Alcohol Awareness Learning How to Make Smart Choices

By: Karen Murphy, Kelsey Deal, Aaron Bruce and Tamara Wikkerink

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a depressant. Depressants slow down vital functions, which causes slurred speech, unsteady movement, inability to react quickly, and disturbed perceptions. This depressant also reduces your ability to think rationally and distorts your judgment.

From www.drugfreeworld.org

What is Alcohol? continued . . .

Alcohol Content:Beer 2–6% alcoholCider 4–8% alcoholWine 8–20% alcoholTequila 40% alcoholRum 40% or more alcoholBrandy 40% or more alcoholGin 40–47% alcoholWhiskey 40–50% alcoholVodka 40–50% alcoholLiqueurs 15–60% alcohol

From www.drugfreeworld.org

What Does Alcohol do to Your Body?

•Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through small blood vessels in the stomach and small intestine.•Minutes after drinking alcohol, it travels to the brain and begins slowing the nerve cells.•It can take up to 2 hours to get rid of one standard alcoholic drink.

What Does Alcohol do to Your Body? continued . . .

•Alcohol travels to the liver as well, where the liver tries to break it down. However, the liver can only break down a limited amount of alcohol leaving the rest to circulate the through the body. The more alcohol left to circulate in the body, the more intense the effect on the body.•Once the amount of alcohol exceeds a specific level, the respiratory system slows down drastically and can lead to a coma or death due to lack of oxygen to the brain.

Short-Term Effects

Alcohol will affect you differently depending on the amount you consume. Some of the effects include:•Impaired balance and coordination•Slurred speech•Diarrhea or upset stomach•Headaches•Less reliable hearing and sight

Short-Term Effects continued . . .

•Impaired judgment or ability to make thoughtful decisions.•Lowered inhibitions (say or do things you normally wouldn’t).•Alcohol poisoning (passing out, slowed breathing and heart rate, vomiting, coma, blackouts, unconsciousness)

•Death (heart rate and breathing stop, choke to death on vomit while sleeping, lack of oxygen to brain).

Long-Term Effects

•Increase in broken relationships and family problems.•Unintentional injuries: falls, burns, car crash, drowning.•Intentional injuries: domestic violence, sexual assault, firearm injuries.

Long-Term Effects continued . ..

•Damage to: Liver, Brain, Heart, Nerve damage.•Risks: Addiction to Alcohol, Alcohol poisoning.•Diseases: Pancreas, stomach, throat, esophagus, anemia, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, weakened immune system, mouth and throat cancer, ulcers, malnutrition.

What Are the Risks?

•Increases the risk of suicide in young people.•Can affect schoolwork (drinking instead of studying, attempting to write a test while hung over).•Unprotected or unwanted sex.

What Are the Risks continued . . .

•Mixing alcohol with drugs or medications is dangerous and can lead to death.•Alcohol kills more young people than all other drugs combined. •Teenagers who drink are 7.5 times more likely to use other illegal drugs ( 50 times more likely to use cocaine).

Addiction

•No one plans to become addicted. People may think that they can handle their substance use and that they only use when they want to. But when they want to change the way they use, they may find it’s not that simple.

Addiction continued . . .

•It seems that people develop addictions through a mixture of factors such as:

•genes•the way a person’s brain works•difficulties during childhood•mental health problems•stress•cultural influences.

Who Shouldn’t Use Alcohol

•“People under the legal age limit of 19 years old” (Alcohol-Drug Education Service, 2009).•“People with certain health problems, such as liver disease or certain psychiatric illnesses” (Alcohol-Drug Education Service, 2009).•“Women who are pregnant” (Alcohol-Drug Education Service, 2009).

Who Shouldn’t Use Alcohol continued . . .

•People who are operating heavy equipment, vehicles or bicycles.•People who need to be alert or are responsible for the safety of others.•People who are under any legal or other restrictions.

Sources

Alcohol-Drug Education Service. "Drug Facts- Alcohol." Alcohol-Drug Education

Service. Alcohol-Drug Education Service, 2009. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

Foundation for a Drug-Free World. "What Is Alcohol? Alcohol Facts, Binge Drinking

and Alcohol Abuse." Drug Free World: Substance & Alcohol Abuse, Education & Prevention. Foundation for a Drug-Free World, 2006-2011. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

Images taken from Google Images without permission:

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