1. ALCOHOL PHYSIOLOGY Sources: NHTSA SFST Manual & Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research

2. Physi-What? Physiology -- the way a particular body or organism works So what does alcohol do to my physiology?

3. Measuring Alcohol in the Body Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) describes the amount of alcohol in a person's blood. BAC is expressed as the weight of alcohol per unit of volume of blood. 0.08% is the legal limit for driving while intoxicated in New York State. BAC can be measured accurately by testing the content in one’s breath.

4. So What? Increasing your BAC also increases your risk of being involved in many negative health and safety related issues. Falls Assaults Motor vehicle crashes Brain and Liver Damage STD and HIV

5. How Much is “Too Much?” Impairment begins with the first drink. BACs vary from person to person due to factors such as weight and stomach contents. Individuals can be substantially impaired after two drinks. The same amount of alcohol will result in different BACs for men and women because alcohol is processed differently by men and women.

6. Too Much, Too Fast Binge drinking – five drinks by men; four drinks by women in a short period of time. High consumption increases the risk of negative consequences. Binge drinking may cause alcohol poisoning.

7. Alcohol II-12 A family of closely-related chemicals whose molecules are made up of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen

8. Some Types of Alcohol Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol) II-13

9. Ethanol Ethyl Alcohol (Intended for human consumption) Chemical Symbols ETOH C H OH 2 5 H H C C OH II-14

10. Production of Ethanol II-15 Fermentation Yeast combines with sugars from fruit or grains in a chemical reaction that results in ETOH Distillation Fermented beverage is boiled at a controlled temperature to extract and concentrate the ethanol fumes

11. Standard-Sized Drinks A Can of Beer 12 ounces of fluid @ 4% alcohol equals 0.48 ounces of pure ethanol A Glass of Wine 5 ounces of fluid @ 12% alcohol equals 0.48 ounces of pure ethanol A Shot of Whiskey (80-Proof) 1 and 1/4 ounces @ 40% alcohol equals 0.50 ounces of pure ethanol II-16

12. Alcohol is the Most Abused Drug in the United States Alcohol is a CNS Depressant II-17

13. Absorption of Alcohol: Getting the ethanol out of the stomach and into the blood Stomach Walls Stomach Walls Stomach Walls Pylorus 80% 20% II-18

14. Distribution of Alcohol II-19 Getting the ethanol into the body’s tissues and organs Basic Principle Ethanol goes wherever it finds water

15. II-20 The Brain; The Liver; Muscle Tissue Which Parts Don’t? Bones; Fatty Tissue The average male is 68 percent water The average female is only 55 percent water Which Parts of the Body have Lots of Water?

16. Elimination of Alcohol II-21 Direct Excretion Breath, sweat, tears, urine, etc. Metabolism Primarily in the liver Getting the ethanol out of the body

17. Metabolism in the Liver II-22 The liver burns the ethanol (i.e., causes a chemical reaction of ethanol with oxygen). The process is aided by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. The ultimate products of the chemical reaction are carbon dioxide and water. Due to metabolism, the average person’s BAC drops by about 0.015% per hour.

18. Blood Alcohol Concentration II-23 BAC is the number of grams of alcohol found in 100 milliliters of the person’s blood What does it mean? Example If a person has a BAC of.10%, then there is one-tenth of a gram of alcohol in every 100 milliliters of the person’s blood.

19. QUESTIONS