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Alcohol
The Self Inflicted Disease
Alcohol Facts…
Alcohol is probably the world's oldest
known drug.
• For thousands of years fermented grain, fruit
juice and honey have been used to make
alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol)
• Because of the big business alcohol brings in
today's society the consumption and abuse of
alcohol has become very socially accepted, but
it is also a major public health problem.
• In the U.S. it is illegal for anyone under 21 to
drink alcohol
• Alcohol has become an epidemic in the U.S.not only is it dangerous, but it is responsible
for the arrest of thousands of teenagers
• Many people who start drinking in their teens
become dependent on alcohol; they are also
likely to try other drugs
• Teens may use alcohol as a way to escape
problems
• Learning about the harmful effects of alcohol
will help you decide not to drink
Effects on the Heart
Short-term effects:
increases heart rate
Long-term effects: causes
irregular heart beat, heart
muscle damage (cardiac
muscle)
Immediate effects:
Effects on the Liver
Liver filters out 90% of the
alcohol, may become
imbalanced
Long-term effects:
Cirrhosis, which is a disease in
which the liver turns into
scar tissue and is destroyed;
also causes liver cancer,
both can lead to death
Kidneys
• Immediate effects:
increased urination,
which can cause
dehydration, headache,
and dizziness
Long-term effects:
Kidney failure resulting
from high blood pressure
Stomach
Immediate effects:
Vomiting, which can lead
to choking and death
Long-term effects:
Ulcers in the stomach
lining (open sores),
stomach cancer
• Immediate effects:
Effects on the Brain
impaired judgment,
reasoning, memory, and
concentration; decreased
reaction time, decreased
coordination, slurred speech,
distorted vision and hearing;
reduced inhibitions, alcohol
poisoning, unconsciousness,
and death
Long term effects: Brain cell
destruction, nervous system
disorders, and memory loss
Blood Vessels
• Immediate
effects:
Enlarged blood
vessels, creating
false sense of
warmth
Long-term effects:
High blood
pressure, stroke
Alcohol affects people depending
on…
• age
• gender
• physical condition
• amount of food eaten
• other drugs or medicines taken
Alcohol & the central nervous
system
Many different sites of the central nervous system
are depressed with alcohol use.
• the reticular formation
• spinal cord cerebellum
• cerebral cortex
• neurotransmitter systems
Alcohol molecule is very small and is soluble in
"lipid" and water solutions. Because of this, very
easily alcohol gets into the bloodstream and it
also crosses the blood brain barrier.
Alcohol travels the entire body…
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•
•
•
•
•
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Mouth: alcohol enters the body.
Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream in
the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine.
Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream
through the walls of the small intestine.
Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.
Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.
Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about
0.5 oz per hour.
Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide and
energy.
Low dose alcohol use causes…
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•
•
•
•
•
•
a relaxing effect
reduces tension
lowers inhibitions
impairs concentration
slows reflexes
impairs reaction time
reduces coordination
Medium doses can…
• slur speech
• cause drowsiness
• alter emotions
Large doses produce…
• vomiting
• breathing difficulties
• unconsciousness
• coma
Neurochemical effects of alcohol
are...
• Increased turnover of norepinephrine and
dopamine
• Decreased transmission in acetylcholine
systems
• Increased transmission in GABA systems
• Increased production of beta-endorphin in
the hypothalamus
Long Term (chronic) drinking can…
• lead to dependence
• addiction to alcohol
• additional neurological problems
• Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are…
• shaking (tremors)
• sleep problems
• Nausea
• hallucinations
• seizures
Chronic alcohol use can:
• Damage the frontal lobes of the brain
• Cause reduction in brain size
• Lead to alcoholism (addiction to alcohol)
• Cause a vitamin deficiency
Brain diseases caused by
alcohol…
"Wernicke's Encephalopathy“…
Syndrome when alcoholics are unable to
absorb vitamin B-1 (thiamine)-- vitamin
deficiency into the digestive system,
causing…
• Impaired memory
• Confusion
• Lack of coordination
And…
"Korsakoff's Syndrome.“…
when alcoholics suffer further deficiencies
of thiamine leading to…
• Amnesia
• Apathy
• Disorientation
Binge Drinking
• Drinking a lot in a short time is dangerous
as this can lead to coma and death
because the liver may not be able to
process all of the alcohol fast enough and
the poisons build up in the blood stream.
• So stay out of drinking contests- you may
win the contest, but lose your life in the
end.
Predisposition…
• Because of family history of alcohol use you
might be more probable to become alcoholic is
you start drinking.
• Some research shows that if you have the
DRD2A1 Allele gene and you use alcohol you
will have a higher probability of becoming
alcoholic…the problem is none of know if we
have it…everyone who chooses to drink for the
time is at risk of becoming alcoholic.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
• During pregnancy, a fetus-baby is fed through
the placenta. Alcohol easily passes through the
placenta and so every drink of alcohol a mother
takes causes the developing fetus to “drink”
alcohol. This causes abnormal brain
development – ITS TRUE!!! Exposing un born
babies to alcohol impairs proper development
the main connection between the right and left
sides of the brain, reducing the size of important
areas of the brain and ultimately causing
permanent brain damage.
FAS babies have…
• smaller heads and brains
• some degree of mental retardation
•
• poor coordination
• hyperactivity
• abnormal facial features
Not all alcohol use is bad…
Some people are able to drink alcohol without experiencing any
negative consequences...
• Age appropriate drinking—in the United States adults 21 years or
older are allowed to drink and they won’t always become addicted
• Occasional drinking—socially or at celebrations, religiously or even
with a meal every now and then
• Responsible drinking—making transportation arrangements, when
one intends on drinking—NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE
21 years old=
Occasionally=
NEVER=
So what’s the point?
• It’s simple…making an educated choice
about what you will and will not put into
your body…that’s it…it’s up to you, are
you willing to take the chance…after all
your brain might really like it…but you
could lose everything…eventually.