AlcoholAlcoholWhere does it come from?Where does it come from?

What type of drug is it?What type of drug is it?

AlcoholAlcohol

• Alcohol- drug that is produced by a Alcohol- drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables and grainsvegetables and grains

• Depressants- drugs that slow down Depressants- drugs that slow down the body’s functions and reactionsthe body’s functions and reactions

• the concentration of alcohol in a the concentration of alcohol in a beverage is the proof valuebeverage is the proof value

• Proof value = 2X percentage alcohol. Proof value = 2X percentage alcohol. • E.g. 100 proof (whiskey) contains E.g. 100 proof (whiskey) contains

50% alcohol 50% alcohol

• 12 oz beer12 oz beer

• 5 oz wine5 oz wine

• 1.5 oz of a “shot’ 80 proof alcohol1.5 oz of a “shot’ 80 proof alcohol

• Current recommendations are:Current recommendations are:– 1 drink/day for women1 drink/day for women– 2 drinks/day for men2 drinks/day for men

ONE DRINK ONE DRINK = = 0.6 oz pure 0.6 oz pure alcoholalcohol

Alcohol Use Patterns in the Alcohol Use Patterns in the USAUSA• 1/3 are abstainers1/3 are abstainers• 2/3 are drinkers2/3 are drinkers

– 1/3 are light drinkers1/3 are light drinkers– 1/3 are moderate/heavy drinkers1/3 are moderate/heavy drinkers

• 10% of the drinking population is considered 10% of the drinking population is considered heavy drinkers- they are responsible for 50% heavy drinkers- they are responsible for 50% of all alcohol consumption in the US!!!!!!!!!of all alcohol consumption in the US!!!!!!!!!

• Annual Sales Annual Sales of alcohol average out to of alcohol average out to roughly 2.3 gallons of absolute alcohol per roughly 2.3 gallons of absolute alcohol per person person

Alcohol use and TEENSAlcohol use and TEENS

• Research has shown that alcohol use can Research has shown that alcohol use can interfere with long and short term growthinterfere with long and short term growth

• Can harm the brains ability to learn and Can harm the brains ability to learn and ability to rememberability to remember

• Increases the risk of social problems, Increases the risk of social problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violencedepression, suicidal thoughts and violence

• Arrested, fined or sent to youth detentionArrested, fined or sent to youth detention

• 1/3 of all teen traffic deaths are related to 1/3 of all teen traffic deaths are related to alcoholalcohol

VocabularyVocabulary

• Binge Drinking- Binge Drinking- consumption of large consumption of large quantities of alcohol in short period of time (2 quantities of alcohol in short period of time (2 hours)hours)

• 4 drinks for women4 drinks for women• 5 drinks for men5 drinks for men

• Alcohol poisoning- Alcohol poisoning- dangerous condition that dangerous condition that results when a person drinks excessive results when a person drinks excessive amount of alcohol over a short period of timeamount of alcohol over a short period of time

Absorption and MetabolismAbsorption and Metabolism

• 20% rapidly absorbed into 20% rapidly absorbed into bloodstreambloodstream

• 75 % through upper part of the small 75 % through upper part of the small intestine and the rest enters further intestine and the rest enters further along in the intestinal tract.along in the intestinal tract.

• Metabolism of alcohol is in the liver. Metabolism of alcohol is in the liver. • 2-10% is not metabolized but is 2-10% is not metabolized but is

excreted through the sweat glands, excreted through the sweat glands, lungs and kidneys. lungs and kidneys.

VocabularyVocabulary

• IntoxicationIntoxication- a person’s mental and - a person’s mental and physical abilities have been impaired by physical abilities have been impaired by alcoholalcohol

• Blood Alcohol Content Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) – measure (BAC) – measure of the amount of alcohol present in a of the amount of alcohol present in a person’s bloodperson’s blood– .02% makes people feel light headed.02% makes people feel light headed– .08% enough to make it dangerous to drive .08% enough to make it dangerous to drive

(legally intoxicated)(legally intoxicated)

Factors that Affect Alcohol Factors that Affect Alcohol AbsorptionAbsorption

• Strength of the beverageStrength of the beverage• Number of drinks consumedNumber of drinks consumed• Speed of consumptionSpeed of consumption• What you are mixing it with What you are mixing it with • Presence of food in stomach Presence of food in stomach • Gender and body sizeGender and body size• Physical tolerancePhysical tolerance• Body chemistry / General healthBody chemistry / General health• Combining with other drugsCombining with other drugs

Blood Alcohol ConcentrationBlood Alcohol Concentration

• Percentage of alcohol in a measured Percentage of alcohol in a measured amount of bloodamount of blood

• Measured from exhaled breath or Measured from exhaled breath or blood sampleblood sample

Possible consequences of Possible consequences of frequent alcohol usefrequent alcohol use

Long Term Physical EffectsLong Term Physical Effects

• Mouth: Mouth: absorbed through lining absorbed through lining which goes directly to blood, which goes directly to blood, increases mouth and throat cancerincreases mouth and throat cancer

• Stomach: Stomach: irritates lining and irritates lining and increase acid causing swelling and increase acid causing swelling and ulcers which lead to bleeding. ulcers which lead to bleeding. Weakens the valve from stomach to Weakens the valve from stomach to esophagus causing heartburnesophagus causing heartburn

Long Term Physical EffectsLong Term Physical Effects

• Liver: Liver: if alcohol is frequently in blood, if alcohol is frequently in blood, liver cells die causing liver cells die causing Fatty Liver Fatty Liver fat builds up in liver and fat builds up in liver and

cannot be broken downcannot be broken down

CirrhosisCirrhosis- disease characterized by - disease characterized by scarring and eventual destruction of scarring and eventual destruction of liverliver

Long Term Physical EffectsLong Term Physical Effects

• BrainBrain: disrupts parts of brain : disrupts parts of brain responsible for memory and problem responsible for memory and problem solving…unlike many other kinds of solving…unlike many other kinds of cells, brain cells do NOT grow backcells, brain cells do NOT grow back

• Heart: Heart: damages heart muscle, damages heart muscle, causing it to weaken and enlarge causing it to weaken and enlarge which leads to high BP. Increasing risk which leads to high BP. Increasing risk of congestive heart failure and strokeof congestive heart failure and stroke

Normal Normal healthy liverhealthy liver

Liver with Liver with cirrhosiscirrhosis

Fetal Alcohol SyndromeFetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Fetus is exposed to alcohol in a slower Fetus is exposed to alcohol in a slower manner than an adultmanner than an adult

• Damage results in mental Damage results in mental retardationretardation

• Other characteristics are low birth Other characteristics are low birth weight, facial abnormalities, widely weight, facial abnormalities, widely spaced eyes, and a much smaller head.spaced eyes, and a much smaller head.

• Full expression rate: 1-3 out of 1000 Full expression rate: 1-3 out of 1000 birthsbirths

• Partial expression rate: 3-9/100 births Partial expression rate: 3-9/100 births

FASFAS

Alcoholism- different Alcoholism- different patternspatterns• Regular daily intake of large amountsRegular daily intake of large amounts

• Regular heavy drinking limited to Regular heavy drinking limited to weekendsweekends

• Long periods of sobriety interspersed Long periods of sobriety interspersed with periods of binge drinking lasting with periods of binge drinking lasting weeks or monthsweeks or months

• Heavy drinking limited to periods of Heavy drinking limited to periods of stressstress