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Alcohol
I. Psychoactive Drug
• Chemical substance that acts on the brain,
affecting a person’s mind and behavior.
II. Depressant
• Drug that slows down the nervous system’s
activity.
III. Reasons people start drinking
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social pressures
stress
advertising
means of rebellion
Boredom
IV. One ounce of alcohol
• Two 12-ounce beers.
• Two 5-ounce glasses of wine
• Two 1.5-ounce shots of distilled spirits
V. Drinking Behaviors
• Social Drinking (light drinker)
- consumes an average of 1 drink per day.
• Moderate Drinking
- consumes no more than one ounce of
alcohol per day.
• Heavy Drinking
- consumes more than 2 drinks per day.
VI. Intoxication
• Effects on the brain
1) depressed inhibitions
2) decreased judgement
• Effects on reflexes - decreased reaction time
• Effects on temperature regulation - loss of body heat
• Effects on body fluids - alcohol is a diuretic
VII. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
• Measurement of alcohol in the bloodstream
which level of intoxication is derived from.
VIII. Factors influencing intoxication
• The drinker - larger people take longer to
get intoxicated.
• Rate of intake.
• Rate of elimination
IX. Hangover
• Unpleasant physical effects that follow the
heavy use of alcohol.
X. Long-term Effects of heavy use.
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Brain damage
Cirrhosis - scarring of the liver
Oral Cancer
Digestive problems
Heart disease
XI. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Mental and physical birth defects caused by
alcohol use during pregnancy.