Alcohol is a DrugAlcohol is a Drug

Chapter 19

Alcohol is a DrugAlcohol is a Drug a DRUG is any chemical that causes

changes in a person’s body or behaviorThis is the exact reason why alcohol is a

drugIt most definitely causes changes in a person’s body and behavior!Alcohol is the most widely abused drug by

high school students

EthanolEthanolThis is found is beverages such as beer,

wine and liquorIt is produced when yeast changes sugar

into carbon dioxide and alcoholNot all alcoholic beverages contain the

same amount of ethanolBeer and wine indicate the percentage of

alcohol on their labels

EthanolEthanol

Percentages can widely vary and can range from 6-50%

Beverages that have greater amount of alcohol than beer and wine like gin, whiskey, rum and vodka have a proof listed on the label

PROOF is a measure of the of the percentage of alcohol in the beverage

EthanolEthanol

The PROOF is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume

For example: 100 proof vodka is 50% alcohol

AlcoholAlcohol

Alcohol has a tremendous effect on the body

This drug is a very powerful DEPRESSANT

A DEPRESSANT is a drug that slows the activity of the body’s central nervous system

Alcohol slows the body’s natural reactions down

Alcohol Can Cause…….Alcohol Can Cause…….

ConfusionDecreased alertnessPoor coordinationBlurred visionDrowsinessAs well as many others

What Else??What Else??

In those who drink heavy amount of alcohol, vital functions like heart beats and breathing can be seriously affected and slowed down resulting in deathg

Legal ProblemsLegal Problems

Attempting to buy alcohol under age is illegal as well as selling to someone who is under age

Possessing alcohol underage is against the law and usually comes with heavy fines and other consequences

In all states, an individual must be at least 21 years of age in order to purchase and drink alcohol

Legal RisksLegal Risks

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about half of all fatal automobile crashes are alcohol related

Alcohol’s Effects on the BodyAlcohol’s Effects on the Body

Once alcohol reaches the blood, it is circulated throughout the body and affects every part including the brain and the rest of the nervous system

Alcohol can be toxic or poisonous The word intoxication is actually derived

from the word “ TOXIC”

Alcohol’s Effect on the BodyAlcohol’s Effect on the Body

Intoxication: refers to the negative effects alcohol has on a drinker's body and behavior

BloodstreamBloodstreamWhen alcohol enters the blood stream it causes the

blood vessels to widenMore blood then flows to the skins surface and the

drinker begins to feel warmerAlthough you feel warmer, your body temperature

begins to dropSince all the blood is at the surface this is a false

sense of warmthTherefore those that drink in the cold to stay warm

are not exactly accomplishing that!

BrainBrain

Upon meting the brain, alcohol immediately has a depressant effect

People may get the false sense of relaxation when they drink but that is just because drinking slows down brain activity

Alcohol slows down every part of the brain, vision, speaking, hearing, balance and coordination

BrainBrain

If the drinking still continues this can even depress the part of the brain that is responsible for breathing and heart beat which can lead to death

BrainBrain

Black outs: are periods of time that the drinker cannot recall. Other people may see the drinker walking and talking but the next day the drinker has no recall of the event

Studies show that those who black out before the age of 15 are more likely to get a blackout every time they drink as they get older ( Duke University)

Brain DamageBrain Damage

Long term alcohol abuse destroys nerve cells in the brain

The loss of nerve cells typically means that they will not grow again

This can cause forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and poor judgment

LiverLiver

once in the bloodstream the alcohol is carried to the liver

Liver breaks down toxins in the body to allow it to be excreted

When the liver cannot keep up with the break down of alcohol that is when a person becomes intoxicated

Liver DamageLiver DamageAlcohol interferes with the liver’s ability to

break down fatBecause of this the liver turns fill with fatThe fat blocks the flow of blood to the liver

and the cells begin to dieCirrhosis of the liver is a disease in which

useless scar tissue replaces the liver tissue, because there is no blood flow the liver begins to fail

Liver DamageLiver Damage

This will cause the drinker to have high blood pressure, get infections easily, swelling in the abdomen, yellowing of skin and eyes, this often results in death

ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS: inflammation of the liver caused by toxic effects of alcohol, this often will lead to liver failure and death

KidneysKidneys alcohol prevents the release of body

chemicals that regulate how much urine the kidneys make

The kidneys will produce more urine than usual when the individual is drinking alcohol

The drinker loses more water than usual and could be enough to needed for the body to function properly

Digestive ProblemsDigestive Problems ongoing drinking irritates the tissue lining

the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomachThis irritation can cause the tissue to

become inflamedThis can cause risks of cancers, intestinal

problems and diarrheaLarge amounts of alcohol can cause the

body to produce too much acid, which can lead to indigestion, heart burn and ulcers

Heart DiseaseHeart Disease excessive drinking contributes to increased

blood pressure ,heart rate, and irregular heart beat

These problems can cause irregular or poor blood flow and heart damage

Alcohol cause the parts of the heart to turn to fat

Fatty heart muscle causes blood to be pumped through the body less efficiently

Long Term Health RisksLong Term Health Risks

DEPENDENCE, ADDICTION, WITHDRAWAL

DEPENDENCE: when the body develops a resistance to a drug and requires the drug to function normally

the drinker’s body develops a chemical need for alcohol

Long Term Health RisksLong Term Health RisksADDICTION: this is also known as

dependence. The body is addicted to the substance and cannot function without it. The drinker feels that way at least!

WITHDRAWAL: signs of alcohol withdrawal includes shaking, problems sleeping, irritability, rapid heart beat, and sweating

A person going through withdraw may even see or smell things that aren’t there