1. Effects & Risks to Your Health
Alcohol & drugs
Effects & Risks to Your Health

2. After reviewing this Unit, you should be able to:
STUDENT eXPECTATIONS
After reviewing this Unit, you should be able to:
Identify Alcohol’s pathway once ingested
Identify the harmful effects & risks of Alcohol on the body
Define Blood Alcohol Concentration & factors that determine a person’s BAC
Identify the differences between medicines & drugs
Identify the differences between drug misuse & abuse
Identify the categories of drugs, effects, & risks on the body

3. Alcohol pre-test Answers
TRUE – based on percentage of alcohol by volume
FALSE – Alcohol is digested by different organs in the body
FALSE – Alcohol is a Depressant (slows body down)
TRUE
TRUE – 5 oz. wine, 1.5 oz. shot of liquor, or 12 oz. can of beer
FALSE – BAC/BAL stands for how much alcohol is in the bloodstream
FALSE – only way to eliminate alcohol is through urine, sweat, or liver
TRUE – depends on a person’s BAC & other factors
TRUE –

4. Alcohol: its process, types, & standard drink
Alcohol is referred to ethanol & is made through a process called Fermentation – a conversion of sugar to carbon dioxide and alcohol by yeast
Fermentation will yield certain types of alcohol such as beer, wine, and liquors (vodka)
A “standard” drink is any drink that contains 14 grams of pure alcohol or .6 fluid ounces
Standard Drink Equivalents:
Beer = 12 ounces, Wine = 4-5 ounces, Liquor (80pf) = 1.5 ounces

5. Alcohol’s pathway Mouth: Alcohol enters the body
Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream but most goes to the small intestine
Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream through the wall of the small intestine
Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body
Brain: alcohol reaches the brain from the bloodstream
Liver: alcohol is oxidized (burned up) by the liver at a rate of .5 fluid ounces per hour
Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide, & energy

6. Short & long-term effects
Relaxing effect
Slurred speech
Slowed reaction time, coordination, & concentration ,& vision
Altered emotions
More blood flow to surface of skin & lower core body temperature
LONG Brain – disrupts behavior, learning, & memory Heart – blood pressure increases – heart disease, heart attack or stroke Lungs – damage cells of lungs to remove fluids (choking), reduces immune response Liver – organ responsible for filtering alcohol from the bloodstream - Cirrhosis = scarring of liver tissue - Cancer

7. Blood Alcohol concentration (bac)
Ratio of Alcohol to Blood in the body (%)
5 Factors that influence a person’s BAC
Gender- stronger effect on females
Body Weight- A heavy weight results in more fluids to mix w/alcohol resulting in a lower BAC
Strength & Size of Drink- Stronger alcohol content consumed, higher BAC will rise & larger drinks contain more alcohol
Food- possible to slow rate in which alcohol is absorbed
Time- faster a person drinks, quicker their BAC will rise

8. BAC Level
.08 BAC Level
Illegal for a person 21 or older to drive a vehicle
Person is 11 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than someone who has had nothing to drink
.01 BAC Level
Illegal for a person years of age to drive a vehicle
All drivers under 21 who commit a DUI can be subject to a 6 month driver’s license suspension, probation, fined, or jailed

9. Medicine vs. Drugs – misuse vs. abuse
Medicine – drug(s) that are used to treat illness or relieve pain (tylenol for a headache)
2 Types:
OTC (over the counter) – no need for a written prescription
Prescription (Rx) – written order from a doctor (anitbiotics)
Drugs- chemical substances taken into the body that can change the structure or function of body/mind (increase heart rate or hallucinations)
Misuse – Inappropriate use of prescribed or non-prescribed medicine, but not for “pleasure” or other non- medical purposes. Abuse – repeatedly and willfully using a drug in a way other than prescribed or socially sanctioned

10. Categories of drugs Cannabinoids Marijuana, Hashish -Smoked, swallowed
Effects:
Euphoria, slow reaction time, distorted sensory perception
Risks:
Frequent respiratory infections, cough, addiction, memory loss
Opioids
Heroin
- Injected, smoked, swallowed
Effects:
Impaired coordination, slow/arrested breathing
Risks:
Addiction, fatal overdose, hepatitis, HIV

11. Categories of drugs Club Drugs MDMA (Ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB
Stimulants
Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamines
- Inhaled, Injected, taken orally
Effects:
Increases all body functions, i.e., heart rate, breathing rate, anxiety, psychosis
Risks:
Cardiac complications, seizures, nasal damage, dental problems, addiction
Club Drugs
MDMA (Ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB
Known as Date Rape Drugs
- Swallowed, snorted, injected
Effects:
Lowered inhibitions, sedation, muscle relaxation, confusion, memory loss
Risks:
Impaired memory, seizures, coma, addiction & at risk to be assaulted

12. Categories of drugs Hallucinogens LSD, mushrooms, peyote
- Swallowed, smoked
Effects:
Increased body temp, blood pressure, heart rate, altered states of perception & feeling
Risks:
Flashbacks (causes brain to misfire & send incorrect signals)
Anabolic Steroids
Man-made substance related to testosterone (HGH)
- Injected, swallowed, absorbed through skin
Risks:
Males – reduced sperm production, breast tissue growth (enlargement), shrunken testicles
Females – menstrual irregularities, take on male characteristics (deeper voice, hair growth)

13. Categories of drugs Depressants Xanax, Valium - Swallowed, injected
Effects:
Slows down body functions
Sedation, drowsiness, impaired coordination/memory
Risks:
Decrease in blood pressure, breathing, respiratory arrest, death