Why should we say no to alcohol?

 Alcohol – a substance produced by a chemical reaction to carbohydrates Drug – a substance that changes the structure or function of the body or mind

Body - Ulcers - Expansion of blood vessels - Cirrhosis - Alcohol poisoning - Death Brain - Slows the body functions and reaction times - Hard to think and speak clearly

 Is a measure of the amount of alcohol present in a person’s blood

 Body weight – the less a person weigh the greater effect alcohol will have  Rate of consumption – how much you drink in a period of time  Amount – the size of the drink  Have you ate – food slows the absorption of alcohol  Presence of other drugs - combination of other drugs can have a deadly effect

 By age 18, about 1 in 4 children in the U.S. has lived with a family member who has an alcohol problem.  The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your chance of becoming addicted to alcohol at some point in your life. More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholic.  Your brain is still developing throughout the teen years. New research on teens with alcohol disorders shows that heavy drinking in the teen years can cause long-lasting harm to thinking abilities.  Drinking under age 21 is against the law. Penalties can include not getting a drivers license on time, having the license removed for driving with any trace of alcohol in the body, losing a job, and losing a college scholarship.

 Sober up  Talk about the harmful effects of alcohol  Encourage the person to get help  Support Groups  AA - Alcoholics Anonymous  Al-Anon - provides support for family members living with an alcoholic  Alateen - a group within Al-Anon, helps teenage children of alcoholic parents learn to cope with problems at home.