Download Alcohol and Your Health

Alcohol is a DRUG

Produced by the chemical process called
fermentation of fruits

Over 17 million Americans have physical, social
and psychological problems related to alcohol use.
Statistics Specific to Teens

Monitoring the Future (MTF) reported
that in 2004, nearly one in five 8th
graders, more than one in three 10th
graders, and nearly one in two 12th
graders had a drink in the
past month
Statistics Specific to Teens (Cont.)
From National Survey on Drug Use and
Health (2003):

10.9 million users ages 12-20

7.2 million “binge drinkers”
However…
Drinking alcohol is ILLEGAL for
anyone under the age of 21.
What type of Drug is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a depressant which is :

A drug that slows down the working of the
brain and other parts of the nervous system.
Why is this dangerous?
 Chronic,
excessive use of alcohol can
cause serious damage to organs and
different functions of the body
 Drinking
DEATH
alcohol can even cause
Short Term Effects



Chemicals affect the lining of the tongue, gums,
and throat
About 20% of the alcohol consumed is not
digested but passes through the lining of the
stomach into the bloodstream
Too much alcohol in the stomach will make you
vomit!
Short Term Effects (Cont.)



The rest of the alcohol moves into the small
intestine where it enters the blood stream more
slowly.
Alcohol causes the heart to beat faster and the
blood vessels to widen
The increased blood flow to the skins allows:
-Body heat to escape and body temperature to
drop
How quickly does alcohol reach the
brain?
Within Minutes!
-The brain becomes less able to control the bodymovement, speech and vision
What is Happening?
Intoxication!
Intoxication occurs when a person drinks alcohol
faster than the liver can break it down.
What is the Liver Doing?
 The organ called the liver metabolizes alcohol
in to water and carbon dioxide
LUCKY 7
LUCKY 7 are the 7 factors that influence how a
person will react to alcohol
1.SPEED- Drinking a lot in a short period of time
causes alcohol to remain in the blood stream
longer
LUCKY 7
2. QUANTITY- The metabolism of alcohol takes
place at a fairly constant rate, if consumption
exceeds this rate, alcohol levels in the
bloodstream will rise.
3. FOOD- A person who has eaten recently has
food in their stomach. This will slow the passing
of alcohol in to the bloodstream.
LUCKY 7
4. WEIGHT- A lighter person feels the effects of
alcohol sooner than a heavier person.
5. GENDER- Females have more body fat and
alcohol goes in to bloodstream faster.
LUCKY 7
6. MOOD- A drinker that starts off depressed
usually ends up more depressed and more
intoxicated.
7. OTHER DRUGS- Mixing alcohol with other
drugs increases the effects of the alcohol or of
the other drugs. Even aspirin makes a difference
in how alcohol affects the body.
Percentage of Alcohol

Beer and wine have a lower percentage of
alcohol by volume than vodka or whiskey.

The alcohol content of 12 ounce beer is equal to
one glass of wine or one shot of liquor
=
=
BAC

BAC- Blood Alcohol Concentration

The BAC of .08 or more is considered legally
intoxicated or drunk if you are 21 or older.

The BAC level of .02 is the limit for anyone
under 21.
What Happens If You Have Had
Too Much to Drink?

A Hangover- describes the sum of unpleasant
physiological effects following heavy
consumption of drugs, particularly alcoholic
beverages. The most commonly reported
characteristics of a hangover include headache,
nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and thirst

The only cure for a hang over is the time it takes
for the liver to break down the alcohol.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
A women who consumes alcohol when she is
pregnant may cause her child to have Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome
 Even one drink maybe be harmful to a fetus.
 FAS is a preventable disease and babies born
with it may have:
- Low birth weight, weak, facial deformities

When Driving…
Even one drink impairs a persons:
-
-
Vision
Reaction Time
Motor Coordination
Alcohol causes fatalities in these
accidents..
Bicycle: 33%
Pedestrian: 50%
Drowning: 25% to 50%
Fires: 50%
What Alcohol Does…



Responsible for 1/3 of teen crimes
Responsible for 50% of Teen Suicides
Drinking alcohol is leading factor in unplanned
pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases
because…..
Is there progress being made?

Yes there is a decrease in
drunk driving because of
anti-drinking and driving
campaigns.
Drinking and Driving
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1982
1987
1993
What are ways that helped reduce the
amount of drunk drivers?



Increased penalties for DUI
The driver is responsible for any incident that
may occur if the BAC is above .08
Organization such as MADD and SADD push
for stricter penalties for DUI and create
awareness programs for the community
Alcohol can be habit forming or
addicting…




An addiction is….
A person who is addicted and stops will
experience _________ symptoms
Some of these may include:
Young people who start drinking at an early age
will have a greater chance of becoming addicted
to alcohol.