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The Responsible Use of Alcohol

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Alcohol Use Patterns

• 49% of Americans abstain from alcohol use

• 22% are considered “light” drinkers

• 29% are considered “risky” drinkers

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• Alcohol is responsible for more than 70,000 deaths per year among Americans

• Through automobile crashes and other injuries alcohol is the leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24

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UWG Statistics from 2008

• 77% of the students consumed alcohol in the past year

• 62% in the past 30 days• 58% under age 21 in the past 30 days• 38% reported binge drinking in

previous two weeks• 93% believe the average student

uses alcohol once a week or more

So . . . Not everyone is a drunk!

Reality is 62% of UWG students are not binge drinking every Thursday night!

38% haven’t even drunk in the past 30 days!

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• 90% view drinking as central to fraternity life

• 85% view drinking as central to sorority life

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Binge Drinking

• A common form of alcohol abuse on college campuses

• Defined as – having 5 or more drinks in a row for

men, – 4 or more for women on at least one

occasion in the last two weeks

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Binge Drinking

• Kills dozens of college students each year in this country

• Fast, heavy drinking can easily raise BAC levels quickly, leading to unconsciousness and death

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Recent National Report on College Binge Drinking

• 44% of college aged students reported binge drinking

• 44% also reported alcohol abuse as the largest problem on college campuses

• 1,700 alcohol related deaths in 2001

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Recent National Report on College Binge Drinking

• College aged students reported– 696,000 assaults

– 599,000 injuries

– 97,000 sexual assaults/date rapes

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So . . . What exactly is a “drink”?

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Problem???

• One solo cup of “hunch punch” is NOT one drink!– In reality it could contain enough alcohol

to equal 5-6 drinks!

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Nature of Alcoholic Beverages

• Consumable form of alcohol – ethyl• Fermentation:

– process where sugars are converted into alcohol by yeast

• Proof: – alcohol concentration that is twice the

percentage concentration: 100 proof=50% alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant!Alcohol is a depressant!

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Nature of Alcoholic Beverages

• Beer = 3-6%• Table wine = 9-14%

– Fortified wine = 20%

• Hard liquors = 35-50%• Alcohol provides 7

calories per gram– 1 beer = 150 calories

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Factors that Affect Alcohol Absorption and Blood Alcohol

Concentration Levels

• Strength of beverage• Number of drinks

consumed• Speed of

consumption• Carbonation of the

beverage

• Presence of food• Body weight• Body fat percentage• Gender

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Metabolism and Excretion

• Once alcohol reaches the stomach– 20% is absorbed into the bloodstream– 75% is absorbed through the upper part of the

small intestine

• The liver is the main site for alcohol metabolism– 2-10% of ingested alcohol is not metabolized

by the liver or other tissues, it is excreted by the lungs, kidneys, and sweat glands unchanged

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Blood Alcohol Concentration• Percentage of alcohol in a measured

amount of blood– Measured from exhaled breath or blood

sample– Depends upon the balance between the rate

of alcohol absorption and the rate of alcohol metabolism

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The Immediate Effects of Alcohol

• At .03 - .05%– relaxation and jovial

• At .10%– physical impairment

• At .20%– uncontrollable movement

• At .35%– coma and possible death

• Legal limit is .08% for DUI

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UWG Student Perceptions of Effects of Alcohol

• 69% breaks the ice• 69% enhances social activity• 63% gives people something to talk

about• 71% gives people something to do• 60% allows people to have more fun• 54% facilitates connection with peers• 48% facilitates male bonding• 47% facilitates sexual opportunity

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• 41% facilitates female bonding• 40% easier to deal with stress• 28% makes women sexier • 17% makes men sexier• 16% makes food taste better

• 24% thought a sexual partner was not attractive because he/she was drunk

• 33% reported some form of public misconduct at least once during the past year as a result of drinking

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Alcohol Hangover vs. Alcohol Poisoning

• Hangover – is probably due to a combination of toxic products of

alcohol breakdown, dehydration, and hormonal effects

• Symptoms– Headaches, Fatigue, Impaired mental functioning

• Alcohol poisoning – is consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short

amount of time, raising BAC to dangerous levels which could result in death due to:

• CNS depression• Respiratory failure• Pulmonary edema

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Warning signs of Alcohol Poisoning

• Person cannot be roused (unconscious)• Vomiting• Seizures• Slow breathing

– (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)• Irregular breathing

– (10 seconds or more between breaths)• Hypothermia (low body temperature),

– bluish skin color or paleness• Self defecation

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Other Dangerous Alcohol Use Combination

• Using Alcohol with Other Drugs• Impaired judgment from Alcohol leading

to:• Injuries, Violence, Suicide

• Alcohol and Sexual Decision-making• Unplanned sexual activity, STD’s,

Accidental pregnancies

• Drinking and Driving• Dose-response function

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The Effects of Chronic Use

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Fetus is exposed to alcohol in a slower manner than an adult via the placenta

• Damage results in – mental retardation– low birth weight, – facial abnormalities, – widely spaced eyes, and – a much smaller head.

• Full expression rate: – 1-2 out of 1000 births

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:

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Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

• Alcohol Abuse – recurrent use that has negative

consequences that result in personal forms of difficulties

• Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism) – is a result of needing alcohol on a regular

basis to function, involving physical tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

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Problem Drinking and Alcoholism

• Problem drinking – alcohol pattern where the

behavior creates personal difficulties or difficulties for others

• Co-dependence – relationships that support

an alcoholic

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Health Effects of Alcoholism• Withdrawal symptoms

– can be acute (shakes or jitters) to more severe i.e. seizures, delirium tremens (DTs)

• Alcoholism takes a heavy physical toll upon the body’s organs and tissues as well as causing psychological problems

• Socially, it is a serious problem to families and friends

• Economically, it effects employment and healthcare costs

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Causes of Alcoholism

• The precise causes are unknown, however the following factors are probably involved:

• Genetics

• Personality

• Social factors

• Environment

• Family structure

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Treatment for Alcoholism

• Rehab centers

• Hospitals

• Medication

• Counseling

• Support groups

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Alcoholism: Gender & Ethnicity• Among White American men

– drinking starts in the teenage years and progresses into late adulthood

• Women tend to become alcoholics much later – In their 40’s or 50’s

• African-Americans – tend to have more health related problems with alcohol

use

• Latino men – Have the following common elements: drunk driving and

cirrhosis

• American Indians and Alaskans – tend to abuse alcohol early in life

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Alcohol Website Resources

• Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters www.al-anon.alateen.org

• Alcoholics Anonymous www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

• Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline800-ALCOHOL

• The College Alcohol Studywww.hsph.harvard.edu/cas

• College Drinking Preventionwww.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/students

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• www.AlcoholScreening.org

• www.bacchusgamma.org

• www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/

• www.hadenough.org

• www.health.org

• www.drugabuse.gov

• The Gordie Foundation with video clip HAZE

www.gordie.org