1. The Impact of Alcohol Abuse
Lesson 3
The Impact of Alcohol Abuse

2. Alcohol and Driving Drinking and driving can be disastrous and deadly
1/5th of all teen drivers involved in fatal car accidents have a BAC of 0.01 percent.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)- the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood expressed as a percentage
BAC depends on the quantity and type of alcohol that was consumed, rate of consumption and the bodysize and gender

3. Alcohol and Driving Any amount of alcohol in the blood can cause:
Slow reflexes
Reduced ability to judge distances and speeds
Increase in risk-taking behaviors
Reduced concentration and increased forgetfulness

4. Driving While Intoxicated
DWI or DUI is illegal. Adult drivers who have a BAC of 0.08 percent can be charged with drunk driving.
Under 21, there is no acceptable BAC
Consequences of DWI/DUI:
Injuries to or death of the driver and others
Arrest, jail time, court appearance, and fine or bail, a police record and possible lawsuits
Severely restricted driving privileges and/or immediate confiscation of driver’s license
Higher auto insurance rates or a canceled insurance policy

5. Alcohol and Pregnancy
When a pregnant female drinks, alcohol passes directly from her body into the bloodstream of the fetus.
The fetus process the alcohol much slower then the mother, which means the alcohol is in the fetus’s system for a longer period of time.
Infants then are at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)- group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

6. Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Small head and deformities of face, hands or feet
Heart, liver and kidney defects
Vision and hearing problems
Central nervous system problems, developmental disabilities and poor coordination
Difficulties learning and short attention span
Hyperactivity, anxiety and social withdrawal

7. Alcoholism Symptoms: Craving Loss of control Physical dependence
Tolerance

8. Alcoholics An addict who is dependent on alcohol
Behaviors vary: some are aggressive and violent while others may be withdrawn
Not linked to age, race, ethnic or socioeconomic group
Partially linked to genetics
Children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become alcoholics
Environmental factors also contribute

9. Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1- Abuse Stage 2- Dependence
Stage 3- Addiction

10. Effects on Family and Society
U.S. has about 17 million alcoholics and problem drinkers
Major factor in the four leading causes of accidental death: car accidents, falls, drowning and house fires
Plays a role in violent crimes (40% are alcohol related)
Develop codependency

11. Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
Cannot be cured but can be treated
Recovery-the process of learning to live an alcohol free life
Sobriety-living without alcohol
Steps to recovery:
Admission
Detoxification
Counseling
Recovery

12. Resources for Help Al-Anon/Alateen Alcoholics Anonymous
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
National Association for Children of Alcoholics
National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
SAMSHA”S National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

13. Assignment
Answer questions 1-5 on page 583. Assignment will be collected.
What is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)? What is the legal BAC for teen drivers?
What is fetal alcohol syndrome? What causes it?
Why does an alcoholic go through detoxification when trying to become sober?
How does a moderate amount of alcohol, which otherwise might not be harmful to a female have the potential to harm her fetus?
What are two possible outcomes of drinking and driving?