All About Alcohol

Substance Abuse Unit

Lesson 1

What Is It?

Alcohol is a drug found in certain beverages that depresses the brain and nervous system (depressant)

Most common – beer, wine, and liquor Toxin

– Substance that is poisonous (too much will cause the stomach too reject it)

Stats

People aged 12 to 20 years drink almost 20% of all alcohol consumed in the United States (even though it’s illegal)

In 2004, there were over 142,000 emergency rooms visits by youth 12 to 20 years for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol

The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past month

– 1 out of 2 drink some amount of alcohol. – 1 out of 4 binge drink. – 1 out of 4 had their first alcoholic drink before age 13. – 1 out of 10 drove after drinking alcohol. – 1 out of 3 rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Effects on the Body

Alcohol enters the bloodstream in minutes Effects every cell in the body Changed into waste by the liver

– Liver can only change about one drink per hour – excess builds up in the body and eventually excreted

Large amounts of alcohol take a long time to be excreted by the body

– Drink late into the night – wake up “drunk” the next morning No way to speed alcohol through body

– Coffee, showers, fresh air do not work

Effects on the Body

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)– Amount of alcohol in a person’s blood– Percentage (the higher the percent, the greater

the effects on the body) What’s Considered One Drink?

– One-half ounce (14 grams) = one drink = 1 beer = 4-5 ounces of wine = 1 mixed drink

Factors Affecting BAC

1. Amount of alcohol consumed.2. Speed at which alcohol is consumed.3. Body weight4. Percentage of body fat5. Gender6. Feelings7. Amount of food eaten8. Presence of other drugs in bloodstream9. Age10. Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages.

BAC Levels

http://www.drinkinganddriving.org/Articles/blood-alcohol-content.html

Binge Drinking

Consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time Causes BAC levels to rise to dangerous levels rapidly

– Consume more than 4 drinks for males and more than 3 drinks for females in 2 hours

About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks

The proportion of current drinkers that binge is highest in the 18 to 20 year old groups (52.1%)

Leads to many health problems:– Injuries (intentional/unintentional)– Alcohol poisoning– STD’s/Unintended pregnancy

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Presence of severe birth defects in babies born to mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy

– Low birth weight– Shorter, smaller than normal babies– Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (sleeping problems,

muscle tension, shakes, abnormal reflexes, cry more frequently)

– Small eye slits, small head, decrease in physical and mental growth

– Leading cause of mental retardation

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Affects on Thinking/Decision-Making

Irresponsible decisions False sense of self-confidence in social situations Interferes with judgment Feelings of invincibility Give in to negative peer pressure Intensifies sexual feelings, dulls reasoning Slows reaction time, affects coordination Can cause aggressive behavior Intensifies emotions

Hangovers and Blackouts

Hangover– Aftereffect of using alcohol and other drugs– Headache, sensitive to sound, nausea, vomiting,

tiredness, irritability

Blackout– Period in which a person cannot remember what

has happened– Very dangerous

Increase in Violent and Illegal Behaviors

Domestic violence Rape Suicide Drinking on school grounds If you are under 21 years of age it is illegal to

purchase, attempt to purchase, consume, possess, transport any alcohol, liquor or malt or brewed beverages and it is illegal to lie about your age or to carry a false I.D. card to obtain alcohol.

Drinking and Driving

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)– Zero Tolerance law (BAC from .10% to .02%)

If you are arrested for DUI, the police will ask you to take a breath, blood, or urine test. If your BAC is 0.02% or higher, and you are convicted of DUI, you can expect:

– Up to one-year driver's license suspension – Drug and alcohol evaluation – Fines (up to $500 for a first offense), court costs and restitution – To complete a state-approved Alcohol Highway Safety Program, if ordered

by the court. The effects of a DUI arrest can continue for years. You may

experience: – Personal embarrassment– Work problems– Insurance problems

This is Jacqueline Saburido on September 19, 1999.

This is her and her Father, 1998.

This is her on Vacation in Venezuela.

Jacqueline's birthday party as a child.

At a party with friends.

In December 1999, the car in which Jacqueline was riding was hit by another car that was driven by a 17-year old male student on his way home after drinking a couple of cases of beer with his friends. What do you think happened?

After the accident Jacqueline has needed over 40 operations.

Jacqueline was caught in the burning car and her body was burned for a little under 1 minute.

With her father in 2000.

Jacqueline receiving treatment for her severely burned face.

Three months after accident.

Without a left eyelid Jacquie needs eye drops to keep her vision.

Now 20 years old, the driver of the car that hit Jacqueline cannot forgive himself for driving drunk on that night three years ago. He's aware of devastating Jacqueline Saburidos life.

Not everyone who gets hit by a drunk driver dies. This picture was taken 4 years after the accident and the doctors are still working on Jacqueline, whose body is 60% covered with severe burns.

Alcoholism

Disease where there is physical and psychological dependence on alcohol

Have difficulty controlling drinking; personalities change; behavior becomes unpredictable/irresponsible; relationship dysfunctions

Feelings of anger, paranoia, and depression increase Denial (refuse to admit the problem) Alcoholics may go through several stages (try to quit) Alcohol withdrawal syndrome – feel nauseous, anxious,

agitated, may vomit, “shakes”, trouble sleeping, hallucinations

Treatment for Alcoholism

Involve counseling for alcoholic and their family members/friends, short and long-term recovery facilities

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)– Recovery program for people who have alcoholism

Al-Anon– Recovery program for friends and family members of

alcoholics Alateen

– Recovery program for teens who have a family member or friend with alcoholism

Resisting Alcohol

NO Avoid being in situations where there’s

pressure to use alcohol Stay away from illegal behaviors Bottom line = use common sense…you’re

not invincible