Understanding Alcohol: Effects on the Body, Decision Making, and Society

1. What You’ll Learn 1. Discuss BAC and the effects of alcohol on the body systems. 2. Explain ways alcohol affects decision making and increases the risk of violence and illegal behavior. 3. Discuss the effects of alcohol on a developing fetus.

2. What You’ll Learn 4. Discuss causes, health problems, and treatment of alcoholism. 5. Discuss how advertisements may encourage drinking. 6. Practice resistance skills to resist peer pressure to drink.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • BAC .05  What Happens as BAC Increases • Areas of the brain that control reasoning and judgment are impaired. • There is a decrease in muscular coordination, and reaction time is slowed. • Speech may be slurred and people may say or do things they usually would not say or do.

20. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • BAC .08–.10  What Happens as BAC Increases • Reasoning, judgment, self-control, muscular coordination, and reaction time are seriously impaired. • People no longer can make responsible decisions although they may claim not to be affected by the alcohol. • Inmoststatestheyareconsideredlegallydrunk.

21. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • BAC .12  What Happens as BAC Increases • People usually become confused, disoriented, nauseous, and may have loss of control of coordination and balance. • BAC .20  • Emotions are unpredictable and may change rapidly. • They may pass out.

22. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • BAC .30  What Happens as BAC Increases • People will have little or no control. • BAC .40  • People are likely to be unconscious and death can occur. • BAC .50  • People may enter a deep coma and die.

23. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body How Alcohol Affects the Body • Alcohol is a leading cause of death. • Almost every part of the body is harmed when people drink large quantities of alcohol. • Nervous system • Drinking impairs the brain and other parts of the nervous system, such as nerve cells. • Drinking alcohol can cause a general decline in all areas of mental functioning.

24. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Digestive System How Alcohol Affects the Body • Drinking increases the risk of developing ulcers and cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. • An ulcer is an open sore on the skin or on a mucous membrane. • Drinking also increases the risk of developing liver disease.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Skeletal system  How Alcohol Affects the Body • Drinking causes the body to lose calcium, which is necessary for proper development of the skeletal system and bones. • Frequent, long-term use of alcohol is a risk factor for developing osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.

29. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Urinary System How Alcohol Affects the Body • Long-term, heavy drinking can cause kidney failure. • Reproductive system  • Drinking can have significant effects on the reproductive system during puberty for males and females.

30. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FAS. • Early pregnancy • Drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy is harmful to a developing baby.

31. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Miscarriages and stillbirths  Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FAS. • Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. • A miscarriage is the natural ending of a pregnancy before a baby is developed enough to survive on its own. • A stillbirth is a baby that is born dead.

32. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Low birth weight  Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FAS. • Pregnant females who have been drinking heavily during the last three months of pregnancy are more likely to have an infant with a low birth weight.

33. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Newborns Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FAS. • Newborn babies with mothers who drink alcohol during the latter part of pregnancy or are alcohol-dependent may have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

34. What to Know About Alcohol and the Body • Fetal alcohol syndrome  Warning: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause FAS. • Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the presence of severe birth defects in babies born to mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. • FAS is a leading cause of mental disability.

35. Thinking and Decision Making • Drinking alcohol can interfere with the simplest of tasks. • Alcohol can cause you to take actions that can be harmful to yourself and others.

36. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It can cause you to make wrong decisions.  • If you drink alcohol, you might not use the guidelines for making responsible decisions. • You might make a choice that you would not make if you were not under the influence of alcohol. • Your decisions might risk your health and safety or cause you to break laws and family guidelines.

37. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It can give you a false sense of self-confidence in social situations and interfere with your judgment.  • Teens never should drink alcohol in an attempt to be more social. • Because alcohol affects communication and reasoning, you may find out later that you did or said things that were not appropriate.

38. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It can make you feel invincible. • Youmightdosomethingdangerousand injure yourself or others. • It can increase the likelihood that you will give in to negative peer pressure.  • If you have been drinking, you are more likely to be persuaded by peers to do things you would not normally do.

39. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It can intensify your sexual feelings and dull your reasoning.  • If you drink, your sexual feelings may be difficult to control. • The consequences of unprotected sex include unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and emotional trauma.

40. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It slows your reaction time and affects your coordination.  • If you drink, you cannot respond as quickly as usual. • It can cause you to have aggressive behavior. • If you drink, you are more likely to become violent and to commit physical abuse or murder.

41. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • It intensifies your emotions.  • If you drink, you will have more intense feelings than usual. • Many teen suicide attempts involve alcohol or other drugs. • Hangover • A hangover is an aftereffect of using alcohol and other drugs. It may involve headaches, nausea, fatigue, and irritability.

42. How Drinking Affects Thinking and Decision Making • Blackouts • People who drink alcohol may have blackouts. • A blackout is a period in which a person cannot remember what has happened. • People who have been drinking may do something risky, embarrassing, or violent; engage in sex; or find themselves in an unfamiliar place and not remember anything.

43. Violence and Illegal Behavior • A high percentage of crimes are related to the use and abuse of alcohol. • Any kind of crime is considered illegal behavior. • Some of these crimes include committing acts of violence and driving while under the influence.

44. How Drinking Increases the Risk of Violence and Illegal Behavior • Alcohol and violence • Alcohol, more than any other drug, has been linked to violence. • People who drink often have little regard for the feelings and safety of others, which might lead to violence and illegal behaviors.

45. How Drinking Increases the Risk of Violence and Illegal Behavior • Alcohol and domestic violence • Domestic violence is abuse used by one person in a relationship to control the other. • Most acts of domestic violence occur after a family member has been drinking alcohol. • Alcohol and suicide • Drinking can intensify feelings of sadness and depression and is a factor in many teen suicide attempts.

46. How Drinking Increases the Risk of Violence and Illegal Behavior • Alcohol and rape • People who have been drinking are more likely to commit rape. • Rape is the threatened or actual use of physical force to get someone to have sex without giving consent. • Acquaintance rape is rape in which the person who is raped knows the rapist.

47. How Drinking Increases the Risk of Violence and Illegal Behavior • Alcohol and the law • In all states, people must be 21 years old to purchase or possess alcohol. • Alcohol and school policies • Teens who drink alcohol during school hours or bring alcohol to school are breaking school policies and may be suspended or expelled.

48. How Drinking Increases the Risk of Violence and Illegal Behavior • Alcohol and driving • People who drink and drive may injure or kill themselves or other people. • Alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death and spinal injury in young people.

49. Alcoholism • Alcoholism is a disease in which there is a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. • Alcohol dependence, another term for alcoholism, can destroy the life of an individual and the lives of those around him or her.

50. What to Know About Alcoholism • Difficulty controlling behavior • People with alcoholism have difficulty controlling their drinking. • Alcoholism causes people’s personalities to change and feelings of anger, paranoia, and depression to increase. • Denial • Denial is refusing to admit a problem. • Many people deny that there is a connection between their problems and their drinking.