Alcohol

Alcohol• is a depressant, slows body function• made by process called fermentation (process in

which yeast, sugar, and water are combined to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide)

• 3 types of alcohol– Beer – 4 % alcohol (fermenting barley, corn, or rye)– Wine – 12-14 % alcohol (fermenting grapes or other

fruits)– Liquor (whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, brandy) 40 %

alcohol (made by distillation)

Proof • Measure of the amount of alcohol in a

beverage• Proof is double the percentage of alcohol in a

beverage• 20 % alcohol = 40 proof

Alcohol entering body• Alcohol enters bloodstream within minutes• 20 % of alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream

through the stomach• Most of the rest is absorbed through walls of

intestine into the bloodstream• Remaining is excreted through urine, perspiration,

or breath

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

• The higher the BAC, the greater effects of alcohol on the body

• Liver processes only about one drink per hour, excess alcohol builds up in the body

• One-half ounce is one drink of alcohol• One-half ounce equals one can of beer, 4 to 5

ounces of wine, or one mixed drink

Alcohol is a toxin• Poisonous to body• If you drink to much, stomach will reject it

causing a person to vomit• There is no way to speed up the process of

breaking down the alcohol in your body• Coffee, showers, and fresh air do not break

down alcohol

Factors that affect BAC1. Amount of alcohol consumed

• Number of drinks, % of alcohol

2. Speed at which alcohol is consumed • faster it is consumed, higher the BAC is

3. Body weight • Greater effect on people with less body weight

(People with a higher body weight have a higher volume of blood than people with less body weight)

4. Percentage of body fat• A person with higher % of body fat will have a higher

BAC after one drink because body fat does not absorb as much alcohol as lean body tissue

5. Gender– BAC rises faster in females than in males

6. Feelings– Stress, anger, and fear can affect BAC

7. Amount of food eaten– Alcohol passes more quickly into bloodstream if stomach

is empty

8. Presence of other drugs in bloodstream9. Age– Elderly people are more sensitive to alcohol (bodies of

elderly people contain a lower volume of blood than younger people’s do)

10. Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages– Passes into bloodstream more quickly

Binge Drinking• Consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short

amount of time• Drinking games are considered binge drinking• 4 drinks for female, 5 drinks for male in a row• Risks of binge drinking: alcohol poisoning,

impaired judgment, high blood pressure, over weight, personality and mood changes, alcoholism

Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels• BAC .02 –

• People feel relaxed• increased social confidence, may become talkative. • Thinking and decision-making abilities may be impaired.

• BAC .05 – • Areas of the brain that control reasoning and judgment are

impaired• decrease in muscular coordination, and reaction time is

slowed• Speech may be slurred and people may say or do things

they usually would not say or do

• BAC .08 - .10 - • reasoning, judgment, self-control, muscular

coordination and reaction time are seriously impaired. Considered legally drunk (.08 all states)

• BAC .12 –• confused, disoriented, nauseous, and may have loss of

control of coordination and balance.• BAC .20 –• emotions are unpredictable, people may pass out

• BAC .40 – • become unconscious, breathing and heartbeat slow

down. Death can occur• BAC .50 - people enter a deep coma and die

How Alcohol Affects the Body

1. Nervous System– Impairs the brain and nerve cells– General decline in all areas of mental functioning

2. Cardiovascular System– Damage the heart– Increase risk of heart disease and stroke– Increase blood pressure

How Alcohol Affects the Body3. Digestive System– increases the risk of developing ulcers and cancers of

the mouth, esophagus, and stomach– increases the risk of developing liver disease– Fatty Liver – liver is enlarged with fatty tissue– Alcoholic hepatitis - a condition in which

the liver swells due to alcohol, resulting in serious illness or death (yellowing of skin and eyes, abdominal pain and fever)

– Cirrhosis - a disease of the liver caused by chronic damage to liver cells resulting in liver failure and death

How Alcohol Affects the Body4. Skeletal System– Body will lose calcium – Frequent, long-term use of alcohol is a risk factor for

developing osteoporosis

5. Urinary System– Kidney failure

6. Reproductive System– Infertility, inability to have children

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome• Presence of severe birth defects in babies born to

mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy – leading cause of mental disability

• May have small eye slits, a small head, physical and mental disabilities

• Risk of miscarriage or stillbirth• Low birth weight• Born with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal –

sleeping problems, shakes, abnormal reflexes

Thinking and Decision Making• It can cause you to make wrong decisions• It can give you a false sense of self-confidence in

social situations and interfere with your judgment

• It can make you feel invincible• It can increase the likelihood that you will give in

to negative peer pressure• It can intensify your sexual feelings and dull your

reasoning

Thinking and Decision Making

• It slows your reaction time and affects your coordination

• It can cause you to have aggressive behavior• It intensifies your emotions• Can cause hangover – headaches, nausea,

fatigue, irritability • Can cause blackouts - period in which a

person cannot remember what has happened

Alcohol and Violence• Domestic Violence - most acts occur after a

family member has been drinking alcohol• Suicide Attempts - drinking can intensify

feelings of sadness and depression• Rape – people who have been drinking are

more likely to commit rape • Drinking and Driving – leading cause of death

and spinal injury in young people• In all states, people must be 21 years old to

purchase or possess alcohol

Alcoholism• A disease in which there is physical and

psychological dependence on alcohol• Moods and emotions change rapidly and

behavior becomes unpredictable and irresponsible

• Withdrawal – reaction to the sudden stop of alcohol consumption

• Nauseous, anxious, agitated, may vomit, have tremors, trouble sleeping, and delirium tremens (hallucinations and convulsions)

How to Get Help• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – recovery program

for people who have alcoholism• Al-Anon – recovery program for people who

have friends or family members with alcoholism• Alateen – recovery program for teens who have

a family member or friend with alcoholism• Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) – recovery

program for children who have one or more parents with alcoholism

Are you at Risk for Alcoholism?

• Genetics - a child of a parent who has alcoholism is more likely to develop alcohol problems than a child of a parent who does not have alcoholism

• Childhood behavior• Psychiatric disorders• Self-esteem – lower self-esteem = higher rate

of alcoholism• Social factors

Alcohol Advertising• Timing of ads – on tv during sports games and

on weekends and in popular magazines• Billboards draw attention to alcohol• Internet – numerous web sites that promote

alcohol use• Attractive people – advertisements usually

show attractive people drinking and having fun

Resisting Peer Pressure1. Use assertive behavior. Say “no” in a firm and

confident voice2. Give reasons for saying “no” to alcohol 3. Use nonverbal behavior to match verbal

behavior4. Avoid being in situations in which there will

be pressure to drink alcohol5. Avoid being with people who drink alcohol6. Walk away from the situation

Resisting Peer Pressure7. Influence others to choose responsible behavior8. Avoid being influenced by advertisements for

alcohol9. Make up an excuse for not drinking alcohol10. Give the cold shoulder or ignore the person if

they persist11. Broken record technique (keep repeating no)12. Suggest something else to do13. Blame your parents