Alcohol

Alcohol Facts

• Alcohol is the oldest and most widely used drug in the world

• 45% of Americans over the age of 12 are consumers of alcohol.

• There is an estimated 10-15 million alcoholics or problem drinkers in the U.S. (4.5 million adolescents)

Alcohol Facts

• 100,000 deaths each year are attributed to alcohol.

• Alcohol-related automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among Americans 15-24 years of age

Alcohol Facts

• Alcohol is a powerful, addictive central nervous system depressant.

• The drinkable form of alcohol is ethanol or ethyl alcohol

Alcohol Facts

• A 12-ounce glass of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor all contain the same amount of alcohol and, therefore, have an equal effect on the drinker.

Effects of Alcohol• The affects of alcohol

depend on many factors, including the drinker’s size, weight, age, sex, and tolerance to alcohol

• Although alcohol is a depressant, at first it can act more like a stimulant, making the drinker feel disinhibited, chatty, and euphoric; then induces relaxation and reduced anxiety.

Effects of Alcohol• Consumption of 2-3

drinks in an hour can impair judgment, lower inhibitions, and induce mild euphoria.

• 4-5 drinks consumed in two hours may raise the blood alcohol level to 0.08 percent, high enough to be considered legally intoxicated in most states.

Effects of Alcohol

• Once a drinker stops drinking, his or her blood alcohol decreases by about 0.01 percent per hour

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Risk of injury or death as a result of accident or violence.

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Neurological danger include:•Impaired vision•Impaired motor coordination•Memory defects•Hallucinations•Blackouts•Seizures•Permanent brain damage

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Cardiological dangers include:•Elevated blood pressure•Elevated heart rate•Risk of stroke•Heart failure

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Respiratory dangers include:•Respiratory depression and failure•Pneumonia•Tuberculosis•Lung abscesses•Mouth and throat cancers

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Liver diseases include:•Alcoholic fatty liver•Hepatitis•Cirrhosis

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Other physiological dangers include:•Damage to the gastrointestinal system (ulcers, reflux, diarrhea)•Damage to the pancreas•Damage to the kidneys•Malnutrition•Disrupt absorption of nutrients in food•Suppress the immune system

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Psychological dangers include:•Impaired judgment•Impaired verbal ability•Apathy•Introversion•Antisocial behavior•Inability to concentrate•Deterioration of relationships with family, friends and co-workers

Alcoholism

• Alcoholics are people who cannot control their drinking, even when it is having a negative effect on their lives.

• There are an estimated 10-15 million alcoholics in the U.S.

AlcoholismSymptoms of alcoholism include:•Craving – a strong need, or urge to drink alcohol•Loss of control – not being able to stop once drinking has begun•Physical dependence – withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, hallucinations, and anxiety after stopping drinking.

• Tolerance – need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel drunk, or even just normal.

Alcohol & Pregnancy

• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy slows the natural growth of the fetus and increases the chance that the baby will be born at a low birth-weight.

Alcohol & Pregnancy

• Babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) are likely to have irreversible physical abnormalities, heart defects, and suffer retarded growth and mental development.