Transcript Robsons alcohol power pt

Alcohol, Tobacco, & Drugs:
Ch 13- Alcohol: A Dangerous
Drug
Essential Question: How does
alcohol affect the body?
Alcohol Facts:
 It’s an illegal drug for ANYONE under the age of
21
 Anyone under the legal drinking age (21) who
drinks is violating the LAW! And runs the RISK of:
* being arrested
* being fined
* acquiring a criminal record
 It is the most misunderstood drug
 Over half the violent crimes is U.S. involve
alcohol
FACT:
 Alcohol is a Depressant and directly
effects the Central Nervous System.
The Path of Alcohol in the
Body
1.
Mouth: alcohol enters the body.
2.
Stomach: some alcohol gets into the
bloodstream in the stomach, but most goes on
to the small intestine.
3.
Small Intestine: alcohol enters the
bloodstream through the walls of the small
intestine.
4.
Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.
5.
Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.
6. Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of
about 0.2 oz per hour. Alcohol is converted into
water, carbon dioxide and energy.
Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)


It’s a way to measure the level of alcohol in a person’s body
Can be influenced by:
* gender
* body weight
* amount of food in stomach
* rate of drinking


Under 21, considered legally intoxicated in most states at BAL of .02
Adults, considered legally intoxicated in most states at BAL of .10
One standard drink= interferes with person’s
* judgment
*reflexes
*vision
Standard Drinking Size
1.25 oz of
Liquor
10 oz Wine Cooler
12 oz of Beer
6 oz of Wine
Alcohol content
 Beers - 2-6% (some specialty beers
stronger- malt liquors similar to beer, but
higher alcohol content)
 Table wines – 10-15%
 Hard liquors - 40-55%
 Proof (also referred to as it’s “strength”)
is twice the alcohol content
Example: whiskey may be 50% alcoholit’s 100 proof!
Alcohol content- Why it’s Important
to Know…….
 The higher the proof, the faster a person
becomes intoxicated.
 Alcohol contains calories so……….. As
proof increases, so does calorie content!
How the Effects Differ by Sex
2 Major factors involved in intoxication:
1- body weight
2- % body fat
Females: Become intoxicated more easily
than males

Have a higher fat-to-tissue ratio

In general, hormone levels influence alcohol
metabolism: Therefore, alcohol tolerance varies
during menstrual cycles

Some evidence that birth control pills reduces alcohol
tolerance
Males: stomach usually oxidizes alcohol more efficiently,
so less alcohol passes into blood stream
Short-term Effects
 Impaired judgments, vision, balance,
coordination
 Alcohol poisoning, blackouts, coma or
death
 Change in behavior, emotions
 Painful hangover symptoms – stomach
pains, vomiting, and diarrhea
Long-term Effects
Diseases of the Liver
• Hepatitis: an inflammation or
infections of the liver
that can cause:
fever
yellowing of the skin
weakness
sometimes death
 Cirrhosis : a disease caused by
alcohol abuse
• Liver cells are permanently
replaced by useless scar tissue
• Liver can no longer metabolize
food properly so a result is
digestive problems
Cirrhosis of the
Liver
More Long Term Effects




Damage to heart muscle
Increases risk of heart disease
Woman’s risk for breast cancer increases
Lower one’s white blood cell count- harder time
fighting off infections
 Kills brain cells- leads to irreversible memory
damage
 Increases chance of liver, esophagus, pharynx,
and larynx cancer
Binge Drinking
 Binge drinking : drinking large amounts of alcohol quickly
* 5 or more drinks in a row for boys
*4 or more in a row for girls.
 People under 21 still get alcohol easily with one goal - to
get drunk- typically by play drinking games
 Often begins around age 13, tends to increase during
adolescence, peaks in young adulthood (ages 18 to 22),
then gradually decreases
 .4% enough to put one in a coma/ verge of death
What Happens to Your Body
When You Get Alcohol Poisoning?
 It is common for someone who drinks excessive amounts of
alcohol to vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach.
There is then the danger of choking on vomit.
 Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such
as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A
fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
 The mixture of alcohol and marijuana are a deadly
combination. Once someone’s body begins to reject the
alcohol, the person’s natural reaction is to vomit. Marijuana
inhibits the body’s reaction to the alcohol, keeping a person
from being able to vomit.
What Happens to Your Body
When You Get Alcohol Poisoning?
 A person's blood alcohol level (BAL) can
continue to rise even while he or she is
passed out.
 Even after a person stops drinking,
alcohol in the stomach and intestine
continues to enter the bloodstream and
circulate throughout the body.
 Dangerous to assume the person will be
fine by sleeping it off.
ALCOHOL POISONING
Signs/Symptoms/Consequences
 Confusion, coma, or person cannot be aroused.
(Unconscious or semi-consciousness)
 Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
 Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between
breaths)
 Hypothermia (low body temperature), pale or bluish skin
color, paleness
 Vomiting, and choking on vomit
 Seizures
 Strong odor of alcohol
 permanent brain damage, or death
What Should I Do If I Suspect
Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning?
Appropriate Action
 Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
 Be aware that a person who has passed out
may die and could be suffering from alcohol
poisoning
 Any suspicion of an alcohol overdose, call
911 for help.
 Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness.
THE HANG OVER
 Alcohol robs your brain cells of water and glucose
(the brain's food), which is why you experience
hangover symptoms such as headache,
dehydration, and the shakes the day after a night of
heavy drinking.
 Though there are lots of so-called "hangover
cures," the only real cure is time. The best thing to
do the day after heavy drinking is down lots of
water and try to rest if possible.
What are the three stages
of Alcoholism?
The state of
being
psychologically
and physically
addicted to
alcohol

Abuse – Someone who cannot
drink alcohol in moderation or at
appropriate times.

Dependence – Someone who is
psychologically dependent on
alcohol. They feel the constant
desire and need for alcohol.

Addiction – Someone who is both
psychologically and physically
dependent on alcohol. Alcohol is
their number one priority and they
suffer from withdrawal symptoms if
they do not get their regular fix.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
 Odor on breath
 Intoxication
 Difficulty focusing,
glazed eyes
 Uncharacteristically
passive or aggressive
behavior
 Decline in personal
appearance/hygiene
 Decline in school/work
performance
Frequent absences
Unexplained bruises or
accidents
Irritability
Loss of memory
(blackouts)
Changes in peer-group
associations & friendships
Damaged relationships
with family members or
close friends
Risk Factors
You cannot control
 Genes
 Environment
You can control
 Drinking before age 21
 Associating with people who
drink
 Bending to peer pressure
 Drinking beyond moderation
 Drinking at inappropriate
times
 Drinking alone
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
 A highly variable group of
birth defects including
mental retardation,
deficient growth, central
nervous system
dysfunction, and
malformations of the skull
and face that tend to
occur in the offspring of
women who consume
large amounts of alcohol
during pregnancy
 No one knows exactly
how much alcohol must
reach the unborn child to
cause such deformities.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:
The Innocent
Alcoholism
 Not only affects the person involved but it also
has huge affects on family members.
 Mental, physical and emotional abuse are all
types of abusive behaviors that are typically
suffered by family members of an alcoholic.
 It is not uncommon for an alcoholic to resume
drinking especially in response to a traumatic
event such as a death of a loved one or loss of
a job.
Recovery from Alcoholism
 Withdrawal
– Process of discontinuing a drug to which the
body has become addicted
 Suffer from extreme nervousness,
headaches, tremors, or seizures.
 Usually last a few days
 Sometimes alcoholic needs medical
supervision
Recovery from Alcoholism
There is hope for alcoholics as there are many options
available:
 Inpatient and outpatient programs: both provide therapy
 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
– 12 steps is their recovery method
Programs designed to help family members of alcoholics:
 Al-Anon
– Help family members talk about problems of living with an alcoholic
 Alateen
– Specifically help teenagers with same situation
 S.A.D.D.
– Students Against Destructive Decisions, formerly Students Against
Driving Drunk
Alcoholism
Where can you find help?
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The Phone Book
Online at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Local Church
Hospitals