The Facts ServedThe Facts Served “ “Straight Up”Straight Up”

AlcoholAlcohol

What Happens When You Drink?What Happens When You Drink?

Alcohol enters the stomach and small intestine, Alcohol enters the stomach and small intestine, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream.where it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Once in the bloodstream, alcohol quickly Once in the bloodstream, alcohol quickly travels to every organ in the body, including travels to every organ in the body, including the brain.the brain.

As you continue to drink, the amount of alcohol As you continue to drink, the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream continues to increase.in your bloodstream continues to increase.

The more alcohol the body absorbs, the higher The more alcohol the body absorbs, the higher the Blood Alcohol Concentration – and the the Blood Alcohol Concentration – and the drunker the person gets.drunker the person gets.

Blood Alcohol Concentration – Blood Alcohol Concentration – How does this affect you?How does this affect you?

..02% - Alcohol immediately slows the nervous 02% - Alcohol immediately slows the nervous system and reaction time is impaired to some system and reaction time is impaired to some extent. You become more relaxedextent. You become more relaxed

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

.055% -.055% - .06% -.06% - Effects of alcohol change. Good Effects of alcohol change. Good feelings get less positive and negative feelings feelings get less positive and negative feelings more negative. The negative effects will continue more negative. The negative effects will continue as long as you continue to drink. as long as you continue to drink. Brain’s ability to Brain’s ability to process information and make judgments is process information and make judgments is greatly impaired.greatly impaired.

BAC - How it affect you ?BAC - How it affect you ? ContinuedContinued

.08% - Legally Drunk. .08% - Legally Drunk. Decrease in Motor Decrease in Motor coordination. May feel nauseous and throw up. coordination. May feel nauseous and throw up. This can occur in some people with just one or two This can occur in some people with just one or two drinks.drinks.

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

.15% -.25% - High risk of blackouts and injuries..15% -.25% - High risk of blackouts and injuries.

.25% -.35% - Can pass out. .25% -.35% - Can pass out. Risk of death.Risk of death.

.40% -.45% - Lethal dose for most..40% -.45% - Lethal dose for most.

What Is A Standard Drink?What Is A Standard Drink?

Factors that may influence alcohol Factors that may influence alcohol concentration levels:concentration levels:

Gender – body compositions differGender – body compositions differ Body weight Body weight Alcohol content in drinksAlcohol content in drinks How much you drinkHow much you drink Food intakeFood intake Age Age MoodMood

Myths Associated With Alcohol:Myths Associated With Alcohol: Alcohol is a sexual stimulantAlcohol is a sexual stimulant

Alcohol actually decreases your ability to function sexuallyAlcohol actually decreases your ability to function sexually You may be less inhibited, but are less likely to be able tp follow You may be less inhibited, but are less likely to be able tp follow

throughthrough

One or two drinks has no noticeable effect on One or two drinks has no noticeable effect on a person’s behavior and/or judgmenta person’s behavior and/or judgment

Behavior and judgment changes with the first drinkBehavior and judgment changes with the first drink Some people are legally drunk with just one or two drinksSome people are legally drunk with just one or two drinks

You can sober someone up faster with food You can sober someone up faster with food or coffeeor coffee

It takes the liver one hour to burn off about .016 of your It takes the liver one hour to burn off about .016 of your blood alcohol level. blood alcohol level.

As a rule it will take a 150lb male one hour to metabolize 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 one glass of wine, one shot of liquor, or one bottle of beer

Beer doesn’t contain as much alcohol Beer doesn’t contain as much alcohol as hard liquoras hard liquor

A 12 ounce bottle of beer has the same alcohol content as a A 12 ounce bottle of beer has the same alcohol content as a standard shot of 80-proof liquor or a 5 ounce glass of wine.standard shot of 80-proof liquor or a 5 ounce glass of wine.

Health problems associated with Health problems associated with long term use of alcohol:long term use of alcohol:

Alcoholism Alcoholism (addiction to alcohol)(addiction to alcohol)

Cancers Cancers Esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box). Esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box). Increase risk of colon and rectal cancerIncrease risk of colon and rectal cancer

Heart damageHeart damage Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle)Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) High blood pressureHigh blood pressure High triglycerides leading to heart attack or stroke. High triglycerides leading to heart attack or stroke.

Liver damageLiver damage CirrhosisCirrhosis HepatitisHepatitis

StomachStomach Chronic irritation of the stomach lining and bleeding Chronic irritation of the stomach lining and bleeding

ulcers ulcers pancreatitispancreatitis

Binge Drinking Binge Drinking Drinking too much alcohol too fastDrinking too much alcohol too fast

Can result in the brain’s control center Can result in the brain’s control center

closing down, at which point you canclosing down, at which point you can

black out, slip into a coma, black out, slip into a coma,

Stop breathing, and die.Stop breathing, and die.

Binge drinking is associated with many Binge drinking is associated with many health problems including:health problems including:

Unintentional injuriesUnintentional injuries (e.g. car crash, falls, burns, drowning) (e.g. car crash, falls, burns, drowning)

Intentional injuriesIntentional injuries (e.g. firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence) (e.g. firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence)

Alcohol poisoningAlcohol poisoning and deathand death Sexually transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Unintended pregnancyUnintended pregnancy Children born with Fetal Alcohol SyndromeChildren born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects, one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects, such as mental and physical disabilities, abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, such as mental and physical disabilities, abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, vision, hearing and learning disabilities. vision, hearing and learning disabilities.

High blood pressure, stroke, and other High blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases cardiovascular diseases

Liver disease, Neurological damage, Poor Liver disease, Neurological damage, Poor control of diabetes control of diabetes

Sexual dysfunction Sexual dysfunction

Alcohol PoisoningAlcohol Poisoning This is a Medical Emergency – This is a Medical Emergency – Call 911Call 911

If alcohol poisoning is not treated, a person may become If alcohol poisoning is not treated, a person may become comatose, suffer brain damage and die!comatose, suffer brain damage and die!

Alcohol poisoning is when someone overdoses on Alcohol poisoning is when someone overdoses on alcohol.alcohol.

Alcohol depresses nerves that control breathing and the Alcohol depresses nerves that control breathing and the gag reflex. This may cause one or both of the following:gag reflex. This may cause one or both of the following:

pass out, stop breathing and die.pass out, stop breathing and die. pass out, choke on their own vomit and diepass out, choke on their own vomit and die

Even after a person passes out their alcohol level keeps Even after a person passes out their alcohol level keeps rising.rising.

The alcohol in the stomach and intestines continues to The alcohol in the stomach and intestines continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body.enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body.

It is dangerous to assume the person will just sleep it It is dangerous to assume the person will just sleep it off.off.

Signs of Alcohol PoisoningSigns of Alcohol Poisoning

Mental confusion, unable to wake themMental confusion, unable to wake them

Vomiting while asleep Vomiting while asleep

Seizures Seizures

Slow breathing Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute) (fewer than eight breaths per minute)

Irregular breathing Irregular breathing ((10 seconds or more between 10 seconds or more between breaths) breaths)

Hypothermia Hypothermia (low body temperature)(low body temperature), bluish skin color , bluish skin color and cold to the touch and cold to the touch

If you suspect someone has If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoningalcohol poisoning

Call 911Call 911 Keep the person warm and turn them on Keep the person warm and turn them on

their side to prevent them from choking on their side to prevent them from choking on vomit.vomit.

Don’t worry about the drinker being mad or Don’t worry about the drinker being mad or embarrassed because you sought medical embarrassed because you sought medical help. Be safe – not sorry.help. Be safe – not sorry.

40% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related.40% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related.Could this be you someday?Could this be you someday?