Transcript 13-Alcohol & Drugs

Alcohol & Drugs
Who drinks?
• Children from wealthy families
– at greater risk than middle class
• College graduates
– Less likely to drink heavily
• (Compared to H.S. dropouts)
• High school dropouts
– Heavy & problem drinkers
Effects
• Body weight is a factor
• Women’s stomachs absorb alcohol
more efficiently = higher blood alcohol
levels with less drinking
Problems with alcohol
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Tolerance
Dependence
Withdrawal
Addiction
Tolerance
• More drug to get same effect
Dependence
• Body becomes dependent on drug for
normal functioning
• Removal = withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal
• The “shakes”
– DT’s = Delirium tremens
• Hallucinations
• Disorientation
• Convulsions
Alcohol & pregnancy
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Decrease in fertility = infertility
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
Stillbirths
Miscarriage
– Even with light to moderate drinking
Indirect hazards
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Accidents
Aggressive behavior
Suicidal ideas and attempts
Unprotected sex
Forced sexual experience
Why do people drink?
• Environment
• Genetics
– Particularly in men
Alcohol dependency
syndrome
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Impaired control
Drink-seeking behavior
Awareness of the compulsion to drink
Withdrawal symptoms
– Drink to avoid withdrawal symptoms
• Negative reinforcement
Change without therapy
• Spontaneous remission
– Quitting without a formal cessation
program
Relapse
• About = Smoking, opiate (drug) use
Opiate drugs (e.g. Heroin)
• Tolerance and dependence quickly
– As little as 24 hours