Chapter Eight: Taking Control of Alcohol Use

1. Chapter Eight: Taking Control of Alcohol Use

2. The Nature of Alcoholic Beverages • Ethyl alcohol or ethanol • Produced through fermentation • May be concentrated through distillation • Alcohol content • Beer: 4% • Wine: 10-14% • Port, sherry: 20% • Distilled liquors: 40-100% • Proof = Twice the alcohol concentration

3. The Nature of Alcoholic Beverages • Alcohol = central nervous system depressant • May appear to act as a stimulant in social situations because it depresses the inhibitory centers of the brain

4. Physiological Effects of Alcohol Consumption • Absorbed primarily in small intestine • Factors that influence absorption • Strength of beverage • Number of drinks consumed • Speed of consumption • Presence of food • Degree of hydration • Body chemistry • Race/ethnicity • Gender • Metabolized in the liver

5. Gender and Alcohol Absorption • Women absorb more alcohol more quickly than men • Less alcohol dehydrogenase • Proportionately more body fat • Proportionately less body water • Effects of menstrual cycle

6. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) • BAC = percentage of alcohol in a measured quantity of blood • BAC rises when alcohol is consumed faster than it is metabolized by the liver • BAC: 0.05% Changes in behavior • BAC: 0.10% Decrease in motor function • BAC: 0.25% Body starts to shut down • Alcohol poisoning= potentially fatal elevation of BAC, often resulting from heavy, rapid consumption of alcohol

7. Alcohol Poisoning • Danger Signs • Occurs after heavy drinking in a short period of time • Unconsciousness, deep stupor • Shock • Vomiting • Weak, rapid pulse • Irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin

8. Seek medical assistance: Call 911 Lie person on their side to avoid choking if vomiting occurs Position head lower than the rest of the body to help prevent asphyxiation Monitor breathing and pulse rate First Aid for Acute Alcohol Intoxication

9. Patterns of Alcohol Use • Reasons people drink • Effective, affordable, legal psychoactive drug • Reduced inhibitions • Associated with positive events and characteristics, “good times”

10. Alcohol Consumption • One drink: • 12 ounces of beer • 5 ounces of wine • 1.5 ounces of liquor • Current use: Consumption of least one drink in the past 30 days • Binge drinking: Consumption of five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the last 2-weeks

11. College Drinking: Negative Consequences

12. Current, Binge, and Heavy Alcohol Use among Persons Ages 12 or Older

13. How Much Alcohol Do College Students Really Drink?

14. Alcohol and Wellness: Summary • Alcohol-related medical problems • Effects of chronic use • Fetal alcohol syndrome • Alcohol-related psychological problems • Alcoholism • Alcohol abuse • Alcohol-related social problems • Accidents • Crime and violence • Suicide • Alcohol-related family problems

15. Effects of Chronic Alcohol Use on the Body • Chronic malnutrition • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome • Cirrhosis and other liver disorders • Cardiovascular disease • Cancer • Infectious diseases

16. Effects of Alcohol Use on the Body

17. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) • Alcohol crosses the placenta and can cause birth defects in unborn children • Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) • Low birth weight • Mental retardation • Facial abnormalities • Heart problems • Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) • Partial expression of FAS

18. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

19. Alcohol-Related Psychological Problems • Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) • Primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental influences • Tolerance, withdrawal, pattern of compulsive use • Physical addiction, serious health effects • Alcohol abuse • Pattern of drinking that creates personal difficulties or difficulties for other people—harmful consequences • Consequences/indications • Missing classes, reduced academic performance • Blackouts • Legal problems

20. Alcohol-Related Social Problems • Accidents • Motor vehicle collisions • Falls • Drowning • Fires and burns • Crime and Violence • Suicide

21. Alcohol-Related Family and Relationship Problems • Alcohol and the family • Dysfunctional family behaviors • Associated problems • Enabling • Denial • Codependence • Dual addiction • Adult children of alcoholic parents • Women and alcohol—special concerns

22. Responsible Use of Alcohol • Becoming a responsible drinker • Don’t make getting drunk the goal or drinking the focus of your activity • Eat food before drinking • Set a limit on the number of drinks you will consume • Limit alcoholic drinks to one an hour • Don’t use alcohol to manage your feelings • Don’t leave your drinks unattended

23. Responsible Use of Alcohol • Hosting a Party Responsibly • Host negligence • Designated driver • Guidelines: • Provide other beverages in addition to alcohol • Provide food • Serve diluted drinks • Do not urge guests to keep glasses full • If a guest becomes intoxicated, provide transportation home, or overnight accom.

24. Organizations That Support Responsible Drinking • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) • Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) • BACCHUS • GAMMA Peer Education Network

25. Alcohol Advertising • Targets minorities, women, and youth • College advertising • Wine cooler ads • Concentration of liquor stores and advertising in low-income, ethnic communities

26. Treatment for Alcohol Problems • Rehabilitation centers • Hospitals • Medication • Counseling • Support groups • Alcoholics Anonymous • Al-Anon and Alateen

27. Chapter Eight: Taking Control of Alcohol Use