Alcohol

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Alcohol
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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)

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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

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Alcohol Facts

• Alcohol is a powerful, addictive central nervous
  system depressant.
• The drinkable form of alcohol is ethanol or ethyl
  alcohol

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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.

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Effects of Alcohol

• The affects of alcohol depend on many factors,
  including the drinkers 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.

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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.

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Effects of Alcohol

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

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Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

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

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Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

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

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Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

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

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Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

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

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Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

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

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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

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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

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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.

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Alcoholism

• Symptoms 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.

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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.

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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.