Alcohol

1. Alcohol Chapter 22

2. Facts About Alcohol • Ethanolis the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages • Produced both naturally and synthetically through fermentation of fruits, vegetables, and grains • Fermentation is the chemical action of yeast on sugars • Ethanol is mixed with other additives to create different tasting beverages

3. Brief history of alcohol • Unknown who first invented alcohol… several civilizations were fermenting different fruits/vegetables/grains thousands of years ago • In 1920s the United States banned manufacture and sale of alcohol (Prohibition) • In 1980, President Reagan enacted a law to raise the legal age to drink to 21 as an effort to decrease a growing epidemic of drunken driving

4. How it Works • Once alcohol enters the stomach, it begins to diffuse into the bloodstream • Most diffusion takes place in the small and large intestines • Once in your system, alcohol causes neurotransmitters and receptors in your brain to work slower than normal • Delayed signals

5. How your body gets rid of it • Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes; • Liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the bloodstream. • About 1 drink per 60 minutes • The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed. • Binge Drinking > consumption of 4-5 drinks in a span of 2 hours of less

6. Immediate Effects of Alcohol • Alcohol is a depressant, a drug that slows the central nervous system • Quickly affects your body by slowing: • Motor skills • Reaction time • Impaired vision and judgment • Can quickly lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting • Intoxicationis the state in which your body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced

7. Alcohol Poisoning • Frequently, binge drinking leads to a serious condition called alcohol poisoning • Alcohol Poisoning- a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose • Unconsciousness or even coma • Slowed breathing • Low body temperature • Vomiting • Emergency Room • Stomach is emptied through a pump that is fed down the esophagus

8. Facts About Alcohol • It is illegal to possess, buy, or consume alcohol under the age of 21 • Fines, probation, loss of license, jail • Leads to high risk situations involving violence and sexual activity • More likely to become a victim or perpetrator • 25% of youths are exposed to alcohol abuse; the excessive use of alcohol • Can lead to drinking at young ages, which increases risk for developing dependence on alcohol by 4 times • 15,000,000 people in US abuse or overuse alcohol

9. Driving under the influence • In 2007, 23,436 DUI arrests were made in Indiana • 261 people were killed in car accidents where at least 1 driver had a BAC of 0.01% • Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)- is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as % • Legal limit is .08% for 21 and older • Only .02% if under 21 • 12-ounces of beer • 5-ounces of wine • 1.5-ounce “shot” of liquor

10. Alcohol and other drugs • Alcohol and other medications/drugs do not mix well • May slow down a drug’s absorption • Increases amount of time alcohol or drug is in the body • Can change some medications into other chemicals which can amplify or change their effect • Antihistamines (colds/allergies) and alcohol can cause excessive dizziness or sleepiness

11. Long term effects • Addiction – inability to stop drinking • Psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicide. • Brain Damage- Loss of brain cells • Cancer – In general, alcohol use increases risk of certain types of cancer • Fatty liver- excessive fat builds up on liver • reduced blood flow and cell loss • Cirrhosis of liver- liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, blocking normal blood flow • Stomach ulcers -damaged lining in digestive system

12. Cirrhosis of the liver • Irreversible scar tissue • Lack of blood flow to liver • Slows the processing of nutrients, hormones, drugs, and naturally produced toxins • Can be treated and controlled • Cannot live without a healthy liver • Transplant if bad enough • Top 15 causes of death in U.S.

13. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • When a pregnant female drinks, in essence, so does her fetus • Fetus liver is unable to process alcohol • Drinking during first few weeks of pregnancy when women may not know pregnant, drinking can be extremely harmful to baby’s CNS • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome- a group of alcohol related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

14. Fetal alcohol syndrome • Death • Abnormal facial features, growth problems, CNS problems • Heart, liver, and kidney defects are common • Difficulty learning, remembering, attention span and problem solving • These effects are non reversible!

15. Alcoholism • Alcoholism- a disease in which a person has a strong physical or psychological dependence on alcohol • No longer drink to become drunk…drink to feel normal • Alcoholic- an addict who is dependent on alcohol • Stages of Alcoholism • Abuse • Dependence • Addiction

16. Effects on family and society • 40% of violent crimes, 3,000,000 annually, are alcohol-related • 66% of victims of domestic violence report alcohol was a factor in the crime

17. Getting help •  National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service • 1-800-662-HELP • Provides information on local sources of help • Indianapolis Alcoholics Anonymous • www.indyaa.org • 317-632-7864 • Fairbanks Recovery Center • www.fairbankscd.org • 317-849-8222