Alcohol and Adolescents

1. Alcohol and Adolescents http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/speak/videos

2. Pre-Quiz Decide if each question is TRUE or FALSE. • A single drink of alcohol can affect you. True • Alcohol passes through the lining of the stomach into the bloodstream within 5 to 10 minutes. True • Alcohol moves through the bloodstream to every organ in the body. True • Drinking alcohol impairs the memory and learning ability of young people more than adults. True • Alcohol can have lasting effects on the developing brains of young people. True • Alcohol can kill you. True • Alcohol can hurt you, even if you are not the one drinking. True

3. The 411…Your Health • Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of America's murders, suicides and accidental deaths. • It is estimated that over 3 million teens between the ages of 14 and 17 in the United States today are alcoholics. • 500,000 Americans who are dependent on alcohol are between the ages of 9 and 12. • Research indicates that adolescents who abuse alcohol may remember 10% less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink.

4. Liver of an alcoholic Healthy Liver

5. The 411…Your Mind ALCOHOL IS A DEPRESSANT The more you drink, the more "depressed" your brain activity becomes.  As you continue to drink and alcohol levels increase, specific parts of the brain are affected more significantly.

6. The Cerebrum • The part of your brain that controls advanced functions like recognition, vision, reasoning and emotion. • At the lowest levels, alcohol lowers inhibitions, and affects judgment. • As alcohol levels increase, vision, movement, and speech are impaired.  • This occurs at a blood alcohol level of .01% -.30%.

7. The Cerebellum • The part of your brain that is involved with coordinating movement. • Alcohol consumption causes problems with coordination, reflexes, and balance • This occurs at a blood alcohol level of .15-.35%.

8. The Medulla • The part of your brain that controls basic survival functions such as breathing and heartbeat.  • When you've consumed so much alcohol that the medulla is affected, your brain's ability to control respiration and heart rate is severely diminished.  • Your heart rate can drop and breathing cease, causing death, at blood alcohol levels as low as .30%.

9. The 411…Prevalence of Alcoholism • Approximately 15% of all drinkers, or 1 in 7, will develop an “alcoholism”. • Every day, more than 700,000 people in the United States receive alcoholism treatment. • Almost 50% of those who start drinking at age 15 or younger develop alcohol dependence. • 24.5% of those who start drinking at age 17 or younger develop alcohol dependence. • 10% of those who start drinking at age 21 or older develop alcohol dependence.

10. The 411…Economic Costs • Approximately $148 billion is spent per year in the U.S., including: • Medical costs • Lost productivity • Crime • Losses resulting from premature death. • 45% of the economic costs of alcohol abuse are paid by alcohol abusers themselves • 55% of the economic costs are paid by • the government • rate-payers for private health and life insurance • victims of crime and car crashes.

11. The 411…Crime • Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40% of violent crimes. • According to the victim, about 2.7 million violent crimes occurred each year in which the offender had been drinking. • About 60% of mentally ill prisoners and 51% of other inmates in State prison were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of their current offense.

12. The 411…Underage Drinking • 8 young people a day die in alcohol-related crashes. • Alcohol kills more teenagers than all other drugs combined. • Over 33% of all deaths for people aged 15-20 result from motor vehicle crashes…approximately 2 of 5 involved alcohol. • Students with GPAs of D or F drink 3 times as much as those who earn A's. • Youth who drink are 7.5 times more likely to use other illicit drugs and 50 times more likely to use cocaine than young people who never drink.

13. The 411…B.A.C. Blood-Alcohol Content(BAC) The proportion of alcohol to blood in the body

14. Drinking Alcoholic Beverages + BAC= .02 - Begin to feel moderate effects. .04 - Begin to feel relaxed, mildly euphoric, sociable, and talkative. .05 - Judgment, attention, and control are somewhat impaired. .08 - This is legal level for intoxication in Texas as well as a definite impairment of muscle coordination and driving skills. .10 - This is legally drunk in most states as well as a clear deterioration of reaction time and control. .12-.15 - Vomiting usually occurs and drinkers are drowsy. .15 - Equivalence of 1/2 pint of whiskey is circulating in the blood stream. .18-.25 - Disoriented, confused, dizzy, and have exaggerated emotional states. Vision is disturbed, as is perception of color, form, motion, and dimensions .25-.30 - Near total loss of motor functions, little response to stimuli, inability to stand or walk, vomiting, and incontinence, may lose consciousness or fall into a stupor. .30-.50 = Symptoms are complete unconsciousness, depressed or absent reflexes, subnormal body temperature, incontinence, and impairment of circulation and respiration. DEATH MAY OCCUR AT .37% OR HIGHER. BACs of .45% AND HIGHER ARE FATAL TO NEARLY ALL INDIVIDUALS!

17. The 411…The Law • In Texas, a BAC level of .08 or higher is considered ILLEGAL. • 1st time under-age offenders: • 30 day license suspension • Up to $500 fine • 8-12 hours of community service • Mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes • Multiple time offenders • 60 to 180 day license suspension • 17 Years Old + • Up to $2000 fine • 180 days in jail It is illegal for ANY person under the age of 21 to have any detectable amount of alcohol in his or her body

18. www.thecoolspot.gov

19. Get Support…Give it Too! • Find friends who will support you! • Don’t ever pressure others to drink! • Show others you can have fun without drinking! • Respect others’ choices!