Addiction Lesson 4 6 th Grade

Objectives Explain how alcoholism affects the alcohol user and his or her family. Describe how difficult it is to quit using drugs once a person is addicted. Alcohol is a powerful drug that can cause physical changes in the brain. If someone has been drinking for many years, that person may need alcohol to feel normal. It is hard for people in this situation to stop drinking alcohol.

Becoming Addicted Over time, the body builds up a tolerance to tobacco and alcohol. Tolerance is the body’s ability to resist the effects of a drug. As the body gets used to a drug, a person feels uncomfortable without the drug. The person may use the drug to avoid this discomfort. Eventually, the person needs this drug to feel normal. A person who cannot control his or her use has a drug addiction.

Alcoholism Alcoholism is a disease caused by physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Alcohol take over a person’s life and it can be deadly They may have difficulty carrying out their duties People who have alcoholism cannot make decisions well Job performance may suffer They may also neglect family and friends

Alcoholism can be very painful for families Children may not understand Parents may not realize how their behavior changes while they are intoxicated Support programs can help Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Alateen offers support specifically for teens

Recovering from Addiction Once a person is addicted, it is extremely difficult to stop using a drug. Smokers who want to quit often try many times before they succeed. Quitting an addiction to alcohol can even be dangerous. The body can become so dependent on alcohol that it physically needs the drug to function. When people who suffer from addiction take action and refuse to give up, they can recover.

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