1. Alcohol
Objectives:
Students should be able to describe how alcohol acts as a depressant in the body.
Students should be able to identify 3 major factors that influence underage drinking.
Students should be able to summarize the effects of intoxication on the body systems.
Students will identify 3 ways that intoxication may lead to death.
Students can identify 5 serious physical effects of long-term alcohol abuse.
Students can list the 3 stages of treatment in an alcoholic’s recovery.
Indian Hills Middle School

2. Zero-tolerance policy:
Facts about Alcohol:
What is a drug?
It is a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior
Alcohol is a powerful depressant and slows the body’s normal reactions, causing confusion, decreased alertness, poor coordination, blurred vision and drowsiness.
Alcohol is produced by the process of fermentation where microorganisms called yeast , feed on the sugars in malted grains, grapes or berries.
Zero-tolerance policy:
The use of alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal.

3. Major Factors that Influence Underage Drinking:
Peers
The attitudes of:
Family
Your friends attitudes will determine your decision!
A parents influence is a major deterrent!
Media:
advertisements, TV commercials, magazine ads, all imply a false impression that drinking will make you more popular and attractive.

4. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
Physical and Behavioral Effects:
Alcohol does not need to be digested in the stomach.
Alcohol gets into a person’s bloodstream within minutes of being consumed.
The effects are immediate on the entire body.
Intoxication:
A state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance.

5. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
Physical:
Cardiovascular System
Heart rate and blood pressure increase
More blood flows to the skin’s surface.
Core body temperature decreases.
Excretory & Digestive Systems:
Kidneys increase urine production.
Too much alcohol may cause vomiting.
Nervous System
Brain activity slows down.
Coordination becomes impaired.
Sensations and perception becomes less clear.
Reflexes become sluggish
Blackouts: memory loss due to heavy drinking.

6. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
Behavior: Drinkers begin to lose judgment and self-control.
Risky Behaviors:
Fighting
Carry a weapon
Commit a serious crime
Use other drugs
Die from a car crash or drowning
Engage in sexual activity

7. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
BAC:
Blood Alcohol Concentration
The effects of alcohol depend on how much is actually circulating in a person’s blood stream.
People who drink the same amount of alcohol may not be equally affected. Why?.
Factors Affecting BAC:
Rate of Consumption
Gender
Body Size
Amount of food in stomach
Slow consumption reduces intoxication
Males have a lower BAC
Smaller people feel the effects of alcohol more.
Drinking on an empty stomach increases the rate of alcohol absorption.

8. Life-Threatening Effects
Motor Vehicle Crashes
Death
DWI- driving while intoxicated
Zero Tolerance Laws- it is illegal for minors to drive after consuming any amount of alcohol.
Overdose: taking an excessive amount of a drug that leads to coma or death.
Binge Drinking: consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol in one sitting.

9. Long-Term Risks of Alcohol
Brain Damage:
destroys nerve cells causing memory impairment, ability to concentrate and the ability to make sound judgements.
Teens who drink may suffer long-term learning and memory problems.

10. Long-Term Risks of Alcohol
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Pregnant women who drink put the health of their future children at risk.
Babies born with this syndrome may suffer from:
Heart defects
Malformed faces
Delayed growth
Poor motor development
Mental retardation

11. Long-Term Risks of Alcohol
Liver Damage
Cirrhosis of the liver: fat filled liver cells die and leaves the healthy liver scared and may lead to liver failure and death.
Heart Disease
The leading cause of death in the United States.
Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Build up of fatty deposits in the heart muscle
Digestive Problems
Cancers of the mouth, tongue, esophagus and stomach
Diarrhea
Ulcers

12. Alcoholism: Changes to the Brain:
People who can no longer control their use of alcohol suffer from alcoholism.
Tolerance: repeated use of alcohol reduces the effects on the brain causing the body to need increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the original effects.
Dependence: the brain develops a chemical need for alcohol and cannot function without it.
Addiction: the drinker no longer has control over his/her drinking and has strong cravings physically/emotionally.

13. Treating Alcoholism 1. 2. 3. Acknowledge the problem and get help.
Detoxification. Removing all alcohol from a person’s body. 3.
Rehabilitation. The process of coping with everyday life without alcohol.

14. Good Health Review & Questions
Describe 3 things that happens to the body when a person drinks alcohol.
Describe 3 influences that determines whether a person engages in underage drinking.
List 3 effects of intoxication on the body systems.
List 3 ways intoxication can lead to death.
List 5 serious physical effects of long-term alcohol abuse.
List 3 stages of treatment for alcoholism.