Alcohol: Effects on the Body and

Behavior

Alcohol: Effects on the Body and

Behavior

Overview:Overview: Definitions Statistics on teen drinking Short- and long-term effects of alcohol Blood alcohol levels Introduction to fetal alcohol syndrome

(FAS)

Definitions Statistics on teen drinking Short- and long-term effects of alcohol Blood alcohol levels Introduction to fetal alcohol syndrome

(FAS)

“Drinker” Definitions(1)“Drinker” Definitions(1)

Binge drinking: Four or more drinks for

a female and five or more drinks for a

male at one sitting

Binge drinking: Four or more drinks for

a female and five or more drinks for a

male at one sitting

Chronic drinking: Daily or almost

daily alcohol consumption

(60 drinks per month)

Chronic drinking: Daily or almost

daily alcohol consumption

(60 drinks per month)

Statistics on Teen Drinking(3)

Statistics on Teen Drinking(3)

Monitoring the Future (MTF) - 2004- one in five 8th graders, more than one in

three 10th graders, and one in two 12th graders had a drink in a month.

Monitoring the Future (MTF) - 2004- one in five 8th graders, more than one in

three 10th graders, and one in two 12th graders had a drink in a month.

Teen Statistics (cont.)(4)Teen Statistics (cont.)(4)

From National Survey on Drug Use and

Health (2003):10.9 million users ages 12-

207.2 million “binge drinkers”

From National Survey on Drug Use and

Health (2003):10.9 million users ages 12-

207.2 million “binge drinkers”

Short-term Effects(5,6)Short-term Effects(5,6)

Slower reaction times/reflexes

Heavy sweatingBlurry visionNausea and vomitingLowered reasoning ability

Slower reaction times/reflexes

Heavy sweatingBlurry visionNausea and vomitingLowered reasoning ability

Poor motor coordinationSlower heart

rate/breathing rateIncreased blood pressureAnxiety/restlessnessLower inhibition

Poor motor coordinationSlower heart

rate/breathing rateIncreased blood pressureAnxiety/restlessnessLower inhibition

Mental confusionMemory lossComaDeath from respiratory arrest

Mental confusionMemory lossComaDeath from respiratory arrest

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Nervous systemNervous system- Brain Damage- Memory Loss- Confusion - Hallucination

- Brain Damage- Memory Loss- Confusion - Hallucination

MusclesMuscles Shrinking of muscles

Shrinking of muscles

LungsLungs Increases chance of Infection

Increases chance of Infection

LiverLiver CancerHepatitisCirrhosis

CancerHepatitisCirrhosis

Sexual organsSexual organs Increases risk of gynecological problem

Harm to unborn babies

Increases risk of gynecological problem

Harm to unborn babies

BOYSBOYS ImpotenceFewer SpermShrinking of testes

ImpotenceFewer SpermShrinking of testes

HeartHeart Increase blood pressure

Irregular heart rate Enlarges of the heart

Increase blood pressure

Irregular heart rate Enlarges of the heart

Esophagus/stomachEsophagus/stomach

BleedingUlcerInflammation of the linings

BleedingUlcerInflammation of the linings

SKINSKIN RednessIncreased Sweating

RednessIncreased Sweating

NOSENOSE Broadening of the nose

Broadening of the nose

PANCREASPANCREAS Pain and swelling

Pain and swelling

Studies on Teen Drinking

Studies on Teen Drinking

Studies on Teen DrinkingStudies on Teen Drinking

Blood Alcohol Level: What’s It All About?(6)

Blood Alcohol Level: What’s It All About?(6)

WeightAmount of food and water

in stomachCarbonated alcoholic

beveragesGender

WeightAmount of food and water

in stomachCarbonated alcoholic

beveragesGender

Blood Alcohol Level Calculations(7)Blood Alcohol Level Calculations(7)

BAL = (150/body weight) x (%alcohol/50) x (ounces consumed) x (0.025)BAL = (150/body weight) x (%alcohol/50) x (ounces consumed) x (0.025)

Blood Alcohol Level Example

Blood Alcohol Level Example

175 pound man drinks four 12-ounce

cans of beer with 4% alcohol content

175 pound man drinks four 12-ounce

cans of beer with 4% alcohol content

BAL = (150/175) x (4/50) x (48) x (0.025) =.86 x .08 x 48 x

.025 = .08%

BAL = (150/175) x (4/50) x (48) x (0.025) =.86 x .08 x 48 x

.025 = .08%

Blood Alcohol Levels:

Blood Alcohol Levels:

BAL = 0.03 to 0.12 (Euphoria

Self-confident/daringShort attention spanPoor judgmentFine motor skills impaired

BAL = 0.03 to 0.12 (Euphoria

Self-confident/daringShort attention spanPoor judgmentFine motor skills impaired

BAL = 0.09 to 0.25 (Excitement)

SleepyMemory lossReaction time decreasedUncoordinated/loss of balance

Blurry vision and impaired senses

BAL = 0.09 to 0.25 (Excitement)

SleepyMemory lossReaction time decreasedUncoordinated/loss of balance

Blurry vision and impaired senses

BAL = 0.18 to 0.30 (Confusion)

Confused/dizzyHighly emotionalCannot see/slurred speech

Uncoordinated/sleepyMay not feel pain as easily

BAL = 0.18 to 0.30 (Confusion)

Confused/dizzyHighly emotionalCannot see/slurred speech

Uncoordinated/sleepyMay not feel pain as easily

BAL = 0.25 to 0.40 ( Stupor) Can barely move at all

Cannot respond to stimuliCannot stand or walkVomitingLapse in and out of consciousness

BAL = 0.25 to 0.40 ( Stupor) Can barely move at all

Cannot respond to stimuliCannot stand or walkVomitingLapse in and out of consciousness

BAL = 0.35 to 0.50 (Coma)

UnconsciousReflexes depressedDecreased body temperature

Decreased breathing rateDecreased heart rateCould die

BAL = 0.35 to 0.50 (Coma)

UnconsciousReflexes depressedDecreased body temperature

Decreased breathing rateDecreased heart rateCould die

BAL = Greater than 0.50 (Death)

Breathing stopsThat says it all!

BAL = Greater than 0.50 (Death)

Breathing stopsThat says it all!

Driving LimitsDriving LimitsMost states set the legal

level of intoxication at 0.08 to 0.10

Most states set the legal level of

intoxication at 0.08 to 0.10

Drinking is a Personal Choice but Who Else is

Affected?

Drinking is a Personal Choice but Who Else is

Affected?Friends and family StrangersUnborn babies – Fetal alcohol syndrome

Friends and family StrangersUnborn babies – Fetal alcohol syndrome

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

When mother drinks, baby drinks

Alcohol disrupts brain development

When mother drinks, baby drinks

Alcohol disrupts brain development

Looking BackLooking Back Drinking has various definitions

Binge and Chronic

Drinking can have short- and long-term effects

Slower reaction times Memory loss Nervous system/liver problems

Drinking has various definitions Binge and Chronic

Drinking can have short- and long-term effects

Slower reaction times Memory loss Nervous system/liver problems

Looking Back (cont.)Looking Back (cont.)

Blood alcohol levels are affected by weight and gender

Drinking is a personal choice, but it can affect those around you

Blood alcohol levels are affected by weight and gender

Drinking is a personal choice, but it can affect those around you