Download Understanding Alcohol

PLAN OF ACTION
 3/16
 Take
Quiz
 Pick up ALCOHOL notes packet when
turning in quiz; complete the anticipation
guide
 Take notes on Alcohol
 3/19
 Notes
on Alcohol (FINISH)
 3/26
 QUIZ
on ALCOHOL; Discuss project
and assign partners and topics
Review Questions
 What
are the 4 major harmful
ingredients found in smoking
tobacco?
 What two harmful ingredients are
NOT found in SMOKELESS
TOBACCO?
 What is emphysema? Please
explain.
Understanding Alcohol
What is alcohol?

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol): the
psychoactive drug in all alcoholic
beverages.

Central Nervous System depressant

Created through a process called
fermentation
ALCOHOL
Ethanol: psychoactive
drug in alcoholic
beverages
 What
are the 7 organs that are
responsible for alcohol absorption
and digestion?
 Try
to brainstorm the 7 organs and
put them in the order from the first
organ to absorb/digest alcohol to
the last organ to absorb/digest
alcohol.
Path of Alcohol
Ethanol:
Psychoactive drug
MOUTH
STOMACH
SMALL
INTESTINE
HEART
BRAIN
LIVER
KIDNEYS
The Path
of Alcohol
MOUTH
STOMACH
Some alcohol is
absorbed; 20-30% is
broken down by alcohol
dehydrogenase
SMALL
INTESTINE
Main site
of alcohol
absorption
Blood
Alcohol
Concetration
Amount of alcohol
in the bloodstream
HEART
Depresses Central
Nervous System
(CNS)
BRAIN
ADH hormone –
increases urine
production
Main site of alcohol
metabolism
LIVER
0.5 oz per
hour
One drink
per hour
12oz beer = 5 oz
wine = 1.5 oz liquor
=
12 oz.
Beer
=
5 oz.
Wine
1.5 oz. 80 proof
liquor
MOUTH
- Alcohol enters the body
- Up to 5% of the alcohol is absorbed
STOMACH
- 20% of the alcohol is
absorbed
- 20-30% of alcohol is
metabolized by alcohol
dehydrogenase
- travels through the pyloric
valve to the small intestine
SMALL INTESTINE
- The remainder of the alcohol is
absorbed
HEART
- Pumps alcohol through
the body
-Blood vessels dilate
BRAIN
-Depresses the
cerebral cortex
-Pituitary gland
releases antidiuretic
hormone (ADH) and
urine production
increases
LIVER
-Metabolism
occurs
-Liver prioritizes
the breakdown of
alcohol over it’s
normal functions.
KIDNEYS
- Excreted from the
body as urine
BAC Charts
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm
Tolerance: needing more and
more of a substance to get the
same effect
 So
does tolerance affect BAC?
 NO!
If you drink, BAC is going to rise;
however if you have a high tolerance,
the onset of physical characteristics of
intoxication may not directly correlate
with a person’s BAC.
Review Questions
1. What is the psychoactive drug found in all
alcoholic beverages?
 2. List in order, the 7 “organs” through which
alcohol passes from consumption to urine
production.
 3. What organ is the main site of alcohol
absorption? Metabolization?
 4. If a person drinks 2 oz. of alcohol in one
hour, how long will it take the liver to break it
down? Why

Blood Alcohol Concentration

The amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.
Does a person’s tolerance effect
their BAC?
Tolerance does NOT effect BAC. BAC will continue
to rise! With tolerance, the onset of physical
characteristics of impairment may not directly
correlate with BAC.
Factors that influence BAC

Gender

Men v. Women
 Alcohol
Dehydrogenase and Body Fat
Weight
 Metabolism
 Time

 Between

drinks and cessation
Food content in the stomach
Alcohol Poisoning
SYMPTOMS


Vomiting and nausea – 1st sign!!!
 Large
concentrations of alcohol will close the pyloric
valve, trapping the alcohol in the stomach. The
irritation will cause vomiting.






Loss of reflexes
Loss of consciousness; “passed out”
Pulse is weak and rapid
Breathing is unusual or irregular (fewer than 8
breaths per minute)
Skin is cool (possibly damp), pale or bluish
You can not wake the person
Consequences of Alcohol
Use/Abuse

Drunk Driving – Traffic Fatalities

Teenage pregnancy

Contributing factor to the top 3 causes of
death among teens
 Accidents
 Suicide
 Homicide
Consequences of Alcohol
Use/Abuse

Depresses the immune system

Cirrhosis of the liver

Stroke

Cancer

Brain Damage
The Effects of Alcohol
 In
low doses, alcohol produces:
a
relaxing effect
 reduces tension
 lowers inhibitions
 impairs concentration
 slows reflexes
 impairs reaction time
 reduces coordination
The Effects of Alcohol
 In
medium doses, alcohol
produces:
 slurred
speech
 cause drowsiness
 alter emotions
The Effects of Alcohol
 In
high doses, alcohol
produces:
 vomiting
 breathing
difficulties
 unconsciousness
 coma