ALCOHOL AND ADDICTION What is Alcohol Ethyl Alcohol

ALCOHOL AND ADDICTION

What is Alcohol? – Ethyl Alcohol is the only alcohol the human body can detoxify (destroy toxic properties). – It is a colorless, odorless toxic liquid found in beer, wine coolers, and distilled spirits.

How Alcohol Enters the Body • 20% of the alcohol is absorbed through the stomach • 80% is absorbed through the small intestine • It then is carried by the blood and exerts its effects on the body 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Mouth Stomach: 20% Small Intestine: 80% Heart: Pumps throughout body Brain Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about 0. 5 oz per hour.

Alcohol Absorption • *How fast alcohol is absorbed depends upon several things: – The concentration of the alcohol – The type of drink (carbonated beverages) – Whether the stomach is full or empty 40% Alcohol= 80 Proof = 40 % Alcohol

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use Alcohol progressively affects the brain causing: • Loss of judgment • Loss of inhibitions • Drug-affected emotional behavior • Nausea • Coma • Death

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) http: //bloodalcoholcalculator. org/ Blood Alcohol Content: percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood by volume. For example: if a person’s BAC is 0. 10%, one tenth of a person’s blood is alcohol. The legal limit for 21+ in Massachusetts is 0. 08%.

A PERSON CAN DRINK ENOUGH ALCOHOL AT ONE TIME TO CAUSE AN ALCOHOL OVERDOSE AND DEATH

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol • Tolerance: you need more to produce the same effect • Dependence: your body needs alcohol to function – Body develops a chemical need for alcohol • Liver Damage, Nerve Damage, Brain Damage

• Causes and Effects of Cirrhosis of the Liver

Alcoholism IT IS A DISEASE WHY? Some people are born with a certain gene that makes them addictive to alcohol.

ALCOHOLISM 1. 2. 3. 4. IS THE INABILITY TO STOP DRINKING The alcoholic does not plan to get drunk. It is progressive It is fatal The only cure available to people is to stop drinking

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL

BEGINNING • BLACKOUTS (YOU DO NOT REMEMBER) • BEHAVIOR IS GETTING YOU IN TROUBLE (SCHOOL, HOME, WORK) • SNEAKING DRINKS

MIDDLE PHASE • • LOSS OF CONTROL ONE DRINK WILL NOT HURT ME CHANGE OF FRIENDS BEING DISHONEST

FINAL PHASE • • BENDERS ANGERS TREMORS HIDING DRINKS

Alcoholism A Family Disease 1. The use of alcohol by someone in the family affects everyone in the family 2. Each member of the family may be affected differently 3. The term COA means Children of Alcoholics Family members that have someone in their family that is an alcoholic are 6 times more likely to become an alcoholic

PHASES OF ALCOHOLISM IS PROGRESSIVE 1. Acquisition 2. Maintenance 3. Addiction

ACQUISITION 1. PRIMING 2. INITIATION 3. EXPERIMENTATION (BEGINNING)

MAINTENANCE 1. BECOMES A HABIT 2. DEPENDANCE 3. OBSESSIVE

ADDICTION 1. GENETIC 2. PSYCHOLOGICAL 3. SOCIOLOGICAL

Children Of Alcoholics • • There are over 28 million 1/3 of all families have an alcoholic member 1 in 4 children in school have an alcoholic relative 25 -35% of children of alcoholics become alcoholics Children of alcoholics are at high risk of marrying an alcoholic 90% of child abuse cases, alcoholism is a significant factor Children of alcoholics are prone to learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression

How to get help • AA is for the alcoholic • Al-ANON is for the spouse of an alcoholic • ALATEEN is for young people whose lives have been affected by someone’s drinking • www. ma-al-anon-alateen. org • 508 -366 -0556

The Elephant in the Living Room

Visible Qualities Inner Feelings Represents to Family Characteristics Possible Future Characteristics Without help Possible Future Characteristics With help Family Hero Visible success Does what’s right Inadequate Self-worth Family can be proud High achiever Grades Friends Sports Workaholic Responsible for everything Marry dependent Accept Failure Responsible for not all Good executive Scapegoat Hostility Defiance Anger Hurt Guilt Takes focus off the alcoholic Negative attention Won’t compete with family hero Unplanned pregnancy Trouble maker in school Prison Accepts responsibi lity Good counselor Courage Ability to see reality Lost Child Withdrawn Loner Loneliness Unimportant Relief One child in the family Doesn’t have to worry about Invisible Quiet No friends Follower Little zest for life Sexual identity problems Promiscuous or stays alone Often dies at an early age Independent Talented Creative Imaginative Mascot Fragile Immature Needs protection Fear Fun Comic Relief Hyperactive Learning disabilities Short attention span Ulcers Doesn’t handle stress Compulsive Clown Marry hero for care Takes care of self No longer clown Fun to be with Good sense of humor

REMEMBER • YOU ARE NOT ALONE! • YOU DID NOT CAUSE THE DRINKING • YOU CANNOT CURE THE DRINKING • PEOPLE CAN RECOVER • YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF