Alcohol and Its Effects on the Body

The most widely abused DRUG among high

school students

Alcohol is.......

PartyYou have been invited to a party. When you

arrive, you realize that most people at the party are drinking alcohol and many are intoxicated. You decide to leave, but on your way toward the door you stumble over a person lying on the floor. This person is semiconscious, smells of alcohol, does not respond when you ask his name, has trouble keeping his eyes open, and seems to have trouble breathing. What would you do?

Why people drink…

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Why Young People Drink

• To escape pressures & problems• To feel better or get over being sad

or lonely• To deal with stress and relax• To feel more self confident in social

situations• For excitement• Because friends are doing it• To deal with boredom• To get away with something they

are not supposed to do• To fit in

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Why people choose not to drink

Unpleasant, dislike taste, react unfavorably, taking medications, gain weight, harmful to body, lessens judgment, religious reasons. 

Choosing not to...eliminates abuse of alcohol, destructive behavior.  You need not defend your choice not to drink.

• PROOF – a measure of the % of alcohol is liquor

– Proof is equal to twice the percentage of alcohol in the beverage

– 100 proof whiskey would contain 50% alcohol

Produces waste products

(Urine) and is excreted

Liver filters the neutralized particles

Liver metabolizesalcohol to make it

less active

Alcohol enters bloodstream

BAC=BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION

• The amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage

• PA is 0.08%• Signs of intoxication

can appear at BACs as low as 0.02%.

12 oz beer 4% Alcohol by volume 0.5oz. Alcohol-----------------------------5 oz. wine 10% Alcohol by volume 0.5oz. Alcohol

1.5 oz. Alcoholwhiskey 40% Alcohol by volume 0.5oz.

THE AFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ARE INFLUENCED BY:

1. 5.2. 6.3. 7.4. 8.5. 10.

THE AFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ARE INFLUENCED BY:

1. Gender 6. Strength of drink

2. Age 7. Amount of food eaten (before)

3. Weight 8. Fatigue (before)

4. Mood 9. Speed of consumption

5. Physical health 10. Other medicine/drugs taken

(before & during)

BAC-Blood Alcohol Concentration

• Slows reflexes and coordination• Reduces a person’s ability to judge distances & speeds• Increases risk-taking behaviors• Reduces a person’s concentration while increasing

forgetfulness• Causes confusion • Decreased alertness• Blurred Vision• Death

ALCOHOL POISONING

• Is a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose.

• Binge drinking is drinking 5 or more drinks at one sitting

• Shuts down involuntary actions (breathing & gag reflex)

• Too much alcohol results in vomiting

• If the involuntary actions shut down, a person can choke and be asphyxiated by their own vomit

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL POISONING

Passing out• Alcohol still enters the

bloodstream after passing out

• Never let someone “sleep it off”

Mental confusion

Stupor

coma

inability to be roused

vomiting & seizures

• Slow respiration• Irregular heartbeat• Hypothermia• Severe dehydration from

vomiting• Call 911

ALCOHOL & DRUG INTERACTION

• Interactions between alcohol and medications can lead to illness, injury and death.

• Alcohol-drug interactions account for ¼ of all emergency room admissions.

• SYNERGISM – Interaction of drugs that produces effects that are many times greater than what they would be if taken independently

• TYPICAL ALCOHOL-DRUG INTERACTIONS– Slows down a drug’s absorption by the body– Medications can break down faster than

normal decreasing their effectiveness– Metabolizing enzymes can change some

medication into chemicals that can damage the liver i.e. Acetaminophen and alcohol

– Can increase the effects i.e. Antihistamines-causing excessive dizziness & sleepiness

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

• Nervous system– Brain-Memory-Judgment

• Cardiovascular system– Heart – Blood vessels

• Digestive system – Stomach-liver-kidneys

• Respiratory System– Lungs-breathing

SHORT TERM PHYSICAL EFFECTS – Those that happen within minutes to a few days of

drinking alcohol

• Bloodstream; blood vessels widen• Brain – immediately acts as a

depressant – what does that mean to the body??? 1. Loss of sensation 2. Decrease of senses 3. Loss of muscle control 4. Depresses the part of the brain that

controls breathing and heart rate 5. Blackouts

SHORT TERM PHYSICAL EFFECTS

• Liver – the liver chemically breaks down alcohol into energy and the waste products carbon dioxide and water. When people drink alcohol faster that the liver can break it down, they become intoxicated

1. The rate at which a person’s liver can break down alcohol is fairly constant. In one hour the liver can break down the amount of alcohol in a can of beer in a shot of liquor, or a glass of wine 2. There is nothing that one can do to help a person “sober” up more quickly.

LONG TERM EFFECTS• Liver problems: too much alcohol too frequently can damage the liver

permanently, leading to liver disease and cirrhosis or cancer of the liver.

• Lesser damage to the liver will often be reversed however if the person becomes abstinent from alcohol and starts eating a well balanced diet.

• Heart disease and other heart problems, such as high blood pressure, are also long term effects of alcohol use. Cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle) can also occur from excessive alcohol use.

• Excessive drinking causes dehydration, which thickens the blood, making it more likely to clot.

• There are many other physical problems that come from alcoholism including infertility or impotence, diabetes, ulcers, obesity, and pancreatitis.

• Alcohol poisoning which can lead to death.

Good/Healthy Liver

Bad/Unhealthy Liver - Cirrhosis or cancer of the liver.

KIDNEYS

• The kidneys produce more urine than usual, and the drinker loses more water than usual which leads to dehydration

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS• Continual drinking irritates the tissues lining the

mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.• Repeated irritation increases the risk of cancers

in these areas.

Alcohol and Pregnancy• No level of alcohol use during

pregnancy has been proven safe

• Each year between 5,300 and 8,000 babies in the United States are born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a combination of physical and mental birth defects

• Alcohol is the third leading cause for non-genetic handicapping of infants in America

• Many babies with FAS also have a brain that is small and abnormally formed, and most have some degree of mental disability. Many have poor coordination and a short attention span and exhibit behavioral problems.

Less Brain Matter at Birth

This is permanent damage!!!

Alcohol can have significant effects on feelings, perceptions, and physiology Taken from Virginia Tech Website

Progressive Effects of Alcohol

Blood AlcoholConcentration

Changes in Feelings

and Personality

Physical and MentalImpairments

0.01 — 0.06

RelaxationSense of Well-beingLoss of InhibitionLowered AlertnessJoyous

ThoughtJudgmentCoordinationConcentration

0.06 — 0.10

Blunted FeelingsDisinhibitionExtroversionImpaired Sexual Pleasure

Reflexes ImpairedReasoningDepth PerceptionDistance AcuityPeripheral VisionGlare Recovery

0.11 — 0.20

Over-ExpressionEmotional SwingsAngry or SadBoisterous

Reaction TimeGross Motor ControlStaggeringSlurred Speech

0.21 — 0.29StuporLose UnderstandingImpaired Sensations

Severe Motor ImpairmentLoss of ConsciousnessMemory Blackout

0.30 — 0.39Severe DepressionUnconsciousnessDeath Possible

Bladder FunctionBreathingHeart Rate

=> 0.40UnconsciousnessDeath

BreathingHeart Rate

A Problem Drinker's Self-TestDo you drink to avoid facing problems or when you are angry?

Do you prefer to drink by yourself rather that with others?

Do you try to stop drinking but fail?

Do you lie to others about how often or how much you drink?

Do you ever forget whole blocks of time when you are drinking?

Do you get drunk even though you don't intend to do so?

Are your school grades dropping?

Do you drink in the morning?

Do you get in to trouble when you drink?

Is it important to you to show others that you can drink alcohol?

Types of Drinkers

Moderate drinker A.Does not drink excessively.B.Doesn’t behave inappropriately

because of alcoholC.Person’s health is not harmed by

alcohol over the long term.D.Applies only to adults (teens brains

are not yet mature and cannot handle alcohol)

II. Social drinker a. drinks only on social occasionsb. may be a moderate or a problem drinker

depending on how alcohol affects the person’s life

III. Binge drinkera. drinks 5 or more drinks in a short period. IV. Problem drinker or an alcohol abuser

– suffers social, emotional, family, job-related, or other problems because of alcohol.

– This person is on the way to alcoholism.

• Alcoholic– has the full blown disease of alcoholism– this person’s problems, caused by alcohol

abuse, are out of control.

Stages of alcoholism

• a. Early stage alcoholism– drinker drinks more often– preoccupied with drinking– drinks for the feeling that alcohol

brings– drinks to ease problems– blackouts – periods of time the drinker

cannot remember

Stages of Alcoholism

– Middle stage alcoholism

– physical dependence complete

– family, social, and work relationships suffer

– denial – refuses to see the problem or get help

– hides drinking– drinks alone– drinks in the morning– drinks at school or work– Builds a tolerance

Stages of alcoholism– Late stage alcoholism

– falls apart mentally, physically, and emotionally

– lives for drinking– experiences reverse

tolerance (less and less cause intoxication)

– isolated from society– serious health problems

(malnutrition, hallucinations, viral and bacterial diseases)

• Safety risks– Driving accidents – 50% of

all fatal car accidents involve alcohol

– Pedestrian accidents – 80% involve alcohol

– Drowning – 60% involve alcohol

– Fires – 85% involve alcohol– Arrests for homicide, theft,

assault, rape, child abuse, and disorderly conduct

– Dangerous interactions with drugs

Legal risksCriminal offense to buy or sell alcohol to a

minor.Legally responsible if you give alcohol to an

underage person.DUI – (Driving under the influence – BAC

or .08 in PA)Suspended licenseVehicular homicide if accident involving

drinking results in death

CONSEQUENCES OF DWI/DUI

Harm to driver & others1.Driver’s license confiscated2.Injuries, property damage &

death3.Living with regret & remorse4.Arrest, jail time, court, fines5.Police record/lawsuits6.Higher insurance rates (3Xs

higher than non-drinking peers)

BEING RESPONSIBLE ABOUT ALCOHOLReality-the majority of adults in the U.S. drink alcohol

Roughly 1/3 are light drinkers1/3 are moderate to heavy drinkers

1/3 do not drink at all

Appropriate use of alcohol for adults ( there is no appropriate use for minors)

Occasional use onlyUsed in moderation

Only in social situations – not drinking alone

BEING RESPONSIBLE ABOUT ALCOHOLResponsible use of alcohol

Not using alcohol until of legal ageControlling situations in which social drinking

occursControlling the amount of alcohol you drink

Never driving after drinkingNever riding with an intoxicated driver

Responsibilities as a hostAlways offer non alcoholic drinks

Serve food along with alcoholMake sure guests do not drive when impairedLegally responsible if they serve an underage

person.

The day after…

• Hangover – symptoms that can occur the next day after being intoxicated:

• 1. Light sensitivity

• 2. Headache

• 3. Nauseous

• 4. Body aches

• 5. Bad breath

TREATMENT

The process of learning to live an alcohol free life is called recovery

Alcoholics anonymous is an organization that provides help for the alcoholic

Al-Anon provides help for the family of an alcoholic

Alateen provides help specifically for the teens who has a family member that is an alcoholic.

National Association for Children of Alcoholics – provides help for children of alcoholics