AlcoholAlcohol

What Is Alcohol?What Is Alcohol?

Ethanol Ethanol alcoholalcohol is produced by a is produced by a chemical reaction called chemical reaction called fermentationfermentation..

What Is Alcohol?What Is Alcohol?

AlcoholAlcohol is a is a drugdrug..

Alcohol A substance produced by a chemical reaction in carbohydrates

Drug A substance that changes the structure or function of the body or mind

What Is Alcohol?What Is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a drug.Drugs affect the brain and central nervous system.

Drugs cause changes in behavior.

AlcoholAlcohol’’s Effect on the s Effect on the BodyBody

CirrhosisCirrhosis is a life-threatening problem is a life-threatening problem associated with heavy alcohol use.associated with heavy alcohol use.

cirrhosis A disease characterized by scarring and eventual destruction of the liver

Brain damage can result when the damaged liver cannot remove poisons from the blood.

Heavy drinkers are at risk for developing cirrhosiscirrhosis

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AlcoholAlcohol’’s Effects on the s Effects on the BrainBrain

Slower ReactionTime

Slower ReactionTime

Trouble thinking and speaking clearly

Trouble thinking and speaking clearly

More likely to engage in high-risk behaviors

More likely to engage in high-risk behaviors

Drunk driving is a major cause of traffic accidents

Factors that Influence Factors that Influence AlcoholAlcohol’’s Effectss Effects

How a person reacts depends in part on How a person reacts depends in part on his or her his or her blood alcohol content blood alcohol content (BAC)(BAC)..

blood alcohol content (BAC) A measure of the amount of alcohol present in a person’s blood

A BAC of 0.02% will cause most people A BAC of 0.02% will cause most people to feel lightheaded. A BAC of 0.08% to feel lightheaded. A BAC of 0.08% interferes with a personinterferes with a person’’s ability to drive s ability to drive safely.safely.

Factors that Influence Factors that Influence AlcoholAlcohol’’s Effectss Effects

There are several factors that There are several factors that influence how alcohol affects a influence how alcohol affects a person:person:

Body WeightBody WeightRate of

ConsumptionRate of

ConsumptionAmount

ConsumedAmount

Consumed

AmountEaten

AmountEaten

Other Drugs inthe System

Other Drugs inthe System

How Alcohol Affects the How Alcohol Affects the IndividualIndividual

Gender and body size

Gender and body size

Other drugsOther drugs

FoodFood

Females and smaller people are affected more quickly than males and larger people.Females and smaller people are affected more quickly than males and larger people.

Alcohol mixed with other drugs or medicines can be deadly. Each drug can make the effects of the others stronger.

Alcohol mixed with other drugs or medicines can be deadly. Each drug can make the effects of the others stronger.

Food in the stomach slows down alcohol absorption.Food in the stomach slows down alcohol absorption.

How Alcohol Affects the How Alcohol Affects the IndividualIndividual

General healthGeneral health

How fast your drinkHow fast your drink

How much you drinkHow much you drink

Someone who is over tired or sick will be affected by alcohol more quickly.Someone who is over tired or sick will be affected by alcohol more quickly.

The faster a person drinks, the more he or she will be affected by alcohol.The faster a person drinks, the more he or she will be affected by alcohol.

Drinking a lot or very quickly overworks the liver and causes intoxication.Drinking a lot or very quickly overworks the liver and causes intoxication.

Teens Who DrinkTeens Who Drink

Teen drinking can lead to:Teen drinking can lead to:

Getting ArrestedGetting Arrested

Stunted BrainDevelopmentStunted BrainDevelopment

Suspension orExpulsion from School

Suspension orExpulsion from School

Poor GradesPoor Grades

Reasons to Refuse Reasons to Refuse AlcoholAlcohol

IncreasedSelf-Respect

HighSelf-Esteem

Good Friendships

Better Relationships

with Your Family

Control Over Your Life

Maintaining a High Level of

Wellness

A Bright Future

IntoxicationIntoxication

People who are heavily intoxicated are People who are heavily intoxicated are at risk of at risk of alcohol poisoningalcohol poisoning..

alcohol poisoning A dangerous condition that results when a person drinks excessive amounts of alcohol over a short time period

Alcohol poisoning can kill you.

Binge DrinkingBinge Drinking

Risks of Binge Drinking

Death due to falls, drowning, or drunk driving

Being a victim of violent behavior

Death from alcohol poisoning

How Alcohol Affects the How Alcohol Affects the IndividualIndividual

Getting Help for Alcohol Getting Help for Alcohol AbuseAbuse

Some alcoholics may not want to Some alcoholics may not want to quit using alcohol because they are quit using alcohol because they are afraid of going through afraid of going through withdrawalwithdrawal..

withdrawal A series of painful physical and mental symptoms associated with recovery from an addictive

substance