinking age in the entire world. Many high school cafeterias in Europe serve alcohol to their students who choose to drink. Vikings used the skulls of their enemies as drinking vessels.

Facts About Alcohol • You may not think of alcohol as a drug, but it is. A drug is a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior. Alcohol Facts VIDEO

Alcohol Is a Depressant • A depressant is a drug that slows brain and body reactions. In slowing the body’s normal reactions, alcohol may cause confusion decreased alertness poor coordination blurred vision drowsiness

Alcohol Production The alcohol in beverages is produced by the process of fermentation. During fermentation, microorganisms called yeast feed on sugars in foods. In the process, carbon dioxide and alcohol are produced.

Alcohol Content The alcohol content of alcoholic beverages range between 4 percent and 50 percent.

How Much Alcohol Is in a Drink?

Influence of Peers Some teens say they drink to fit in, or just to do what their classmates seem to be doing. Teens often mistakenly believe that everyone is drinking. In fact, millions of teens never use alcohol.

Influence of Family Teens report that parents and other family members are important influences on their decisions about alcohol. Although your parents may seem tough on you, their rules and advice can help you steer clear of alcohol and other drugs.

Influence of the Media Television commercials and magazine ads often show drinkers in beautiful outdoor settings, at fun-filled parties, or enjoying sports. Unlike ads for other drugs, alcohol ads are not required to list negative side effects. The ads give the false impression that drinking will make you more popular and attractive.

Physical and Behavioral Effects Unlike food, alcohol does not have to be digested in the stomach before it is absorbed into the blood. Alcohol gets into a person’s bloodstream within minutes of being consumed. Once in the blood, alcohol circulates throughout the body, where it has widespread effects.

Effects on Behavior As intoxication takes effect, drinkers begin to lose judgment and self-control. At the same time, alcohol decreases drinkers’ natural fears. A blackout is a period of time that the drinker cannot recall.

Effects on Body Systems Intoxication is the state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance. Many negative effects on a drinker’s body and behavior accompany intoxication by alcohol.

Effects of Intoxication Nervous System Brain activity slows down. Coordination becomes impaired. Sensations and perception become less clear. Reflexes become sluggish. Cardiovascular System Heart rate and blood pressure increase. More blood flows to the skin’s surface. Core body temperature decreases. Digestive System Excretory System Too much alcohol in the stomach may cause vomiting. Kidneys increase urine production. Drinker loses more water from body than usual.

Blood Alcohol Concentration Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage. The higher a person’s blood alcohol concentration, the more severe the physical and behavioral effects. Blood alcohol concentration is a more reliable measure of intoxication than the number of drinks consumed. Having a BAC of .10% means that a person has one drop of alcohol per 1,000 drops of blood in the body.

Factors Affecting BAC Rate of Consumption People who have a few drinks in one hour have a higher BAC than people who drink the same amount over several hours. Gender Males generally will have a lower BAC than females. Women have less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase which breaks down alcohol. Body Size In general, smaller people—by weight and height—feel the effects of alcohol more than larger people. Amount of Food in the Stomach Drinking on an empty stomach increases the rate of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream.

After Drinking Ends Once a person stops drinking, BAC begins to decrease. The intoxicating effects of alcohol slowly diminish, and the person’s reflexes and coordination return to normal. Nothing can speed the liver’s ability to break down alcohol.

Overdose Taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death is called an overdose. Alcohol overdose, also called alcohol poisoning, can cause the heart and breathing to stop. Binge drinking is the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol at one sitting. Men 5 or more drinks, Women 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.

Interactions With Other Drugs Alcohol is a depressant drug. When a person drinks alcohol and takes another depressant, the combination can cause drastic changes in the body. In extreme cases, combining alcohol and other depressants leads to coma or death.

Damage to the Body Long-term alcohol abuse may harm the brain liver heart digestive system Drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy may permanently harm the developing baby.

Brain Damage Long-term alcohol abuse destroys nerve cells in the brain. Destroyed nerve cells usually cannot grow again. The loss of many nerve cells causes permanent changes that impair memory the ability to concentrate the ability to make sound judgments

Changes to the Brain Tolerance causes a drinker’s body to need increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the original effect. The body will eventually develop dependence—the brain develops a chemical need for alcohol and cannot function normally without it. Finally, addiction results—the drinker no longer has control over his or her drinking.

Alcoholism People who can no longer control their use of alcohol suffer from the disease known as alcoholism. Physically, an alcoholic’s body requires alcohol to function. Psychologically, alcoholics consider drinking a regular, essential part of coping with daily life.

The Stages of Alcoholism What begins as problem drinking becomes absolute dependence, and finally, late-stage alcoholism. Stage 1: Problem Drinking If social drinkers start to use alcohol to try to relieve stress or escape from problems, their drinking habit may quickly become a problem. Stage 2: Absolute Dependence The drinker cannot stop after one drink, and feels a constant need to drink. Stage 3: Late Stage of Alcoholism Alcoholics rapidly lose their mental, emotional, and physical health. Late-stage alcoholics also experience reverse tolerance for alcohol, a condition in which less and less alcohol causes intoxication.

Treating Alcoholism Alcoholics can lead productive, happy lives if they stop drinking completely. There are three stages in an alcoholic’s recovery acknowledging the problem detoxification rehabilitation

Support Groups In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), recovering alcoholics offer encouragement and support to help other alcoholics stop drinking. Al-Anon helps adult friends and family members learn how they can help in the alcoholic’s recovery process. Alateen provides help for teenagers living with alcoholics.

Abstaining from Alcohol The best decision you can make is to abstain from alcohol, meaning not to drink at all. Sticking to your decision not to drink means being able to say no with confidence in situations where other people are drinking. The skills needed to say no are sometimes referred to as refusal skills.

Prepare for Pressure Ask yourself the following questions: What are my reasons for not drinking alcohol at this time in my life? How can I come across as confident in my decision? In what situations will I most likely encounter pressure to drink? Why are my friends pressuring me to drink? Are there other friends who can help me stick to my decision?

Avoiding High-Pressure Situations Avoiding situations in which alcohol is present will help you stay alcohol free. It will also help you avoid related risks, like being injured by someone who has been drinking.

Refusing Rides From Drinkers Remember that intoxicated people must not be allowed to drive. You should never get into a car with anyone who has been drinking. Don’t worry about being rude—your life is more important than the driver’s feelings.