Alcohol Use and Abuse

1. Alcohol Use and Abuse

2. Alcohol: What is it? Alcohol is a drug created by a chemical reaction in some foods, especially fruits and grains One of the most widely used and abused drugs in the United States It affects a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially

3. Forms of Alcohol The 3 main forms of alcohol are: Beer Wine Liquor These contain ethanol, a kind of alcohol that forms when the sugars from fruits, grains, or vegetables are fermented with yeast

4. The Dangers of Alcohol Use It affects your ability to make good decisions and harms your physical health Depressant- a drug that can slow down the activity of the brain and nervous system Can cause loss of control of motor skills A person can die from drinking alcohol just once if he or she consumes too much in a short amount of time

5. How Alcohol Affects Individuals Not everyone is affected by alcohol in the same way A person is intoxicated when he or she feels the effects of drinking alcohol, also known as being drunk The Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC, is the amount of alcohol in the blood Several factors determine a persons BAC, such as weight, the amount of alcohol the person drank, and how much food is in the person’s stomach

6. Drinking and The Law There are legal limits to how high a persons BAC can be when he or she is driving. In most states, a person is legally intoxicated when the BAC is greater than 0.08 percent In all states, anyone under 21 is legally intoxicated if the BAC is greater than 0.00 percent Police officers can measure the BAC in a persons body with a breathalyzer

7. Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches the brain almost as soon as it is consumed Immediately the brain and nervous system slows down After a couple drinks it becomes difficult to think, concentrate, and remember It’s also hard to speak clearly or walk in a straight line

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9. Short-Term Effects The garbling effect increases the BAC People who are drunk may feel dizzy, have blurred vision, and lose their balance Different parts of the brain have different functions. The part that helps a person make decisions is affected by alcohol in many ways. It makes it difficult to make good decisions This leads to poor judgment, which can lead to arguments, physical fights, and vehicle accidents. The person may also engage in risky behavior, such as sexual activity.

10. Alcohol and The Heart Alcohol affects the way the heart pumps blood through the body It makes the blood vessels wider, which brings the blood closer to the skin This makes the person drinking feel warm, even though their temperature is actually dropping Alcohol also slows down a persons heart rate

11. Alcohol and The Liver The liver acts like a filter It takes alcohol from the bloodstream and removes it from the body However, the liver can only do this for about half an ounce of alcohol each hour The extra alcohol that the liver can’t process stays in the bloodstream and affects the body

12. Alcohol and The Kidneys Alcohol causes the kidneys to make more urine This can lead to dehydration, which is the loss of important body fluids This is why people who drink too much too often feel thirsty the next day

13. Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use Drinking over a long period of time can lead to major health problems and even death It can cause cirrhosis of the liver, ulcers in the stomach, and harm to unborn children.

14. Cirrhosis The scarring and destruction of liver tissue If a person keeps drinking alcohol over time, the normal liver cells turn into scar tissue This scar tissue keeps blood from flowing normally through the liver It can cause many serious health problems

15. Ulcers An open sore in the stomach lining It is very painful When a person uses too much alcohol over time, the lining of the stomach becomes irritated

16. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Babies who aren’t born yet can be harmed by alcohol When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it goes through her bloodstream to the umbilical cord and to the fetus An F.A.S. baby may have birth defects such as a small head and small brain As these babies grow, they may also have major speech and learning problems

17. Alcohol Is Addictive An addiction is a psychological or physical need for a drug or other substance Over time, the need for alcohol may become so strong that a person may feel sick without it Using alcohol becomes the most important part of that persons life

18. Alcohol Abuse Using alcohol in ways that are unhealthy, illegal, or both People may abuse alcohol because they are worried or they feel insecure They may also drink to deal with their problems The alcohol gives them a sense of feeling better, but it really just covers up the worry and fear Alcohol abuse can lead to a disease known as alcoholism

19. Alcoholism A disease in which a person has a physical and psychological need for alcohol People who suffer from alcoholism are addicted to alcohol and are known as alcoholics Alcoholism is a situation that requires professional health services People may be alcoholics if they become drunk often or drink alone Alcoholics think that alcohol makes them feel better because when they use it they don’t think about their problems

20. Alcoholism Alcohol becomes more important to them than any other part of life They often make excuses for drinking or refuse to admit how much they drink Alcoholics may have blackouts, periods when they cannot remember what they said or did while drinking Organizations and support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), can help people who are addicted to alcohol

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22. Review Beer, wine, and liquor are the 3 main forms of alcohol Several factors determine how drinking alcohol affects you: size and gender, the amount of food in your stomach, and how fast you drink Alcohol has many negative short-term and long-term effects on the body Alcoholism is a disease in which a person is addicted to alcohol