Alcohol                       

The average age when youth first try alcohol is 11 years for boys and 13 years for girls. 

Adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to

develop alcohol dependence than those who begin

drinking at age 21. 

Alcohol and the Body

Alcohol is a drug that depresses the brain and nervous system.

• Fermentation is a process in which yeast, sugar, and water are combined to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.

What to Know About Alcohol

and the Body Beer

– Beer is an alcoholic beverage that is made by fermenting barley, corn, or rye.

– Most beers are about 4 percent alcohol.

• Wine

– Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grapes or other fruits.

– Most wines are about 12 to 14 percent alcohol.

What to Know About Alcohol

and the Body Liquor

– Liquor is an alcoholic beverage that is made by distillation.

– Distillation is a process that uses a fermented mixture to obtain an alcoholic beverage with a high alcohol content.

– Most liquors are about 40 percent alcohol. – Proof is a measure of the amount of alcohol in

a beverage.

                                  .

                         

one 12 oz. beerat 4% alcohol 

 

one 1.5 oz shot of hard liquor at 40% alcohol 

or 80 proof  

                  

                         

one 5 oz. glass of wine at 11% alcohol

Blood alcohol concentration

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

TOLERANCE

Binge drinking

Binge Drinking and Blackouts• Drinkers who experience blackouts typically

drink too much and too quickly, which causes their blood alcohol levels to rise very rapidly. College students may be at particular risk for experiencing a blackout, as an alarming number of college students engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking, for a typical adult, is defined as consuming five or more drinks in about 2 hours for men, or four or more drinks for women

Alcohol poisoningSevere and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose

it is an offence for anyone under 21 years of age to possess, consume or purchase alcohol. It is illegal to sell or supply alcohol to anyone known to be or appearing to be under the age of 21 (unless the person has proof otherwise). It is not illegal for par ents or guardians to give an underage child a drink at home. Selling or supplying alcohol to any person who appears to be intoxicated is illegal

The Law

Legal intoxication level

Under 21 is .02

21 and over is .08

BAC Levels

.1% showing signs of inebriation

.2% impaired abilities

.3% lucky to be breathing

.4% close to death

Male impairment chart

Female impairment chart

Breath alcohol detector

Alcohol saliva test

Factors that influence how alcohol will affect a person

include:1. age

2. gender 3. physical condition

4. amount of food eaten 5. other drugs or medicines taken

low doses, •a relaxing effect •reduces tension •lowers inhibitions •impairs concentration •slows reflexes •impairs reaction time •reduces coordination

medium doses,

alcohol produces: •slur speech •cause drowsiness •alter emotions

high doses, •vomiting •breathing difficulties •unconsciousness •coma

Effects of alcohol

TRANSPORTINGOnce alcohol is in your blood stream, it is carried to all the organs of your

body. In the majority of healthy people, blood circulates through the body in 90 seconds, thereby allowing

alcohol to affect your brain and all other organs in 90 seconds.

ABSORBINGOnce alcohol is swallowed, it is not digested like food. Instead, a small amount is absorbed directly by the

mucosal lining of the mouth. Once in the stomach, alcohol is absorbed

directly into your blood stream through the tissue lining the stomach and small

intestine. Food, water and fruit juice help to slow this absorption, while

carbonation works to speed absorption.

CHANGINGAlcohol is a drug that must be changed

into a non-harmful substance. Ten percent of the alcohol is eliminated through

sweat, breath, and urine. Your liver must detoxify the remaining alcohol. Nothing will speed this rate. When the rate of alcohol consumed exceeds the liver’s

detoxification rate, the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream continues to increase,

further impairing the brain, causing intoxication, coma, or possibly death.

It takes about 1 1/2 hours to break down 1 drink

Kidneys

Alcohol causes the kidneys to increase urine output, which can lead to dehydration

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.

Compared to normal babies, babies born with

FAS have: 1. smaller heads and brains 2. some degree of mental

retardation 3. poor coordination

4. hyperactivity 5. abnormal facial features

Any of the following may indicate a drinking problem:

Drinking to forget worries, or to boost a sad mood;Guilt about drinking;

Unsuccessful attempts to cut down/stop drinking; Lying about or hiding drinking habits;

Causing harm to oneself or someone else as a result of drinking;

Needing to drink increasingly greater amounts in order to achieve desired effect;

Feeling irritable or resentful when not drinking; Medical, social, family, or financial problems caused

by drinking.

MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES

NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE

   What is alcoholism?Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms: - Craving--A strong need, or urge, to drink. - Loss of control--Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun. - Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking. - Tolerance--The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high."

  Is alcoholism a disease?Yes, alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels .for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems

Answering the following four questions can help you find out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem:•Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? •Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? •Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? •Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

Don't drink and drive. 

. people also find support groups a helpful aid to recovery. The following list includes a variety of resources: Al-Anon/Alateen Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)