Alcohol and Your BodyAlcohol is created by fermenting plants.

Ethanol: beverage alcohol

Methanol: poisonous and can cause blindness (few teaspoons) and death (few tablespoons) if consumed.

Alcohol’s PathwayMouth

EsophagusStomach

Small IntestineLiverHeartBrain

Alcohol slows your CNSMemoryJudgmentLearningSpeechThinkingSensesMovement

BAC: Blood Alcohol Concentration1 drink per hour Mild relaxation;

reaction time slowedActing silly; telling people things you wouldn’t usually tell them

2 drinks per hour Slight to minor impairment of memory, balance , speech, vision, reaction time, & hearing.

Reduction in jugement and self-control; belief that you are functioning better than you really are.

3 drinks per hour Minor to significant impairment of coordination, balance, speech, vision , reaction time, and hearing. Loss of physical control.

Moderate to severe impairment of judgment and perception; feeling very happy and lightheaded.

Individual Reactions to Alcohol

Factors Affecting BAC1. How much and how fast a person drinks.2. Body Weight3. Food in the Stomach4. Genetic Vulnerability5. Alcohol Tolerance (drinking history)6. Gender

Losing ControlIntoxication: The physical and mental changes

produced by drinking alcohol.

Alcohol Poisoning: Damage to physical health caused by drinking too much alcohol.

Hangover: Uncomfortable physical effects caused by alcohol use. (Headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, nausea, & vomiting).

Injury and Harm

As BAC rises and judgment is impaired you are more and more at risk of getting into an accident or getting hurt.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

Healthy Liver

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Effects on Teen BrainTeenage drinking has also been shown to increase the risk of alcohol abuse throughout a lifetime.

Tolerance and AbuseTolerance: a person needs more of a drug

to feel the original effects of the drug. Leads to abuse.

Abuse: happens whenever drinking interferes with your health or well-being or keeps you from handling your responsibilities.

FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Spina Bifida