Making Safe, Drug-Free Decisions Lesson 3, Chapter 51 Alcohol

Making Safe, Drug-Free Decisions

Lesson 3, Chapter 5 1

AlcoholAlcohol


Lesson 3, Chapter 5, Alcohol 2

MotivationMotivation• As a cadet, you need

your health and a sharp mind.

• Drinking alcohol can damage your body and dull your intellect.



Lesson overviewLesson overview• How does alcohol affect the body?• What is blood alcohol concentration?• What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?• What are the effects of teen alcohol use?• How can alcohol lead to injuries?• What is alcoholism?• What help is available for people who are addicted to alcohol?• Why do some teens drink alcohol?• Why should you avoid alcohol?• How does the media influence our view of alcohol? • What are some alternatives to drinking alcohol?



Quick WriteQuick WriteWrite a refusal statement that you can use to avoid the pressure to use alcohol.



How does alcohol affect the body?

How does alcohol affect the body?

• Alcohol—a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains

• Alcohol is a depressant that affects• Brain and nervous system• Digestive and urinary systems• Almost every organ in the body



How does alcohol affect the body? (cont’d)


• Mouth and esophagus• Short-term: tongue, gums, throat, breath• Long-term: tissues of esophagus





• Heart and blood vessels• Short term: increased perspiration, flushed

skin• Long term: high blood pressure, damage to

the heart muscle, hardening of the blood vessels





• Brain and nervous system• Short term: slurred speech, blurred vision,

difficulty walking• Long term: brain cells destroyed, damage to

nerves throughout the body





• Liver• Short term: liver changes alcohol into

water and carbon dioxide• Long term: liver damage, cirrhosis

• Stomach and pancreas• Short term: nausea and vomiting• Long term: ulcers, inflamed pancreas





• The effect that alcohol has on a person is influenced by a number of factors.

• Body size• Gender• Time frame• Amount• Food• Medicine





• Beer and wine contain a lower percentage of alcohol by volume than distilled liquors such as vodka or whiskey.



What is blood alcohol concentration?

What is blood alcohol concentration?

• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)—the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream

• Expressed as a percentage of total blood volume

• BAC depends upon the amount of alcohol consumed, body size, and other factors.



What is blood alcohol concentration? (cont’d)What is blood alcohol

concentration? (cont’d)• BAC determines legal intoxication.

• To be intoxicated is to be physically and mentally impaired by the use of alcohol.

• Typical levels that determine legal intoxication are 0.08 or 0.1.



What is blood alcohol concentration? (cont’d)What is blood alcohol

concentration? (cont’d)

• Binge drinking—the consumption of several alcoholic drinks in a very short period of time

• If a person’s BAC rises sharply enough, the person will stop breathing and die.



What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?

What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?

• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)—a range of alcohol-related birth defects

• Causes physical and mental problems• Leading cause of mental retardation and

birth defects in United States• The only safe decision for a pregnant

woman is not to drink alcohol.



What are the effects of teen alcohol use?

What are the effects of teen alcohol use?

• Alcohol can interfere with a teen’s growth process.• Poorer language skills• Reduced levels of essential hormones• Delayed onset of the menstrual cycle• Effects on other aspects of sexual maturity



What are the effects of teen alcohol use? (cont’d)

What are the effects of teen alcohol use? (cont’d)

• Serious consequences of teen alcohol use:

• Suicides• Traffic deaths• Violent crimes• Date rape



How can alcohol lead to injuries?

How can alcohol lead to injuries?

• Drinking and driving• Impairs a person’s vision, reaction time,

and physical coordination

• Alcohol is also linked to deaths• In motor vehicle collisions• By drowning• By fire



What is alcoholism?What is alcoholism?

• Alcoholism—a progressive, chronic disease involving a mental and physical need for alcohol

• An addiction to alcohol is both psychological and physical.



What is alcoholism? (cont’d)What is alcoholism? (cont’d)

• There are three stages of alcoholism. These stages are not the same for each alcoholic.

• Stage 1

• Using alcohol to relax

• Needing alcohol to cope with life

• Lying about drinking



What is alcoholism? (cont’d)What is alcoholism? (cont’d)• Stage 2

• Missing school or work• Denying that there is a problem

• Stage 3• Obvious problem• Strong physical addiction• Out-of-control drinking



What help is available for people who are addicted to

alcohol?


alcohol?• Recovery—the process of learning to

live an alcohol-free life

• Recovering from alcoholism is difficult.




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• Treatment depends on

• Severity of the alcoholism• Available resources

• Treatment may include detoxification.• “Detox” also helps the user to

overcome psychological dependence.




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• Types of treatment centers

• Detox units• Inpatient treatment centers• Outpatient treatment centers

• Treatment may also include• Medications• Individual and/or group counseling




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• Steps to recovery

• Admission• Detoxification• Counseling• Recovery

• Many alcoholics join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

• Sobriety (living without alcohol) is a lifelong challenge for alcoholics.




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• An alcoholic’s drinking affects his or her family

and friends.• Alcohol abuse can be a factor in

• Family breakups• Spousal abuse• Child abuse

• Young people who live with an alcoholic may need help for themselves.




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• Many alcohol treatment centers offer

help to family members of the alcoholic.

• Support groups for families of alcoholics• Al-Anon• Alateen• Others listed in Yellow Pages




alcohol? (cont’d)


alcohol? (cont’d)• How can you help a friend or family member

who has a problem with alcohol?• Remember your most important responsibility.• Tell the drinker about the harm of alcohol.• Tell the drinker about your concerns.• Encourage her or him to seek help.• Help the drinker feel good about quitting.• Provide helpful information.



Why do some teens drink alcohol?

Why do some teens drink alcohol?

• “I’ll look more grown-up with a drink in my hand.”

• “If I drink, I’ll be able to forget my problems.”• “I’m stressed about this test. A drink will help

me relax.”



Why do some teens drink alcohol? (cont’d)

Why do some teens drink alcohol? (cont’d)

• “My friends keep pressuring me to try alcohol.”

• “The ads make drinking look like fun.”



Why should you avoid alcohol?Why should you avoid alcohol?

• It is illegal.• It interferes with your activities.• It promotes foolish behaviors; people may

embarrass/endanger themselves.• It is not smart, does not make you popular,

and is not a sign of maturity.• It disappoints those who care about you.• It harms your health.



How does the media influence our view of alcohol?

How does the media influence our view of alcohol?

• Advertisements for alcohol show attractive people having fun.

• Alcohol companies spend billions of dollars promoting their products.

• Know the facts and use judgment.• Harsh realities of alcohol use not shown.



What are some alternatives to drinking alcohol?

What are some alternatives to drinking alcohol?

• Alternatives• Become good at something that requires a steady

hand.• Join other teens for alcohol-free fun.• Volunteer to help others.• Learn something new.• Advocate.



Lesson reviewLesson review• Alcohol slows down the brain and

nervous system.• Alcohol also affects the heart, blood

vessels, and digestive and urinary systems.

• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a

range of physical and mental alcohol-related birth defects.

• Alcohol can harm teens’ growth and development, and it is often involved in teen suicides, traffic deaths, and violent crimes.

• Alcohol can lead to injuries.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Alcoholism is a progressive, chronic disease

involving a mental and physical need for alcohol.

• A person addicted to alcohol can recover with help.• Detox units• Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers• Support groups• Counseling



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Teens drink alcohol for different

reasons.• To look more mature• To avoid problems• To relax• As response to pressure from friends• As response to advertising



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• Alcohol should be avoided.

• Illegal• Distracts from other activities• Makes people act foolish• Not smart• Disappoints family and friends• Harms health



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)• The media influences our view of

alcohol.

• Advertisements for alcohol show attractive people having fun. The harsh realities of alcohol use are not shown.

• Alcohol companies spend billions of dollars a year promoting their products.



Lesson review (cont’d)Lesson review (cont’d)

• Instead of drinking alcohol, one can learn a new skill, join friends for alcohol-free fun, or volunteer to help others or teach others to remain alcohol free.



SummarySummary• How does alcohol affect the body?• What is blood alcohol concentration?• What are fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?• What are the effects of teen alcohol use?• How can alcohol lead to injuries?• What is alcoholism?• What help is available for people who are addicted to alcohol?• Why do some teens drink alcohol?• Why should you avoid alcohol?• How does the media influence our view of alcohol? • What are some alternatives to drinking alcohol?



NextNext• Done— The dangers of alcohol

• Next— The American flag and other important national symbols

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Making Safe, Drug-Free Decisions Lesson 3, Chapter 51 Alcohol