Alcohol Chapter 22
Ethanol Active ingredient in beer, wine and liquor
Alcohol is a sedative Depresses, quiets the nervous system Coordination is impaired Brain can’t control mind and body correctly Scarring of the liver
Alcohol is a sedative (cont’d) Dehydrates the body Bad breath Ulcers in stomach Inhibitions slowed: talk more, slurred speech, clumsy
Cirrhosis Scarring of the liver by alcohol Jaundice: yellowing of the skin, eyes, waste in the blood stream High blood pressure
Cirrhosis/Jaundice
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Drinking while pregnant Smaller baby Heart defects Mental retardation Hyperactive
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Blood Alcohol Level Amount of alcohol in bloodstream 0.08% is legally intoxicated
Alcohol Content 1 Beer (12 oz) 4% alcohol 1 Glass of wine (5 oz) 13% alcohol 1 Shot of liquor (1 ½ oz) 40% alcohol All the same alcohol content
Alcohol Content
Factors of Intoxication Eating before and during drinking Weight Length of time consuming alcohol Gender
Multiplier Effect Mixing alcohol with other drugs Increases the affect Highly dangerous due to not knowing the amount of intoxicants
Why Drink? Escape pressures of life Problems Feel better Relax Friends and peer pressure Gain self confidence Family Values
Why not to drink? Don’t need it Makes the body sick, inTOXICated Bad taste Cost Bad for long term health Against the law Don’t want to lose control
Drunk Driving Cannot judge distances (1 second compared to more than 3) Take greater risks Fail to signal Sleepiness
Drunk driving
Drunk Driving
Alcoholism Physiological and psychological addiction/dependence to alcohol
Alcoholism Stages 1) Social drinking: legal, become drunk most of the time 2) Drinks most of the time/hide drinking: must have it to function, in denial 3) Drinking out in the open: drunk all of the time, malnutrition, loss of job
Delirium Tremens Also known as DT’s, Detox or Detoxification Withdrawal symptoms Hot and cold flashes Shakes Vomiting Nightmares
Characteristics of a Drug Habit Tolerance: Become used to drug’s affect, need more to get the same feeling Physical Dependence: The body needs the drug or it becomes physically ill
Characteristics of a Drug Habit (cont’d) Psychological Dependence: Need for the drug (in the mind), hardest part of the addiction to break Habituation: Take the drug at the same time, need/compulsion