Alcohol

The Facts Served “Straight Up”

Definitions• Alcoholism: Physical Dependency that affects

person’s family, social, or work life• Alcohol Abuse: Drinking too much without

physical cravings or withdrawal symptoms• Alcohol Poisoning: An over dosage of alcohol • Binge Drinking: Too much, too fast

Definitions

• Blackouts: Too much alcohol in brain may cause gaps in memory that might have happened while drinking

• BAC: Blood Alcohol Concentration is the amount of alcohol in a persons blood

• Intoxication: Amt. of alcohol consumes exceeds individuals tolerance

Definitions

• Tolerance: Over a period of time more alcohol is needed to achieve the same effect

Binge Drinking Dangers •More then 38 millions adults binge drink approximately 4 times a month •Largest number of binge drinks on average is 8 •On average binge drinking causes 80,000 deaths in the US each year •Increases chances of getting hurt or hurting others due to car crashes, violence, and suicide.

Can result in the brain’s control center closing down, at which point you can

slip into a coma and die…

Drinking in Young Adults

• Research consistently shows that people tend to drink the heaviest when they are in their late teens and early to mid twenties

Drinking in Young Adults

• Students at 18-25 are at a higher risk of getting involved in problems involving alcohol

• WHY?–They are on their own for the first time–Allowed to make their own decisions –The roles of the parents weaken

Why are college students at higher risk?

• Customs and traditions at college encourage high-drinking patterns

• Peer pressure to participate in drinking games

• College students are a primary target for alcohol industry advertising and promotions

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDMchMD9kyg

Guidelines for Decision Making• Abstinence from alcohol is a safe and

acceptable decision. IT’S OKAY NOT TO DRINK.

• You can still have a good time without drinking at a social event

• Don’t allow yourself to fall prey to peer pressure. If you don’t want to drink do not feel embarrassed.

Guidelines for Decision Making

• What if you do decide to drink? –Do so safely, legally, and responsibly–Set limits for yourself, alternate alcohol

and nonalcoholic drinks–Keep track of how much you’ve had–Never drink and drive OR drive with

someone who has been drinking

Consequences of Drinking• Flunking Courses• Unintended or unwanted sexual activity• Unwanted Pregnancy• Getting an STD • Being involved in fights and accidents • Engaging in risky behavior• Developing a long term drinking habit

Some Sobering Statistics

• Average students spends about $900 on alcohol each year

• 159,000 of today’s first-year college students will drop out of school for alcohol related reasons

Some Sobering Statistics

• One night of heavy drinking can impair your ability to think abstractly for up to 30 days–Limiting your reading comprehension –Your ability to understand what your

teacher says–Your problem solving abilities

Statistics

• 70,000 students re victims of alcohol-related date rape or sexual assaults

What Happens when you Drink

• Alcohol enters your stomach through your small intestine where it is absorbs into bloodstream, alcohol quickly travels to every organ in the body, including the brain

• The more alcohol the body absorbs the higher the BAC- the drunker the person gets

BAC• .02%- alcohol immediately slows the nervous

system and reaction time is impaired to some extent. You become more relaxed

• .04%- Reaction time continues to slow. A “buzz” develops. Relaxation deepens.

• .055-.06%- Good feelings get less positive and negative feelings more negative. Brains ability to process information and make judgments is greatly impaired

• .08%- Legally Drunk. Decrease in motor coordination. May feel nauseous or throw up

• .10%- A clear breakdown in judgment and motor coordination, visibly sloppy

• .15-.25- Blackouts• .25-.35- Can pass out. Risk of Death • .40-.45- Lethal dose for most

Factors that Influence BAC

• Gender• Body Weight• Alcohol Content in Drinks • How Much you Drink • Food Intake• Age• Mood

Myths

• Alcohol is a sexual stimulant – Alcohol actually decreases your ability to function

sexually – You may be less inhibited, but are less likely to be

able to follow through

• One or two drinks has not noticeable effect on a persons behavior and/or judgment – Behavior and judgment changes with the first

drink

• You can sober up faster with food or coffee– It takes your liver one hour to burn off about .016

of your BAC– As a rule it will take a 150lb male one hour to

metabolize one glass of wine, one shot of liquor, or one bottle of beer

Health Problems

• Alcoholism• Cancers: Esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx,

increase in colon and rectal cancer• Heart Damage: High BP, cardiomyopathy, high

triglycerides• Liver Damage• Stomach Problems

How to Protect Yourself

• Limit the amt you drink, sip slowly • A heavy meal may slow alcohol absorption• Avoid salty foods• Drink diluted drinks, not straight shots• Avoid carbonated mixers or sparkling wines as

they speed the alcohol in your bloodstream• Avoid Spiked Drinks

• Car crashes are the leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 20. About 1,900 people under 21 die every year from car crashes involving underage drinking.

• Young people are more susceptible to alcohol-induced impairment of their driving skills. Drinking drivers aged 16 to 20 are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as drinking drivers who are 21 or older.

Alcohol Poisoning

• Immediately call 911– Signs include:

• mental confusion, unable to wake them• Vomiting while asleep• Seizures• Slow Breathing • Irregular Breathing • Hypothermia

Alcohol Poisoning

• Keep person warm and turn them on their side to prevent them from choking on their vomit