Heaher Argabright, Sefideh Motearefi, Emily Penick, Karen Snyder,

Selamawit Yehdego and Vivian Vazquez

PSYCH/630

Stephanie Fernandez, PhD.

January 26, 2015

Alcohol

Introduction

What is Alcohol?

Utilization within Culture

Population Affected

Brain Regions Affected by Alcohol

Affects on Brain Chemistry

Implications on Brain Physiology, Mood, and Cognition

Therapeutic Intervention

Conclusion

Agenda

Alcohol is not something that comes to mind when people think of drugs because people associate the word drug with an illegal substance and since alcohol has not considered illegal if your 21 or older, it is most often forgotten about. However the implications and effects are just as real and severe. As we continue our way through this presentation we hope that you are able to learn about the impact alcohol can have on an individual’s life, especially your brain and your body. We will also discuss the populations affected, it’s use in cultures, and the interventions that are used to help those who are addicted.

Introduction

What is Alcohol?Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol)

Beer Wine Liquor

Legal Sedative drug Makes an individual feel differently

Lacks nutrients Pure alcohol (odorless and colorless)

Symbolic Champagne is celebratory drinkBeer is for relaxationLiquor a partying drinkWine is for meal time

Drinking spotsPubsBarsDance hallsSalons

Utilization in Culture

Pregnant women Children born with FAS

TeensUnwanted pregnancy Drug use

Minorities (African, Hispanic, Native American)

Higher rates of alcoholism Crime

Populations Affected

College Students Binge drinking Sexual assaults

Drivers DUI arrest

Vehicular homicide

Populations Affected Cont’d

Brain Regions Affected by Alcohol

Vomiting Uncontrolled urination Uncontrolled defecation Breathing difficulties Passing out Alcohol poisoning Coma Possible death

HIGH A relaxing effect Reduced tension Lowered inhibitions Poor concentration Slow reflexes Slow reaction time Reduced coordination Slower brain activity Perceptions that are less clear

LOW

Effects of Low versus High Doses of Alcohol Use

Mood

Behavior

Cognition

Alcohol Affects on:

The most important neurotransmitters involved in Alcoholism are:

Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine GABA

Affects on Brain Chemistry

Brain damage Wernicke - Korsakoff

Syndrome Blackouts and memory

lapses

Alterations in the function

of Amygdala and prefrontal

area

Implications of use on Brain’s Physiology

Impaired judgment

Memory loss

Mental and physical

impairments

Behavioral changes

Implications of use on Behavior, Mood, and Cognition

 

Maintenance Support groups Medical support Spiritual support Counseling

Detoxification Inpatient/outpatient 3 to 7 days Side effects/withdrawals

Rehabilitation Counseling (group/individual) Oral and injected medications Behavior Modification

Therapeutic Intervention

In this presentation we covered the overall effects of alcohol usage. Although, many of the effects of alcohol may not be as apparent as others, it is not safe to say that alcohol usage is less dangerous than many of the illegal drugs that are available today. Many people believe that because alcohol is legal to purchase in the store that it is safe and can not cause long term effects or even become addictive. Those people who believe that are foolish. As we have demonstrated in our presentation, anyone can become addicted regardless of culture, age, or gender. All it takes is one drink to become addicted and possibly that one drink can cause long term health effects. Always be careful in the decision that you make and beware of what you are going to do because that one drink may change your entire life forever.

Conclusion

Alcohol Alert. (2004). Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm

Carlson, N. R. (2012). Physiology of behavior, 11th ed. Pearson Education, Inc.

Hull, J.G. and Stone, L.B. (2004). Alcohol and self-regulation. In Eds R.F. Baumeister and K.D. Vohs. Handbook of self-regulation, pp 466-491. London: the Guilford Press.

Mayo Clinic,(2015), Alcoholism, retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcoholism/basics/treatment/con-20020866

National Institutes of Health (NIH). 2005. Ethnicity, Culture, and Alcohol. National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. URL: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Social/Module10HEthnicity&Culture/Module10H.html

Picture reference slide 4: URL: https://healthytravelblog.com

Social Issues Research Center (SIRC). 2014. Social and Cultural Aspects of Drinking. URL: http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking3.html

Stephens, D. N. (2008). Cognitive and emotional consequences of binge drinking: role of Amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Retrieved from http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/363/1507/3169

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings, NSDUH Series H-49, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4887. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014.

Substance-Induced Disorders. (N.D.). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64178/

References