Harmful Effects of Alcohol Use Chapter 22

Objectives• List the factors that influence the onset of

alcohol’s effects• Be able to define multiplier effect and binge

drinking• Understand the dangers of alcohol poisoning • Understand the consequence of DUI

Drinking alcohol = a high-risk behavior • Short term effects of

drinking– different for everyone– factors that influence

onset of effects• body size & gender• food• amount & rate of

intake

Alcohol & Drug Interactions• Mixing drugs & alcohol can cause death

– Multiplier effect = medication has a greater or different effect than if taken alone

• Metabolism = process by which the body breaks down substances

• Typical interactions include:– alcohol may slow down the drug’s absorption– increase the number of metabolizing enzymes in

the body– metabolizing enzymes can change some

medications into damaging chemicals– alcohol can increase the effects of some drugs

Driving under the influence - DUI• Impaired vision, reaction time, &

coordination• Leading cause of death among teens =

car accidents– 60% of teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol related– Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) = amount of alcohol

in a person’s blood

• Drinking of any sort:– Slows reflexes– Reduces ability to judge distances & speeds– Increases risk-taking behaviors– Reduces a person’s concentration while

increasing forgetfulness

Consequences of DWI (just list 3-4)

• Harm to self or others• Restricted driving privileges• Injuries, damage, death• Regret, remorse• Loss of trust & respect• Arrest, jail time, court appearance, heavy

fine or bail• Police record, lawsuits• Higher insurance rates

Binge drinking• Drinking 5 or more

alcoholic drinks at one sitting

• Serious problem among teens– 1 in 5 teens binge

drink

• Can cause alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning• Severe & potentially fatal physical reaction to an

alcoholic overdose• Alcohol = depressant

– shuts down central nervous system

• Can be deadly• Effects of alcohol poisoning

– Mental confusion, stupor, coma, vomiting, seizures– Slow respiration– Irregular heartbeat– Hypothermia– Severe dehydration

Alcohol poisoning

•CALL 911!!!!!

Fact: In 2010, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. That makes one every 51 minutes

Fact: Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually

Fact: Of the 1,314 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2009, 181 (14 percent) involved an alcohol-impaired drive

Fact: An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest

Fact: In 2009, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That's less than one percent of the 147 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.

Fact: 50-75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.

One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

Texting is just as dangerous!