substance abuse: alcohol and intoxication ms. mai lawndale high school
TRANSCRIPT
Alcohol, The Problem Drink
Alcohol abuse remains the number one drug problem among teenagers and young adults
Over 3 million adolescents (ages 14-17) experience problems from from alcohol abuse (poor schoolwork, illness, impaired judgment, car accidents)
Alcohol has also been linked to teen pregnancy, violence, crime, and STDs
What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a depressant (drug that slows down the nervous system)
Alcohol is also known as a gateway drug (leads to trying other drugs)
Research shows that many young people who use alcohol also use other illegal drugs
Alcoholic Beverages There are several different types of the
chemical alcohol, but the only type of alcohol that appears in beverages is ethanol
Alcoholic beverages are labeled with the percentage of their alcohol content with their proof
Proof is a measure of alcohol content that is 2 times the percentage of alcohol (example – whiskey is 80 proof which means that is it 40% alcohol)
3 Types of Alcoholic Beverages
Beer is 3-5% alcohol
Wine is 9-14% alcohol (wine coolers are wine mixed with carbonated water which is about 4-6% alcohol)
Distilled spirits are 35-40% alcohol (whiskey, gin, scotch, vodka)
No Nutritional Value
Alcohol contains no nutrients and interferes with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals
Even though there are no nutrients, alcohol contains a lot of Calories
Therefore, people who drink alcohol regularly may gain weight as a result
Why People Do Not Drink Alcohol
Do not like the taste of alcohol
Religious beliefs or social customs
Weight-conscious people
Do not like the feeling of losing control
Alcoholics cannot control their drinking
Social Pressures
Just like tobacco, many people start drinking because they find it difficult to refuse a drink from friends
They fear disapproval or rejection by their friends, so they drink anyways
Stress
Just like tobacco, many people drink in order to cope with stress and change the way they feel
They think drinking offers an escape from depression , boredom, anxiety, and other uncomfortable feelings
Advertising
Just like tobacco, ads for alcohol show drinkers healthy, attractive, strong, glamorous, adventuresome, athletic, fun-loving, and sophisticated
Alcohol use in movies and TV shows display people using alcohol when they are under stress or facing problems, but either way it is viewed as “cool”
A Way to Rebel
Young people also use alcohol as a way to rebel against their parents or other adults or authority
Like tobacco, they feel like drinking shows their independence from their parents and a sign of adulthood
Types of Drinking
2 of 3 adults in the US drinks alcohol
Alcohol use can be categorized into three different groups
Social Drinkers – 1 drink/dayModerate Drinkers – 2 drinks/dayHeavy Drinkers – 2+ drinks/day
Just One Drink
A drink is defined as ½ ounce of alcohol (example - 1 can of beer, 1 glass of wine, or 1 shot of distilled spirit)
Half of all drinkers are social drinkers (parties, family gatherings, special meal)
Heavy Drinkers
Heavy drinkers use alcohol to cope with stress, worry, and unhappiness
Drinking more than 4 drinks per day on average is considered excessive
Just like tobacco, these addicts are physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol
To addicted users, drinking is not a pleasurable activity, but an obsession
Blackouts
People who drink heavily may experience blackouts
Blackouts are periods of time when drinkers cannot remember what happened while intoxicated
Blackouts are warning signs of excessive drinking
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by dependence on alcohol and an inability to control your drinking
Addicted drinkers who try to stop drinking suffer from withdrawal symptoms like trembling, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and seizures
Identifying Alcoholics Drinking alone Hiding alcohol from family and friends Relying on alcohol during stress Drinking in the morning Suffering hangovers frequently Missing work or school Getting annoyed when criticized about
drinking
Intoxication
Any effect that alcohol has on the mind or body is called intoxication
Intoxication is not the same as being drunk because intoxication can begin at the first sip of alcohol
Unlike food, alcohol does not have to be digested so it can enter the bloodstream quickly once it reached the stomach
Effects on the Brain
Alcohol depresses neuron activity in areas of the brain that control attention, memory, and emotions
At first, alcohol gives people a more relaxed feeling, but as time passes people have less control and may become angry or start crying
People then become less capable of judging what is appropriate and safe
Effects on the Brain
If drinking continues, alcohol can then affect speech, vision, and coordination
The drinker has trouble walking, and may feel nauseated and start to vomit
The alcohol can then travel to the brain stem and control heartbeat and breathing to a point of irregularity or completely stopping
Alcohol Poisoning (fatal level)
Sometime drinkers will pass out either before or after the alcohol has reached a fatal level in their body
Alcohol poisoning must be medically treated immediately
Often times drinkers may vomit while unconscious and suffocate in their own vomit
Effects on Reflexes
Because alcohol interferes with nerve impulses, alcohol slows the body’s reflexes and reaction time
That is why many car accidents happen because a person is not able to react fast enough to a red light or someone driving in front of them
Effects on Temperature Regulation
Alcohol makes the blood vessels relax causing more blood to flow to the skin
As blood circulates in the skin, heat is released from the body through skin
This lowers the body’s internal temperature and the body loses heat rapidly
Effects on Body Fluids
Alcohol prevents the release of hormones that control how much urine the body produces
Without this hormone, urine is made continuously and the body fluids become depleted
As a result, drinkers become very thirsty and may become dehydrated
Measuring Intoxication
A drinker’s level of intoxication is measured by their blood alcohol content (BAC)
The BAC is the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood (%)
The higher the BAC, the more alcohol is in a person’s blood
Factors Influencing Intoxication
The heavier the drinker is, the less affect alcohol will have on their body
Alcohol’s effect on a drinker may decrease over time because some bodies can build a tolerance for it
The rate of intake during a given time, and the presence of food in the stomach
Alcohol is broken down in the liver, and can take about 3 hours for 1 ounce
Multiplier Effect
Using alcohol with other drugs can be extremely dangerous because alcohol increases the effects of many other drugs
The multiplier effect is when one drug increases the effect of another drug
For example, alcohol is extremely dangerous when taken with tranquilizers because it distorts your senses, coordination, and causes liver damage
Testing a Drinker’s BAC level
Police officers and medical professionals typically use 3 methods to measure a person’s BAC level
1. Breathalyzer Test2. Urine Test3. Blood Test
Any of these tests can be used as evidence to prosecute a drunk driver
A driver can also have their license taken away if he or she refuses a BAC test
Recovering from Intoxication
About 95% of alcohol enters the bloodstream and is broken down by the liver (other 5% is in urine, sweat, breath)
Depending on a person’s BAC level, it can take anywhere from 2-10 hours for alcohol to be eliminated from your body
A hangover is the unpleasant physical effect that follows heavy use of alcohol (dizziness, upset stomach, headache)