Chapter 10 NotesChapter 10 Notes

Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismAlcoholism

Blood alcohol content (BAC)Blood alcohol content (BAC)A way to measure the level of alcohol A way to measure the level of alcohol

in a person’s blood.in a person’s blood.

As BAC level increases the following As BAC level increases the following occurs:occurs:

- relaxation, slight impairment of relaxation, slight impairment of judgmentjudgment

- Inhibitions are reduced, judgment Inhibitions are reduced, judgment impaired, behavior becomes impaired, behavior becomes impulsiveimpulsive

Reflexes and coordination are Reflexes and coordination are impaired, speech and hearing areimpaired, speech and hearing are

slightly affectedslightly affected

Intoxication:Intoxication:

.08 BAC = 4 drinks in a 1 hour period .08 BAC = 4 drinks in a 1 hour period

legally drunk in most states, vision, legally drunk in most states, vision, hearing, judgment, reflexes, hearing, judgment, reflexes, coordination impairedcoordination impaired

Intoxication extreme; no control over Intoxication extreme; no control over thoughts and perceptions; walkingthoughts and perceptions; walking

and even standing become difficultand even standing become difficult

- Intoxication severe and dangerous; Intoxication severe and dangerous; nervous system may become nervous system may become affected, coma and death can resultaffected, coma and death can result

(.3 to .4 BAC begins to be dangerous, (.3 to .4 BAC begins to be dangerous, depends on individual)depends on individual)

Alcohol Abuse – drinking too much, Alcohol Abuse – drinking too much, drinking too often, or drinking at drinking too often, or drinking at inappropriate timesinappropriate times

Alcoholism – a disease that causes a Alcoholism – a disease that causes a person to lose control of his/her drinking person to lose control of his/her drinking behaviorbehavior

Characteristics include cravings Characteristics include cravings (psychological dependency) and physical (psychological dependency) and physical withdrawal symptoms (physical withdrawal symptoms (physical dependency)dependency)

Stages of alcoholismStages of alcoholism - problem drinking- problem drinking - tolerance- tolerance - dependence- dependence - alcoholism- alcoholism

Factors involved in alcoholism includeFactors involved in alcoholism include psychological, environmental, behavioral, psychological, environmental, behavioral,

and physicaland physical

Risk factors for alcoholism include Risk factors for alcoholism include the following:the following:

Age, social environment, genetics, Age, social environment, genetics, risk-taking personalityrisk-taking personality

Warning signs of alcoholism include:Warning signs of alcoholism include: denial, problems with work/school, denial, problems with work/school,

friends, putting limits on drinkingfriends, putting limits on drinking

Alcoholism in familiesAlcoholism in families Enabling – helping an addict avoid the negative Enabling – helping an addict avoid the negative

consequences of his/her behaviorconsequences of his/her behavior

Codependency – condition in which a family Codependency – condition in which a family member or friend sacrifices his or her own needs member or friend sacrifices his or her own needs to meet the needs of an addict. Sometimes this to meet the needs of an addict. Sometimes this means taking on roles in the family that the means taking on roles in the family that the addict should have.addict should have.

FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) a set of physical FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) a set of physical and mental defects that affect a fetus due to the and mental defects that affect a fetus due to the mother’s use of alcohol.mother’s use of alcohol.

Finding HelpFinding Help

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) a AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) a treatment program for alcoholicstreatment program for alcoholics

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.orghttp://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org//

Alateen – a program Alateen – a program specifically designed for teens specifically designed for teens who have an addict in their who have an addict in their liveslives

Al-anon – a program designed Al-anon – a program designed to help family members of to help family members of alcoholicsalcoholics

http://www.alateen.net/