SUBSTANCE ABUSE:Alcohol and Intoxication

Ms. Mai

Lawndale High School

Alcohol, The Problem Drink

Alcohol abuse remains the number one drug problem among teenagers and young adults

Over 3 million adolescents (ages 14-17) experience problems from from alcohol abuse (poor schoolwork, illness, impaired judgment, car accidents)

Alcohol has also been linked to teen pregnancy, violence, crime, and STDs

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a depressant (drug that slows down the nervous system)

Alcohol is also known as a gateway drug (leads to trying other drugs)

Research shows that many young people who use alcohol also use other illegal drugs

Alcoholic Beverages There are several different types of the

chemical alcohol, but the only type of alcohol that appears in beverages is ethanol

Alcoholic beverages are labeled with the percentage of their alcohol content with their proof

Proof is a measure of alcohol content that is 2 times the percentage of alcohol (example – whiskey is 80 proof which means that is it 40% alcohol)

3 Types of Alcoholic Beverages

Beer is 3-5% alcohol

Wine is 9-14% alcohol (wine coolers are wine mixed with carbonated water which is about 4-6% alcohol)

Distilled spirits are 35-40% alcohol (whiskey, gin, scotch, vodka)

No Nutritional Value

Alcohol contains no nutrients and interferes with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals

Even though there are no nutrients, alcohol contains a lot of Calories

Therefore, people who drink alcohol regularly may gain weight as a result

Why People Do Not Drink Alcohol

Do not like the taste of alcohol

Religious beliefs or social customs

Weight-conscious people

Do not like the feeling of losing control

Alcoholics cannot control their drinking

Social Pressures

Just like tobacco, many people start drinking because they find it difficult to refuse a drink from friends

They fear disapproval or rejection by their friends, so they drink anyways

Stress

Just like tobacco, many people drink in order to cope with stress and change the way they feel

They think drinking offers an escape from depression , boredom, anxiety, and other uncomfortable feelings

Advertising

Just like tobacco, ads for alcohol show drinkers healthy, attractive, strong, glamorous, adventuresome, athletic, fun-loving, and sophisticated

Alcohol use in movies and TV shows display people using alcohol when they are under stress or facing problems, but either way it is viewed as “cool”

A Way to Rebel

Young people also use alcohol as a way to rebel against their parents or other adults or authority

Like tobacco, they feel like drinking shows their independence from their parents and a sign of adulthood

Types of Drinking

2 of 3 adults in the US drinks alcohol

Alcohol use can be categorized into three different groups

Social Drinkers – 1 drink/dayModerate Drinkers – 2 drinks/dayHeavy Drinkers – 2+ drinks/day

Just One Drink

A drink is defined as ½ ounce of alcohol (example - 1 can of beer, 1 glass of wine, or 1 shot of distilled spirit)

Half of all drinkers are social drinkers (parties, family gatherings, special meal)

Heavy Drinkers

Heavy drinkers use alcohol to cope with stress, worry, and unhappiness

Drinking more than 4 drinks per day on average is considered excessive

Just like tobacco, these addicts are physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol

To addicted users, drinking is not a pleasurable activity, but an obsession

Blackouts

People who drink heavily may experience blackouts

Blackouts are periods of time when drinkers cannot remember what happened while intoxicated

Blackouts are warning signs of excessive drinking

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by dependence on alcohol and an inability to control your drinking

Addicted drinkers who try to stop drinking suffer from withdrawal symptoms like trembling, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and seizures

Identifying Alcoholics Drinking alone Hiding alcohol from family and friends Relying on alcohol during stress Drinking in the morning Suffering hangovers frequently Missing work or school Getting annoyed when criticized about

drinking

Intoxication

Any effect that alcohol has on the mind or body is called intoxication

Intoxication is not the same as being drunk because intoxication can begin at the first sip of alcohol

Unlike food, alcohol does not have to be digested so it can enter the bloodstream quickly once it reached the stomach

Effects on the Brain

Alcohol depresses neuron activity in areas of the brain that control attention, memory, and emotions

At first, alcohol gives people a more relaxed feeling, but as time passes people have less control and may become angry or start crying

People then become less capable of judging what is appropriate and safe

Effects on the Brain

If drinking continues, alcohol can then affect speech, vision, and coordination

The drinker has trouble walking, and may feel nauseated and start to vomit

The alcohol can then travel to the brain stem and control heartbeat and breathing to a point of irregularity or completely stopping

Alcohol Poisoning (fatal level)

Sometime drinkers will pass out either before or after the alcohol has reached a fatal level in their body

Alcohol poisoning must be medically treated immediately

Often times drinkers may vomit while unconscious and suffocate in their own vomit

Effects on Reflexes

Because alcohol interferes with nerve impulses, alcohol slows the body’s reflexes and reaction time

That is why many car accidents happen because a person is not able to react fast enough to a red light or someone driving in front of them

Effects on Temperature Regulation

Alcohol makes the blood vessels relax causing more blood to flow to the skin

As blood circulates in the skin, heat is released from the body through skin

This lowers the body’s internal temperature and the body loses heat rapidly

Effects on Body Fluids

Alcohol prevents the release of hormones that control how much urine the body produces

Without this hormone, urine is made continuously and the body fluids become depleted

As a result, drinkers become very thirsty and may become dehydrated

Measuring Intoxication

A drinker’s level of intoxication is measured by their blood alcohol content (BAC)

The BAC is the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood (%)

The higher the BAC, the more alcohol is in a person’s blood

BAC Levels

Factors Influencing Intoxication

The heavier the drinker is, the less affect alcohol will have on their body

Alcohol’s effect on a drinker may decrease over time because some bodies can build a tolerance for it

The rate of intake during a given time, and the presence of food in the stomach

Alcohol is broken down in the liver, and can take about 3 hours for 1 ounce

Multiplier Effect

Using alcohol with other drugs can be extremely dangerous because alcohol increases the effects of many other drugs

The multiplier effect is when one drug increases the effect of another drug

For example, alcohol is extremely dangerous when taken with tranquilizers because it distorts your senses, coordination, and causes liver damage

Testing a Drinker’s BAC level

Police officers and medical professionals typically use 3 methods to measure a person’s BAC level

1. Breathalyzer Test2. Urine Test3. Blood Test

Any of these tests can be used as evidence to prosecute a drunk driver

A driver can also have their license taken away if he or she refuses a BAC test

Recovering from Intoxication

About 95% of alcohol enters the bloodstream and is broken down by the liver (other 5% is in urine, sweat, breath)

Depending on a person’s BAC level, it can take anywhere from 2-10 hours for alcohol to be eliminated from your body

A hangover is the unpleasant physical effect that follows heavy use of alcohol (dizziness, upset stomach, headache)

In Conclusion…

Alcohol slows down your nervous system affecting your mind and behavior

Alcohol may initially make the drinker feel happy and relaxed, but ultimately can have dangerous effects depending upon the amount of intake