Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers.

Alcohol use contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries – the leading cause of death among youth after auto crashes. 

Alcohol abuse is linked to as many as two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students.

Alcohol is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.

ALCOHOL Stats

ALCOHOL Facts • Alcohol is a Drug…It’s a Depressant. A depressant slows down

the activity of the central nervous system and the messages going between the brain and the body. Depressant drugs do not necessarily make a person feel depressed.

How Alcohol Enters & Travels through the Body:

1. Mouth: alcohol enters the body. Burns the lining & numbs the tong

2. Stomach: about 20% of alcohol absorbs into the bloodstream in the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine.

3. Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine.

4. Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.

5. Brain: alcohol reaches the brain

6. Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0.5 oz per hour

Oxidation is when alcohol is converted into water and carbon dioxide by the liver- this occurs at approximately 1 drink per hour

Remaining alcohol is excreted through urine, perspiration, or breath

In low doses: A relaxing effect Reduces tension Lowers inhibitions Impairs concentration Impairs judgment** Slows reflexes Impairs reaction time Reduces coordination

In medium doses: Slur speech Cause drowsiness Alter emotions

In high doses: Vomiting Breathing difficulties Unconsciousness Coma Death

ALCOHOL Effects

Common Alcoholic Beverages: BEER

Made by fermenting barley, corn, or rye Most beers are about 4% alcohol “Malt Liquor” is a type of beer with higher % alcohol, usually 5% or

more WINE

Made by fermenting grapes or other fruits Most wines are 12-14% alcohol

LIQUOR Made by distillation (A process that uses a fermented mixture to

obtain an alcoholic beverage with a high alcohol content) Whiskey, Bourbon, Rum, Gin, Vodka, Tequila, Brandy – Common

Types Most liquor is 40% alcohol A measure of the amount of alcohol is called the “proof”

The proof of a beverage is double the % of alcohol in the beverage Example: 20% alcohol is 40 proof

What is considered “A Drink”?

Alcohol in the Body-BAC & Virginia DUI Laws

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood

BAC is given as a percentage, the higher the % BAC the greater the effects of alcohol on the body

Virginia DUI Laws: Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits▪ BAC Limit 0.08%▪ Zero Tolerance (Underage) BAC Limit 0.02%▪ Enhanced Penalty (Aggravated) BAC Limit 0.15%▪ Minimum License Suspension or Revocation ▪ (1st, 2nd, 3rd offense) 1 year / 3 years / permanent

Factors that Effect BAC Amount of alcohol you drink Speed at which alcohol is consumed Body Weight Percentage of body fat Gender Amount of food eaten Drugs Age Tolerance

How Alcohol Effects the Body:

Liver:Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including: Steatosis, or fatty liver Cirrhosis, scaring of the liver

Pancreas:Causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. 

Cancer:Can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the: Mouth, Esophagus, Throat, Liver, Breast

Immune System:Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. 

TOBACCOGET THE FACTS

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States.

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking results in more than 443,000 premature deaths in the US each year—about 1 in every 5 U.S. deaths

8.6 million people suffer with a serious illness caused by smoking.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals; many are known carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals)

What is Tobacco? Tobacco is a green plant which

produces large, wide leaves.

Tobacco is grown in warm climates all over the world.

In the United States most tobacco is grown in Virginia, Kentucky and central Tennessee

Tobacco products include: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and snuff

What’s in Tobacco?NICOTINE

Extremely addictive drug found in tobacco

Nicotine is classified as a Stimulant▪ Speeds up the nervous system▪ Dulls taste buds▪ Constricts (narrows) blood vessels▪ Increases blood pressure ▪ Increases heart rate

Like with any addictive drug one can become dependant and suffer withdrawal syndrome.

What’s in Tobacco?

TAR A thick dark liquid that

forms when tobacco burns Covers the lungs and

airways Damages the mouth by

rotting and blackening teeth, damaging gums, and desensitizing taste buds

Contains carcinogens-cancer causing chemicals

What’s in Tobacco?

CARBON MONOXIDE A poisonous gas produced

when tobacco burns Decreases the amount of

oxygen in the blood Found in car exhaust Interferes with you respiratory

(breathing)and circulatory (heart/blood flow) systems.

So what else is in Tobacco?

Chemicals in Cigarettes

Halitosis Bad breath

Mouth Cancer White or grayish patches that can't

be wiped away and , red lesions (erythroplakia), which are more likely to show precancerous changes

leukoplakia

Tobacco & Diseases

Cancer

Cancer is irregular cell growth. Lung cancer can be caused by smoking Lung cancer is VERY fatal! Other types of cancer cause by tobacco

use include: Mouth Lip Throat Gum Cheek

Heart Disease Cardiovascular disease is a group of diseases that involve

the heart or blood vessels (arteries, capillaries and veins).

Heart Disease is the #1 killer in the U.S.

What's the link between smoking and cardiovascular disease? Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis — a buildup of fatty

substances in the arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when the normal lining of the arteries deteriorates, the walls of the arteries thicken and deposits of fat and plaque block the flow of blood through the arteries.

What’s the link between smoking and heart attack? A person’s risk of heart attack greatly increases with the number of

cigarettes he or she smokes. Smokers continue to increase their risk of heart attack the longer they smoke. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers.

Emphysema Causes constant gasping for air. Air sacs in the lungs can not stretch

to get enough air…WHEEZING! For women who smoke during

pregnancy = Premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and infant death

Secondhand Smoke: Severe asthma Respiratory infections Ear infections Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Some more BAD effects: Bad breath Smelly hair & clothing Yellow/Brownish stained teeth Yellow/Brownish stained

fingers Premature aging/wrinkles Reduced sense of smell Taste buds are deadened More Colds More Sinus Infections Higher risk of fires Expensive Socially Unacceptable