The Impact of Alcohol Abuse Lesson 3 The Impact of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol and Driving Drinking and driving can be disastrous and deadly 1/5th of all teen drivers involved in fatal car accidents have a BAC of 0.01 percent. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)- the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood expressed as a percentage BAC depends on the quantity and type of alcohol that was consumed, rate of consumption and the bodysize and gender

Alcohol and Driving Any amount of alcohol in the blood can cause: Slow reflexes Reduced ability to judge distances and speeds Increase in risk-taking behaviors Reduced concentration and increased forgetfulness

Driving While Intoxicated DWI or DUI is illegal. Adult drivers who have a BAC of 0.08 percent can be charged with drunk driving. Under 21, there is no acceptable BAC Consequences of DWI/DUI: Injuries to or death of the driver and others Arrest, jail time, court appearance, and fine or bail, a police record and possible lawsuits Severely restricted driving privileges and/or immediate confiscation of driver’s license Higher auto insurance rates or a canceled insurance policy

Alcohol and Pregnancy When a pregnant female drinks, alcohol passes directly from her body into the bloodstream of the fetus. The fetus process the alcohol much slower then the mother, which means the alcohol is in the fetus’s system for a longer period of time. Infants then are at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)- group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Small head and deformities of face, hands or feet Heart, liver and kidney defects Vision and hearing problems Central nervous system problems, developmental disabilities and poor coordination Difficulties learning and short attention span Hyperactivity, anxiety and social withdrawal

Alcoholism Symptoms: Craving Loss of control Physical dependence Tolerance

Alcoholics An addict who is dependent on alcohol Behaviors vary: some are aggressive and violent while others may be withdrawn Not linked to age, race, ethnic or socioeconomic group Partially linked to genetics Children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become alcoholics Environmental factors also contribute

Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1- Abuse Stage 2- Dependence Stage 3- Addiction

Effects on Family and Society U.S. has about 17 million alcoholics and problem drinkers Major factor in the four leading causes of accidental death: car accidents, falls, drowning and house fires Plays a role in violent crimes (40% are alcohol related) Develop codependency

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Cannot be cured but can be treated Recovery-the process of learning to live an alcohol free life Sobriety-living without alcohol Steps to recovery: Admission Detoxification Counseling Recovery

Resources for Help Al-Anon/Alateen Alcoholics Anonymous Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National Association for Children of Alcoholics National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) SAMSHA”S National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

Assignment Answer questions 1-5 on page 583. Assignment will be collected. What is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)? What is the legal BAC for teen drivers? What is fetal alcohol syndrome? What causes it? Why does an alcoholic go through detoxification when trying to become sober? How does a moderate amount of alcohol, which otherwise might not be harmful to a female have the potential to harm her fetus? What are two possible outcomes of drinking and driving?