Choosing to Be Alcohol Free
Immediate Effects of Alcohol Consumption Depressant – a drug that slows the central
nervous system Affects motor skills
Intoxication – the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced Intoxication varies from person to person
Body size, stomach contents, amount of alcohol, etc.
Factors that influence alcohol use Peer pressure Family Media messages
Many are targeted to a teen audience
Advertising Techniques Spend billions of dollars to sell their product Advertisements are every where Alcohol companies sponsor events
(sporting events, concerts, art festivals, etc) to get their name out
Alcohol’s role in unsafe situations Accidents related to Drinking and Driving
are the number one cause of death and disability for teens
Alcohol is also linked with deaths by drowning, fire, suicide, and homicide Lowers your inhibitions
Statistics Alcohol is a key factor in …
33% of suicides 50% of homicides 62% of assaults 68% of manslaughter cases 50% of head injuries 41% of traffic fatalities Domestic abuse and injury, child abuse and
neglect, and workplace injuries More than 50% of all drowning incidents
Alcohol and the Law If you are under 21, it is illegal to buy,
possess or consume alcohol Can be arrested, fined and sentenced to a youth
detention center MIP – Minor in Possession PI – Public Intoxication DUI – Driving Under the Influence DWI – Driving While Intoxicated
Alcohol, Violence, and Sexual Activity Teens who drink alcohol are more likely to be
involved in violent crimes Rape, aggravated assault, and robbery Also fights
Alcohol and sexual activity Teens who drink are more likely to become sexually
active at earlier ages, engage in sexual activity more often, and engage in unprotected sex more often
Impairs a person’s judgment Lowers inhibitions Compromises moral standards
Alcohol Abuse Alcohol abuse – the excessive use of
alcohol 25% of youth are exposed to family alcohol
abuse Higher risk for neglect, abuse, economic
hardship, and social isolation Sometimes these problems can lead to trying
alcohol to escape
Extracurricular Activities Zero-tolerance policy
If students are caught using alcohol, they may become ineligible or suspended from activities or school
Being Alcohol Free Maintain a healthy body Make responsible decisions Avoid risky behavior Avoid illegal activities
Strategies for Preventing Use of Alcohol
Be assertive Refuse to drink Leave the situation quickly Call for a ride home Avoid parties where alcohol is served Practice refusal skills
Harmful Effects of Alcohol Use
Short-term Effects of Drinking Nervous System
Brain – less able to control the body Movement, speech and vision may be affected
Memory – thought processes are disorganized Memory and concentration dulled
Judgment is altered Coordination is impaired
Short-term Effects of Alcohol Cardiovascular system
Heart Low intake
Increase in heart rate and blood pressure Higher intake
Heart rate and blood pressure decrease Heart rhythm becomes irregular Risk of cardiac arrest increases
Blood Vessels Blood vessels expand
Increased surface area of blood vessels allows body heat to escape and body temperature to drop
Short-term effects of alcohol Digestive system
Stomach Some alcohol passes quickly from the stomach to the blood
stream Stomach acid production increases…often results in nausea
and vomiting Liver
Toxic chemicals are releases as the liver metabolizes alcohol…causing inflammation and scarring
Kidneys Increase in urine output…can lead to dehydration
Short-term effects of alcohol Respiratory system
Lungs Carbon dioxide is formed by the liver and released
through the lungs Breathing
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary functions (breathing)
In excess, breathing may slow, become irregular, or stop
Factors that influence the short-term effects
Body size and gender Smaller people feel the effects faster
Food Slows down the passage of alcohol into the
bloodstream
Amount and Rate of intake When a person drinks faster, the liver can’t break
it down quickly enough…leading to intoxication
Alcohol and Drug Interactions Alcohol-drug interactions are a factor in ¼
of all emergency room visits Multiplier effect – the medicine has a
greater or different effect than if it were taken alone
Driving Under the Influence Drinking and Driving is the leading cause of
death for teenagers Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) – the
amount of alcohol in a person’s blood DUI – Driving Under the Influence
DWI – Driving While Intoxicated
Consequences of DWI Harm to driver and others Restricted driving privileges and/or confiscation of
driver’s license Alcohol-related injuries, property damage, and death Living with regret Loss of parental trust and respect Arrest, jail time, court appearance, heavy fine or bail Police record and possible lawsuits Higher insurance rates – up to 3x higher than non-
drinking peers
Every day, eight teens die in alcohol-related car crashes in
the United States
Binge Drinking Drinking five or more alcohol drinks at one
sitting Can cause alcohol poisoning…can lead to
death Alcohol poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal
physical reaction to an alcohol overdose Depressant – shuts down involuntary actions
(breathing and the gag reflex – prevents choking)
Effects of Alcohol Poisoning Passing out
Alcohol is still entering the blood stream after a person passes out
BAC continues to rise
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning Mental confusion, coma, vomiting and seizures Slow respiration – less than 8 breaths a minute Irregular heart beat Hypothermia – low body temperature Severe dehydration
Long-term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Changes to the Brain Addiction – inability to stop drinking Loss of brain functions – loss of verbal skills,
visual and spatial skills, and memory Brain damage
Reduction of brain size and Frontal Lobe Development
Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Cardiovascular changes
Heart – damage to the muscle Enlarged heart – from increased workload High blood pressure – damages the heart and
can cause heart attack/stroke
Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Liver Problems
Fatty liver Fats build up in the liver and
cannot be broken down Excess fat blocks the flow of
blood – leads to cell death Alcohol hepatitis
Inflammation or infection of the liver
Cirrhosis Liver tissue is replaced with
scar tissue Can lead to live failure and
death – need a liver transplant
Long-term effects of alcohol abuse Digestive System Problems
Irritation Digestive lining is damaged – can lead to
stomach ulcers and cancer
Pancreas Problems Lining of the pancreas swells to block the
passage from the pancreas to the small intestine
Chemicals (needed for digestion) can’t pass Chemicals begin to destroy pancreas –
causes pain and vomiting – can lead to death
Alcohol during pregnancy When a mother drinks, alcohol
passes from the mother’s body into the bloodstream of the fetus Fetus’ liver is not developed enough to filter
alcohol Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a
group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems Can occur even if the mother drinks before
she knows she is pregnant
Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Born with a small head and
deformities of the face, hands, or feet
Heart, liver, and kidney defects Vision and hearing problems Experience slow growth and
coordination Have difficulties with learning,
attention, memory, and problem solving
FAS is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the US
Preventing FAS There is NO safe amount of alcohol to drink
Even small amounts can harm a fetus
NO safe time to drink alcohol
Alcoholism Alcoholism – a disease in which a person
has a physical or psychological dependence on drinks that contain alcohol
Characterized by an impaired ability to study, work, and socialize normally
Alcoholism Alcoholic – an addict who is dependent on alcohol Symptoms
Craving – a strong need to drink Loss of control – cannot limit his/her drinking Physical dependence – may experience withdrawal
symptoms (nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety) when not drinking
Tolerance – need to drink more to feel the effects Health, family, and legal problems
Factors Affecting Alcoholics Genetic link
Children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become alcoholics
Environmental factors Family Friends Culture Peer pressure Availability of alcohol Stress
Stages of Alcoholism Stage 1 – Abuse
Begins with social drinking A person begins to drink and become intoxicated
regularly A person may start to lie or make excuses about
his/her drinking Start to develop a tolerance May be a problem drinker
Stages of Alcoholism Stage 2 – Dependence
The person cannot stop drinking – physically dependent on the drug
Alcohol is the person’s central focus Drinker tries to hide the problem Performance starts to suffer Makes excuses/blames others for the problem
Stages of Alcoholism Stage 3 – Addiction
Drinking is the most important thing in the person’s life
Liver damage is common at this stage – less alcohol may be required to intoxicate the person
If they stop drinking, they would experience severe withdrawal symptoms
Effects on Society Estimated 14 million alcoholics in the US Factor in the 4 leading causes of death
Car accidents Falls Drowning House fires
Plays major role in violent crimes ~40% (3 million) crimes are alcohol-related 2/3 domestic violence cases are alcohol-related ½ of all homicide victims have alcohol in their system
Effects on Family Codependency
Codependents learn to ignore their own needs and focus their energy and emotions on the needs of the alcoholic
Codependents lose their trust in others, their self-esteem, and sometimes their own health
Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Recovery – the process of learning to
live an alcohol-free life Steps to recovery
Admission – person admits to having a problem
Detoxification – a process in which the body adjusts to functioning without alcohol
Counseling – to help learn to live without alcohol
Recovery – takes responsibility of his/her own life
Sobriety – living without alcohol Lifelong commitment
Getting help For the alcoholic
Alcoholics Anonymous – AA
For friends and family of alcoholics Al-Anon/Alateen National Association for Children of Alcoholics
To get information National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information National Drug and Treatment Referral Routing Service
Provides treatment referral and information about treatment facilities