1. Alcohol

2. Getting the Facts 21 years old to drink
Almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol
Why?
Deciding to drink is a personal decision and you will need to make an educated choice

3. Alcohol: What is it?
Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented
Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol
Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative

4. No, not that type of alcohol
When people drink alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream
From there, it enters the central nervous system, which controls most all body functions

5. How does it affect our bodies?
Depressant
Slows the function of the CNS
Blocks messages trying to get to the brain
Alters a persons:
Perceptions
Emotions
Movement
Vision
Hearing

6. How else…
In very small amounts, alcohol can relax the body and make people feel less anxious
More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication
When a person is intoxicated (drunk) they may:
Stagger
Lose coordination
Slur their speech
Be easily confused
Be disoriented

7. There’s more…
Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry
Reaction times are slowed
Drinking and driving
People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not
They may act totally out of character.

8. Alcohol Poisoning
When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time
The body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol
Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom
Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result

9. So why do teens drink?
Experimentation with alcohol during the teen  years is common
Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:
curiosity
to feel good, reduce stress, and relax
to fit in
to feel older

10. Why you shouldn’t drink
Punishment is severe
Under 21Against the law = arrested
Crime
School & sports
You can look really stupid
Throw up, pee yourself, bad breath, hangovers
Alcohol puts your health at risk
Unsafe sex, injuries, car crash, homicides, suicides, overweight

11. How can I avoid drinking?
Say “no, thanks”
Make an excuse
Plan in advance
Have high self esteem

12. Where can I get help?
If you think you have a problem, get help as soon as possible
Talk to a trusted adult
Drug and alcohol counselors

13. What to do for a friend? Friends, family
People with drinking problems can't stop drinking until they are ready to admit they have a problem and get help
Turn to a trusted adult for help
Keep them safe
Drink and drive, alone

14. Everyone goes through it!
Everyone makes decisions about whether to drink and how much — even adults
It's possible to enjoy a party or other event just as much, if not more so, when you don't drink
And with your central nervous system working as it's supposed to, you'll remember more about the great time you had!