Transcript Teens and Alcohol - Columbia High School

Alcohol is…
• A Depressant
–A drug that slows down
brain and body reactions
• The most widely abused
drug among high school
students.
12 oz. domestic beer
10 oz. microbrew beer
10 oz. wine cooler
4-5 oz. wine
1.5 oz. large shot (80 proof)
Teens and Alcohol
• Influenced by:
–Peers
–Family
–Media
How Alcohol Affects the Body
• Cardiovascular System
– Slows heart rate
– More blood flows to skin’s surface
– Core body temp decreases
• Excretory
– Kidneys increase urine production
• Nervous System
– Brain activity slows
– Reflexes become sluggish
– Coordination becomes impaired
• Digestive System
– Too much alcohol in stomach may cause vomiting
Other Short Term Effects
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Slurred speech
Drowsiness
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Headaches
Breathing difficulties
Distorted vision and
hearing
• Impaired judgment
• Anemia
– Loss of red blood cells
• Coma
• Blackouts
– Memory lapses, where
the drinker cannot
remember events that
occurred while under
the influence
Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC):
The amount of alcohol in a person’s
blood, expressed as a percentage
Factors Affecting BAC
• Rate of consumption: The rate at which your
liver breaks down alcohol
• Gender: When consuming the same amount
of alcohol, a man’s BAC will be lower than a
females
• Body size: Smaller people (by weight and
height) feel the effects of alcohol more than
larger people
• Amount of food: Drinking on an empty
stomach increases the rate of alcohol
absorption into the bloodstream
• Type of drink: Mixing alcohol with certain
drinks can increase the rate it enters the
blood stream
Blood Alcohol Concentration
When Blood Alcohol Concentration is…
• 0.02-0.03
– Reflexes and alertness decline
• 0.04-0.06
– Judgment and self-control are
impaired
– Reaction time slows
• 0.07-0.09
– Muscle coordination
decreases
• 0.12-0.15
– Vomiting usually occurs
– Emotions become
exaggerated, unstable, or
violent
• 0.20
– Confusion, dizziness, ad
disorientation occur
– Vision and speech are
impaired
– Blackouts are typical
• 0.30
– Ability to stand or walk is lost
– Loss of consciousness may
occur
• 0.40
– Loss of consciousness usually
occurs
– Death may occur
• 0.50 or higher
– Death usually occurs
What is the ONLY thing that can
sober a person up?
TIME!!!!
Life Threatening Effects
• Alcohol poisoning: taking an excessive
amount of a drug that leads to coma or
death
• When drinking, many think they will pass
out before this limit
– Not true: alcohol continues to be absorbed
into the blood for 30-90 minutes after a
person’s last drink
• Drinkers BAC can still increase after they become
unconscious
Life Threatening Effects Continued
• Warning signs of Overdose (alcohol
poisoning):
– Cold Clammy Hands
– Slow or irregular respiration
– Vomiting while “sleeping”
– Cannot be wakened
• Person is unconscious
• Binge drinker- the consumption of
excessive amounts of alcohol at one
sitting
Long Term Risks of
Alcohol
• Brain Damage
• Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
• Liver Damage
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Problems
• Alcoholism
• Malnutrition
• Cancer of the mouth
and throat
• Ulcers
• Gastritis
– Inflammation of
stomach walls
• Alcohol poisoning
• High blood pressure,
stroke, and other
heart related diseases
• Nerve damage
• Sexual problems