THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL Human Relations Media www

THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL Human Relations Media • www. hrmvideo. com • 800 -431 -2050

WHAT IS ALCOHOL? Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the central nervous system. Even in small doses, alcohol affects a person’s reaction time and coordination. Alcohol also interferes with a person’s ability to concentrate and make logical decisions. In large doses, alcohol can cause unconsciousness and even death.

HOW IS ALCOHOL MADE? Most drinking alcohol is created through a process called fermentation. Fermentation uses the waste (or excrement) of a fungus called yeast to create the beverage that we know as alcohol. Beverage alcohol (ethanol) is technically classified as a food because it contains calories. However, alcohol has no nutritional value.

PICK A POISON, ANY POISON There are three basic types of alcoholic beverages: BEER (3 -6% alcohol) is fermented from grains WINE (3 -6% alcohol) is fermented from fruits LIQUOR (40 -50% alcohol) is distilled alcohol made from grains, fruits, rice or vegetables A special note about liquor: The “proof” of an alcoholic drink is twice as high as its actual alcohol content. This means that 80 -proof liquor is really composed of 40% alcohol.

TYPES OF ALCOHOL These drinks all contain about the same amount of alcohol and have roughly the same effect on the body: A can of beer (12 ounces at 5% alcohol) A bottle of alcoholic cider (12 ounces at 5% alcohol) A glass of wine (5 ounces at 12% alcohol) A shot of liquor * (1 ¼ ounces at 40% alcohol) * A shot of liquor will have the same effect whether it is consumed straight or mixed with other ingredients in a cocktail.

DEADLY DECISIONS Alcohol is involved in… …nearly 60% of all fires … 68% of all drowning deaths …nearly 70% of all suicides … 70% of all violent behavior on college campuses … 64% of all homicides … 90% of all vandalism

ALCOHOL AND CAR CRASHES Every minute… of every day… of every year… a young person between the ages of 16 and 20 is injured in a car crash. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for 13 to 20 year-olds in the United States.

WHAT IS BINGE DRINKING? If you are… a male who consumes 5 or more drinks in one sitting… or a female who consumes 4 or more drinks in one sitting… …then you can be classified as a binge drinker.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Rapid binge drinking on a dare or at a party is extremely dangerous. If a large quantity of alcohol is consumed too quickly, the body cannot process the alcohol fast enough. The high level of alcohol in the bloodstream causes the body’s systems to shut down. Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning and death!

WHAT IS BAC? Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol that is present in a person’s bloodstream. BAC is commonly measured in percentages. For instance, a BAC of 0. 10% means that a person has one drop of alcohol per 1, 000 drops of blood in the body.

BAC AND THE LAW In most states, if you have a BAC of 0. 08% or above, you can be convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). This does NOT mean it’s okay to drive after drinking as long as your BAC is below 0. 08%. At a BAC level of 0. 20%… the drinker’s physical and mental abilities are extremely impaired. Unconsciousness may occur. At a BAC level of 0. 30% or higher… the body’s reflexes are so reduced that coma or death are possible.

BAC LEVEL - MALES On this table, “one drink” equals: 1 ¼ ounces of 80 -proof liquor… or 12 ounces of beer… or 5 ounces of wine. A BAC above 0. 30% is potentially lethal! Impairment begins with your first drink!

BAC LEVEL - FEMALES On this table, “one drink” equals: 1 ¼ ounces of 80 -proof liquor… or 12 ounces of beer… or 5 ounces of wine. A BAC above 0. 30% is potentially lethal! Impairment begins with your first drink!

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS This is what it feels like to be drunk: • • • splitting headache bloodshot eyes vomiting red nose slurred speech • • • nausea fatigue trembling blackouts dry mouth A hangover is the body’s reaction to drinking too much alcohol. A hangover may last up to 12 hours.

LONG-TERM DAMAGE Mouth, Throat and Esophagus Alcohol abuse increases a drinker’s risk of developing cancer of the mouth, tongue, throat and esophagus. Brain Alcohol can cause the brain to shrink. Brain cells damaged by alcohol cannot be repaired. Alcohol also dulls the senses and impairs the memory. Stomach Because it constantly irritates the stomach lining, alcohol can cause gastric inflammation, bleeding and ulcers, as well as stomach cancer.

LONG-TERM DAMAGE Liver Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to liver damage, liver cancer and cirrhosis—which literally means that the liver is covered with scar tissue and cannot produce new, healthy liver cells. Heart Over time, excessive use of alcohol weakens the heart, increasing a drinker’s risk of stroke or heart attack. Alcohol can also cause high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. Reproductive System Heavy drinking can cause infertility in men and women. Alcohol may lead to irregular menstrual cycles, reduced sperm production and problems with sexual performance.

SOBERING UP MYTHS: You can sober up if you: …drink black coffee …take a cold bath or shower …sleep it off …walk it off …eat a big meal …vomit FACTS: NONE of these myths work! It takes the body two hours to process the alcohol in one drink—whether it is wine, beer or hard liquor.

ALCOHOL POISONING Everyone has a different tolerance to alcohol. What is relatively safe for someone else might be lethal for you. Some teens have died from alcohol poisoning after drinking as much alcohol as their friends who survived. In 2004, there were over 142, 000 alcohol-related emergency room visits by 12 to 20 year-olds.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR These are signs of alcohol poisoning. Watch out if a friend: • does not respond to being talked to or shouted at • does not respond to being pinched, prodded or poked • • vomits while sleeping or passed out • has a pulse rate less than 40 beats per minute cannot remain standing without help takes fewer than six breaths per minute has skin that appears flushed, clammy or cool to the touch

SAVE A LIFE If a friend shows signs of alcohol poisoning: • • • Don’t leave your friend alone! • • Wait with your friend until help arrives. • If you are no longer able to feel a pulse, or if your friend’s pulse goes below 40 beats per minute, perform CPR until help arrives. • Tell the emergency crew all you know about how much alcohol your friend has consumed. Call 911 immediately. Place your friend on his/her side to reduce the risk of choking on vomit. If your friend’s breathing becomes slower than six breaths per minute, perform mouth-tomouth resuscitation immediately!

TWO WHO DIED Katie Lutz On the night of her 16 th birthday, one of Katie Lutz’s friends gave her a bottle of vodka. They said, “Come on, you’re a big girl now. You should learn how to chug it. ” Katie drank the vodka, went home and fell into a coma. She died before daybreak.

TWO WHO DIED Matthew Hickok One night, 21 -year-old Matthew Hickok went bar-hopping with friends. At the tenth bar, the bartender refused to serve Matthew any more alcohol, and told his friends that Matthew should be taken to the hospital at once. Instead, the designated driver left Matthew “sleeping” in the back seat of his car. The next morning, Matthew was found dead of alcohol poisoning.

WOMEN AND ALCOHOL Because women usually have more body fat and less muscle tissue than men, more alcohol enters their bloodstreams directly, causing greater intoxication. Women have a higher risk of alcohol poisoning than men.

WOMEN AND ALCOHOL Women who drink heavily are four times more likely than men to die of an alcohol-related disease. Women produce less of an enzyme called dehydrogenase that breaks down alcohol in the bloodstream. This makes women more susceptible to the effects of alcohol.

ALCOHOL AND SEX Binge drinkers are five times more likely to have unprotected sex than non-drinkers. Teens who drink are at an increased risk of date rape, unprotected sex and possible infection with a sexually transmitted disease. 50% of all unplanned sexual encounters occur under the influence of alcohol. In more than 65% of unplanned pregnancies, the woman was intoxicated during sex. 90% of all sexual assaults occur under the influence of alcohol.

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) are permanent birth defects that result when the alcohol in a pregnant mother’s bloodstream passes through her placenta and damages the growing fetus. Infants with FAS or FAE may be born with facial deformities, heart defects and mental retardation. FAS is the leading cause of non-genetic mental retardation today. A pregnant woman should not drink ANY alcohol during her pregnancy.

ALCOHOLISM alcoholism al·co·hol·ism: A chronic disease marked by a dependence upon alcohol. The need for alcohol is so strong that it dominates all other concerns. Without alcohol in the system, the person suffers from withdrawal symptoms. Teens who drink are more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking later in life. Typically, it takes a teenager six months to two years to become an alcoholic. It takes an adult five to 15 years to become an alcoholic.

CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS By age 18, about 1 in 4 children in the U. S. has lived with a family member who has an alcohol problem. Children of alcoholics (Co. A’s) are at higher risk of becoming alcoholics than children from other families. If you are the child of an alcoholic, you can deal with your family by: • talking with friends, relatives and neighbors that you trust • speaking with a physician, teacher, clergy member or other professional • attending self-help groups such as Al-Anon or Alateen • working with a counselor or a therapist

ARE YOU ABUSING ALCOHOL? Here are some questions to ask yourself: • Are your friends or family concerned about your drinking? • Is drinking affecting your performance at school or work? • Are you using alcohol as a way to escape your problems? • Are you using alcohol to change your personality or to be the life of the party? • Do you try to hide the amount of alcohol that you drink from others? If you (or someone you know) answered yes to any of these questions, you should seek help immediately. Talk to a counselor, a friend, a parent or a clergy member. You can also consult your local phone book for “Alcoholism Treatment. ”

GETTING HELP Dozens of organizations can help those who have problems with alcohol or live with alcoholics. Contact these resources if you need help: Al-Anon and Alateen (888) 4 AL-ANON www. al-anon. org Mothers Against Drunk Driving (800) GET-MADD www. madd. org National Drug and Alcohol Referral Hotline (800) 662 -HELP Alcoholics Anonymous (212) 870 -3400 www. alcoholics-anonymous. org National Association for Children of Alcoholics (888) 554 -COAS www. nacoa. net National Institute on Drug Abuse www. nida. nih. gov Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (800) 662 -HELP www. findtreatment. samhsa. gov National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (800) 729 -6686 http: //ncadi. samhsa. gov Students Against Destructive Decisions (877) SADD-INC www. sadd. org