Alcohol THE FACTS

Alcohol Is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is a depressant that has powerful effects on the body. In the United States it is illegal for minors to use alcohol until the age of 21. Your brain is developing protein remember the egg white with the organ lady.

Alcohol Continued Adults can choose whether to use alcohol or not. To make responsible decisions about alcohol use, people need to understand how alcohol effects the body. Alcohol like other depressants slows down the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

Alcohol It also affects the digestive and urinary systems. Excessive use of alcohol over long periods of time could damage almost every organ in the body.

Effects of Alcohol on the Body The following slides will show how alcohol effects the systems in the body.

Digestive System Mouth and Esophagus Short Term Effects tongue, gums, and throat are affected, your breath smells of alcohol. Your ability to taste food is dulled If somebody drinks a lot of alcohol at one time could potentially vomit and or result in death.

Digestive System Long Term Effects Damage occurs to tissues of the esophagus, resulting in possible bleeding. Permanent loss of taste buds Alcohol typically is mixed with soda which is high in sugar, which could result in dental problems.

Circulatory System Heart and Blood Vessels Short Term Effects Perspiration increases and skin becomes flushed. Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure

Circulatory System Long Term Effects High blood pressure and permanent damage to the heart muscle. This could lead to a heart attack or stroke. The blood vessels harden and become less flexible.

Nervous System Brain and nervous system Short Term Effects Speech is slurred Vision is blurred Impaired judgment, reasoning, memory, and concentration

Nervous System Short Term Effects continued Slowed reaction time Decreased coordination Distorted hearing Reduced inhibitions Alcohol poisoning, potentially causing unconsciousness and even death.

Nervous System Long Term Effects Damage to brain cells, of which cannot be replaced. Damage to nerves throughout the body, resulting in numbness to certain areas such as your hands and feet. Memory loss

Digestive System Liver Short Term Effects Processes of the liver which filters out over 90% of the alcohol in the body may be unbalanced.

Digestive System Long Term Effects Cirrhosis or scarring and destruction of the liver tissue Can cause death

Digestive System Stomach and Pancreas Short Term Effects Stomach acid increases, which results in nausea and vomiting. Long Term Ulcers- irritations of the stomach lining causing open sores.

Alcohol and the Individual Body Size The same amount of alcohol has a greater effect on a small person than it does a larger person. Gender Alcohol moves into the bloodstream faster in females

Alcohol and the Individual Time Frame A person who drinks a lot in a short period of time is more likely to become intoxicated. Amount Drinking a large quantity of alcohol causes alcohol levels in the bloodstream to rise. If the level rises too much, alcohol poisoning could occur. (DEATH)

Alcohol and the Individual Food Food in the stomach slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream. Medicine Alcohol can interfere with the effects of medicines, and medicines can intensify the effects of alcohol.

Drinking and Driving Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) Drunk driving is illegal. One alcoholic beverage can impair your coordination and make driving unsafe. The more alcohol you drink, the more dangerous you will be behind the wheel.

Drinking and Driving Continued Slower reaction times and impaired judgment make drunk drivers dangerous to other drivers and pedestrians. Alcohol use contributes to almost half of all motor vehicle related deaths. It is the most frequent cause of death among teens age

Blood Alcohol Concentration The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood stream. 0.1 = 1/10 of 1 percent of the fluid volume of his or her blood is actually alcohol. A person’s BAC depends on the amount of alcohol consumed as well as the body size and the other factors previously discussed.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Is a group of alcohol related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems. Kids born with FAS develop slower than normal students and have difficulty in school both academically and behaviorally.

Stages of Alcohol Addiction Stage 1 A person drinks to relieve stress or relax. Stage 2 The person needs alcohol to cope with life. Stage 3 The person starts to make excuses about drinking habits. (Missing work, family events)

Alcohol and Teens Alcohol can interfere with a teens growth process. Studies show that teens that abuse alcohol have poorer language skills, than other teens. New research suggests that exposure to alcohol during the teen years reduces the levels of certain hormones essential to normal development.

Alcohol and Teens May delay the onset of the menstrual cycle and affect other aspects of sexual maturity. Up to 2/3 of suicides on college campuses involve alcohol. Almost ½ of all traffic deaths of people under 25 involve alcohol.

Alcohol and Teens Nearly ¼ of all violent crimes committed by teens involve alcohol. Between 1/3 and 2/3 of date rape cases among teens and college aged students involve alcohol.

Alcohol and Society Nearly 14 million Americans have physical, social, and psychological problems related to alcohol use. Alcohol use impairs a person’s ability to ride a bike, skateboard, or scooter. Alcohol use is linked to 1/3 of all drowning deaths and 1/2 of all fire deaths.

Places to get help Alcoholics Anonymous A 12 step program to quit drinking. AL-Anon For family members of alcoholics and friends to get help. Alateen Helps young people cope with having family members that are alcoholics.