Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco

1. Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco

2. What You’ll Learn 1. List and explain factors that influence the effects a drug will have on a person. 2. Discuss the ways that drugs are administered to the body. 3. Identify the difference between drug misuse and drug abuse. 4. Identify information that appears on a prescription and on OTC drug labels.

3. What You’ll Learn 5. List guidelines for the safe use of prescription and OTC drugs. 6. Discuss the role of the FDA in regulating OTC drugs, prescription drugs, and herbal supplements.

4. Key Terms • tamper-resistant package • side effect • drug • drug misuse • drug abuse • dose • prescription • brand-name drug • generic-name drug • over-the-counter (OTC) drug

5. Drugs • A drug is a substance other than food that changes the way the body or mind functions. • People use drugs in responsible and irresponsible ways. • Responsible drug use is the correct use of legal drugs to promote health and well-being.

6. What to Know About Drugs • Drug misuse is the incorrect use of a prescription or OTC drug. • Drug abuse is the intentional use of a drug without medical or health reasons. • Both legal and illegal drugs can be abused. • Drug misuse and abuse can destroy both health and relationships.

7. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By mouth • The most common way of taking a drug is by swallowing it. • A drug in the form of a pill, capsule, or liquid may be swallowed. • After being swallowed, a drug travels to the stomach and small intestine and is absorbed into the bloodstream.

8. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By injection • Some drugs are injected using a syringe and a needle. • A drug that is injected must be dissolved in liquid. • The drug goes directly under the skin into a muscle or blood vessel, causing immediate results.

9. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By inhalation • Some drugs are inhaled through the nose or mouth. • Drugs that are inhaled produce effects very quickly by entering the bloodstream through the lungs. • Snorting is sniffing drugs through the nose so that they can be absorbed through the mucous membranes of the nasal passages.

10. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By absorption • A drug that is absorbed enters the bloodstream through the skin or mucous membranes. • A skin patch is a patch worn on the body that contains a drug that is absorbed through the skin. • A suppository is a wax-coated form of a drug that is inserted into the rectum.

11. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By absorption • Buccal absorption is the absorption of a drug between the cheek and gum. • Sublingual absorption is the absorption of a drug when it is placed under the tongue.

12. What to Know About Drugs Ways Drugs Enter the Body • By implantation • Some drugs are implanted, or placed, under the skin where they can be released into the bloodstream. • Other factors also determine the effects of a drug. • A dose is the amount of drug that is taken at one time. • The larger the dose, the greater the effect of the drug on the user.

13. Prescription Drugs • A drug that is used to treat, prevent, or diagnose illness is a medicine. • A prescription is a written order from a licensed health professional. • A prescription drug is a medicine that fights specific illnesses and infections and can be obtained only with a prescription.

14. What to Know About Prescription Drugs • Legal matters • Obtaining or using prescription drugs without a prescription is illegal. • Licensed pharmacists are allied health professionals who dispense medications that are prescribed by physicians. • A pharmacy is a place where prescription drugs legally are dispensed.

15. What to Know About Prescription Drugs • Brand-name v. generic • A brand-name drug is a drug with a registered name or trademark given to it by a pharmaceutical company. • A generic-name drug is a drug that contains the same active ingredients as a brand-name drug. • Generic and brand names of a particular drug usually have therapeutical equivalence, which means two drugs are chemically the same and produce the same medical effects.

16. What to Know About Prescription Drugs • Guidelines for the safe use of prescription drugs  • It is important to follow guidelines when using a prescription drug. • Contact your physician if the drug does not seem to be working or if you are experiencing new or unexpected symptoms. • Keep all prescription drugs out of the reach of children. • Never take prescription drugs that appear to have been tampered with, are discolored, or have a suspicious odor.

17. What to Know About Prescription Drugs • Guidelines for the safe use of prescription drugs  • Do not stop taking a prescription drug if you start to feel better; follow the instructions on the label. • Never take prescription drugs that have been prescribed for another person.

18. OTC Drugs • There are many different kinds of over-the-counter drugs, including aspirin, vitamins, and cold medicines.

19. What to Know About Over-the-Counter Drugs • An over-the-counter drug (OTC) is a drug that can be purchased without a prescription in stores such as grocery stores and drugstores. • Indication for use • An indication for use is a symptom or a condition for which the OTC drug should be used. • A contraindication for use is a symptom or a condition for which the OTC drug should not be used.

20. What to Know About Over-the-Counter Drugs Guidelines for Safe Use of OTC Drugs • There are ways to be safe when taking an OTC drug. • Obtain permission from your parents or guardian to take an OTC drug. • Do not purchase an OTC drug if the tamper-resistant packaging is broken. • A tamper-resistant package is a package that is sealed to assure the buyer that a package has not been opened previously.

21. What to Know About Over-the-Counter Drugs • Carefully follow the directions for use of the OTC drug. Guidelines for Safe Use of OTC Drugs • Stop using the OTC drug and notify a physician if you have unwanted side effects. • A side effect is an unwanted body change that is not related to the main purpose of a drug.

22. What to Know About Over-the-Counter Drugs • Do not take more than one OTC drug at a time without telling a pharmacist or physician. Guidelines for Safe Use of OTC Drugs • Do not take an OTC drug after the expiration date as the effectiveness of a drug may change with time. • Do not participate in activities that put you at risk if you are taking an OTC drug that may cause drowsiness.

23. Herbal Supplements • Dietary supplements are nutrients that are not a part of food and that may come in the form of pills, capsules, liquids, or powders. • When prescribed by a health professional, dietary supplements may be helpful, but sometimes they can be dangerous.

24. The Risks of Herbal Supplements • Herbal supplements are chemicals from plants that contain nutrients and are taken in addition to or in place of foods in one’s diet. • Safety issues • Manufacturers of herbal supplements, including vitamins and minerals, do not have to provide tests that show they are safe and effective before their products are sold to consumers.

25. The Risks of Herbal Supplements • Ephedra • Ephedra is an herbal supplement known for its stimulating effect. • Ephedra provides energy and increased metabolism. • The effects of ephedra include changes in blood pressure, headaches, chest pain, heart attack, stroke, and death. • The FDA banned the distribution of ephedra in 2004.

26. The Risks of Herbal Supplements • Kava • Kava is an ingredient in plants from South Pacific islands. • Kava, which is promoted for relaxation, is sold as a product that is supposed to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension. • There appears to be evidence that kava causes liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.

27. Key Terms • denial • delirium tremens syndrome • proof • blood alcohol concentration (BAC) • toxin • hazing activity • binge drinking • cirrhosis • blackout • alcoholism

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Digestive System How Alcohol Affects the Body • Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition in which the liver swells due to alcohol, resulting in serious illness or death. • Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver caused by chronic damage to liver cells. • A liver transplant is the only effective treatment for people with advanced cirrhosis.

32. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Digestive System How Alcohol Affects the Body • Heavy drinking also can cause malnutrition. • Malnutrition is a condition in which the body does not get the nutrients required for optimal health. • Drinking interferes with the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

33. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Immune System How Alcohol Affects the Body • Drinking depresses the function of the immune system and increases the risk of developing certain illnesses. • Cardiovascular system  • Drinking can damage the organs of the cardiovascular system and increase therisk for developing cardiovascular diseasesandstroke.

34. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body How Alcohol Enters the Body • Alcohol enters the bloodstream within minutes • About 20 percent of the alcohol that a person drinks is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach. • A majority of the rest of the alcohol is absorbed through the walls of the intestine, where it moves quickly into the bloodstream.

35. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Alcohol affects every cell in the body.  How Alcohol Enters the Body • The effects of alcohol intensify as the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases. • Blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood. • The higher the BAC, the greater the effects of alcohol on the body.

36. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • One-half ounce is one drink.  How Alcohol Enters the Body • An alcoholic beverage that contains about one-half ounce of alcohol is considered one drink of alcohol. • A toxin is a substance that is poisonous. • Alcohol is a toxin. • There is no way to speed alcohol through the body.

37. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body Factors That Affect BAC • Amount of alcohol consumed  • The number of drinks people have affects their BAC while the alcohol content of each drink determines the effects of the alcohol. • Speed at which alcohol is consumed  • Drinking at a faster rate increases BAC, is dangerous, and can be fatal.

38. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Body weight Factors That Affect BAC • People with a higher body weight have a higher volume of blood than people with less body weight. • The same amount of alcohol produces a greater effect on people with less body weight.

39. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Percentage of body fat  Factors That Affect BAC • Body fat does not absorb as much alcohol as lean body tissue; therefore, a person with the higher percentage of body fat will have a higher BAC after one drink. • Gender • BAC rises faster in females than in males.

40. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Feelings Factors That Affect BAC • Feelings, such as stress, anger, and fear, can affect BAC by speeding up the time it takes alcohol to enter the bloodstream. • Amount of food eaten  • Alcohol passes more quickly into the bloodstream when the stomach is empty than when it is full.

41. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Presence of other drugs in the bloodstream  Factors That Affect BAC • The presence of other drugs in the bloodstream increases the effects of alcohol. • Age • Elderly people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than are younger people. • The bodies of elderly people contain a lower volume of blood than younger people’s do.

42. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages  Factors That Affect BAC • The alcohol in carbonated beverages passes into the bloodstream more quickly than the alcohol in non-carbonated drinks.

43. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Body weight Factors That Affect BAC • People with a higher body weight have a higher volume of blood than people with less body weight. • The same amount of alcohol produces a greater effect on people with less body weight.

44. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Percentage of body fat  Factors That Affect BAC • Body fat does not absorb as much alcohol as lean body tissue; therefore, a person with the higher percentage of body fat will have a higher BAC after one drink. • Gender • BAC rises faster in females than in males.

45. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Feelings Factors That Affect BAC • Feelings, such as stress, anger, and fear, can affect BAC by speeding up the time it takes alcohol to enter the bloodstream. • Amount of food eaten  • Alcohol passes more quickly into the bloodstream when the stomach is empty than when it is full.

46. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Presence of other drugs in the bloodstream  Factors That Affect BAC • The presence of other drugs in the bloodstream increases the effects of alcohol. • Age • Elderly people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than are younger people. • The bodies of elderly people contain a lower volume of blood than younger people’s do.

47. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages  Factors That Affect BAC • The alcohol in carbonated beverages passes into the bloodstream more quickly than the alcohol in non-carbonated drinks.

48. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body Drinking Games and Hazing • Drinking can be a hazing activity.  • A hazing activity is an activity in which a person is forced to participate in a dangerous or demeaning act to become a member of a club or group. • Hazing activities are against the law in most states and violate the rules of most schools.

49. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Drinking games can be life-threatening. Drinking Games and Hazing • Binge drinking is consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time. • Drinking games are dangerous and are considered binge drinking.

50. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body What Happens as BAC Increases • BAC .02  • People feel relaxed, may have increased social confidence, and may become talkative. • Thinking and decision-making abilities may be impaired.