Chapter 21Chapter 21Alcohol Use: A High-Risk Alcohol Use: A High-Risk

BehaviorBehavior

““You booze, You lose…”You booze, You lose…”

Factors that Influence Alcohol’s Factors that Influence Alcohol’s EffectsEffects

Body sizeBody size Gender- alcohol generally moves into Gender- alcohol generally moves into

bloodstream faster in femalesbloodstream faster in females Food- food slows down the passage Food- food slows down the passage

of alcohol to bloodstreamof alcohol to bloodstream Rate of IntakeRate of Intake AmountAmount MedicineMedicine

What does it do to you?What does it do to you?“Short-Term Effects”“Short-Term Effects”

May initially give “buzz” May initially give “buzz” CNS CNS depressant depressant – slow down– slow down Large amounts cause Large amounts cause intoxicationintoxication – – physical and mental impairment resulting physical and mental impairment resulting

from use of alcoholfrom use of alcohol

Impair judgment, lengthens reaction Impair judgment, lengthens reaction time, slur speech, & unsteady time, slur speech, & unsteady walkingwalking

Multiplier EffectMultiplier Effect

Alcohol combined with other drugs or Alcohol combined with other drugs or medications produces an interaction medications produces an interaction known as the multiplier effectknown as the multiplier effect

Alcohol can change the effect of the Alcohol can change the effect of the medicine.medicine.

These interactions can lead to illness These interactions can lead to illness or death.or death.

What is binge drinking?What is binge drinking?

Usually 5 or more drinks in a row or in a Usually 5 or more drinks in a row or in a one sittingone sitting

Solo cup – 20 oz. (=more than 1.5 beers)Solo cup – 20 oz. (=more than 1.5 beers)

Health Risks of Alcohol UseHealth Risks of Alcohol Use

Must be 21Must be 21; teens can be arrested and ; teens can be arrested and sentenced to a youth detention center.sentenced to a youth detention center.

ViolenceViolence: alcohol use is a factor in 1/3 to : alcohol use is a factor in 1/3 to 2/3 sexual assaults or date-rape cases2/3 sexual assaults or date-rape cases

Sexual activitySexual activity: more likely to become : more likely to become sexually active at younger age. 25% of sexually active at younger age. 25% of sexually active teens engage in alcohol or sexually active teens engage in alcohol or drugs before sexual activity. Twice as drugs before sexual activity. Twice as likely to contract an STD.likely to contract an STD.

::The Legal LimitThe Legal Limit

What is BAC?What is BAC?amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed

as a percentage.as a percentage.

Alcohol in the blood causes:Alcohol in the blood causes:- - Slow reflexesSlow reflexes

- Reduced ability to judge distances and speeds- Reduced ability to judge distances and speeds

- Increase in risk taking behaviors- Increase in risk taking behaviors

- Reduced concentration and increased forgetfulness- Reduced concentration and increased forgetfulness

DWI/DUIDWI/DUI

BAC of or above .08 BAC of or above .08 Zero tolerance for those under 21Zero tolerance for those under 21

Do you know people who put have put Do you know people who put have put themselves behind the wheel of a car after themselves behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol? Give three examples consuming alcohol? Give three examples you can think of when this happened. Was you can think of when this happened. Was it after a party? A holiday? A sporting it after a party? A holiday? A sporting event or concert? event or concert?

How would you feel if you lost someone How would you feel if you lost someone who was killed by a drunk driver. Pick one who was killed by a drunk driver. Pick one person and tell how it would change your person and tell how it would change your life.life.

What are three ways someone could get What are three ways someone could get home instead of driving after drinking home instead of driving after drinking alcohol?alcohol?

Is beer/wine safer?Is beer/wine safer?

None are safer than the otherNone are safer than the other All contain the same amount of alcoholAll contain the same amount of alcohol

What is a standard drink?What is a standard drink?

1 – 12 oz beer 1 – 12 oz beer (normal strength beer 4%)(normal strength beer 4%)

1 – 5 oz glass of 1 – 5 oz glass of winewine

1 – 1.5 oz shot of 1 – 1.5 oz shot of ((40% or 40% or 80 proof liquor80 proof liquor))

Mixed drinks may not be Mixed drinks may not be measured and often contain measured and often contain far more than 1.5 oz of alcohol. far more than 1.5 oz of alcohol. Drinks with a higher proof Drinks with a higher proof (grain alcohol, Everclear, etc) (grain alcohol, Everclear, etc) should be treated with cautionshould be treated with caution

STAGES OF ALCOHOLISMSTAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

STAGE 1: ABUSESTAGE 1: ABUSE Begins with social drinkingBegins with social drinking Physical/mental dep. developsPhysical/mental dep. develops ST memory loss and blackoutsST memory loss and blackouts Makes excuses/rationalizes Makes excuses/rationalizes

STAGE 2: STAGE 2: DependenceDependence

Physical dependencePhysical dependence May drink alone, everyday, May drink alone, everyday,

crave earlier and earliercrave earlier and earlier Drinker tries to hide Drinker tries to hide

problemproblem Perf. in other areas Perf. in other areas ↓↓

STAGE 3: ADDICTIONSTAGE 3: ADDICTION Drinking is more important than Drinking is more important than

anything else in lifeanything else in life UncontrollableUncontrollable MalnutritionMalnutrition Addicted to drugAddicted to drug Withdrawal symptoms Withdrawal symptoms

Alcoholism can not be cured; but it can be treated

Stages of AlcoholismStages of Alcoholism

Alcohol causes serious damage to the Alcohol causes serious damage to the liver. liver.

Compare the healthy liver on the left Compare the healthy liver on the left with the liver damaged by alcohol abuse with the liver damaged by alcohol abuse on the right.on the right.