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Alcohol
Definition of Alcohol
• Alcohol is a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits
vegetables and grains.
Depressant
• Alcohol is a depressant because it slows down the function of the
brain and other parts of the nervous system.
• Alcohol effects the nervous, digestive and urinary systems.
Short Term vs. Long Term Effects
• Short term affects occur within minutes of drinking and longer-term
affects develop over time.
Mouth and Esophagus
Short Term Effects: Breath smells, tongue, gums and throat are
effected
Long Term Effects: Damage of the esophagus-bleeding
Heart and Blood Vessels
• Short Term Effects: Perspiration increases and skin becomes flushed
• Long Term Effects: High blood pressure, blood vessels less flexible
Brain and Nervous System
• Short Term: Speech/vision blurry, difficulty walking
• Long Term: Brain cells destroyed, nerve damage resulting in
numbness in hands and feet
Liver
• Short Term: Liver changes alcohol into water and carbon dioxide
• Long Term: cirrhosis/scarring and destruction of the liver
Stomach and Pancreas
• Short Term: Stomach acids increase, nausea and vomiting
• Long Term: Irritation of the stomach lining-ulcers
Problems with your pancreas
Body size
• The smaller the person the larger effect of alcohol
Time Frame
• Rapid drinking overwhelms the liver’s ability to break down the
alcohol
• Blood Alcohol Level—the amount of alcohol in a person’s
bloodstream
Factors: Food/Amount
• Food in the stomach slows down the passage of alcohol into the
blood stream
• Quantity and quality you consume
Medicine
• Medicine can intensify the effects of alcohol
How alcohol travels
1. Alcohol enters the mouth.
2. Alcohol travels down the throat to the
stomach.
3. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood by the
stomach and small intestine.
4. Alcohol travels through the blood to the
water-containing organs of the body.
5. Alcohol affects many brain functions.
6. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver.
7. Alcohol is excreted from the body after
processing by the kidneys.
Intoxication
• Physically and mentally impaired by the use of alcohol
• .O8 in the state of Washington
• Legal Age 21
Binge Drinking
• The consumption of several alcoholic drinks in a very short amount of
time
• Slows down body system—could stop breathing and die
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome--FAS
• When a pregnant female drinks alcohol—it passes to her developing
baby
• Birth defects (physical and mental problems)
Growth Process and Teens
• Poor language skills
• Reduces certain hormones for development
• Delay the menstrual cycle
• Suicide
• Traffic deaths
• Violent crimes
• Rape
How can you tell if a friend has been drinking
• Mood changes
• School problems
• Family Issues
• Social Status
• A “Nothing Matters" attitude
• Physical or mental problems