Erick Hambardzumyan

03-09-17
Chapter 10- Alcohol (Notes)
Alcohol Affects the Body
Alcohol is the drug found in beer, wine, and liquor that causes a
change in a persons physical and emotional state. (results into
confusion and mood swings).
The physical and mental changes produced by drinking alcohol are
called intoxication.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

Effects on the Body:
1. Alcohol irritates the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach (negative
effects)
2. Alcohol makes the heart work harder (anxiety, stress)
3. Alcohol makes the body lose heat (feel more cold)
4. Alcohol causes the liver to work harder (good for killing bacteria)
5. Alcohol causes dehydration
Effects on the Mind:
Alcohol slows down the nervous system (less panic attacks,
nervousness)
After 15 minutes of finishing one or two drinks, most people begin to
feel more relaxed and more talkative, and they laugh more easily (then
the levels deprecate)
Drinker loses his or her inhibitions inhibitions are natural limits that
people put on their behavior (bad for controlling)
Loss of ability to focus his or her eyes, slurred speech, loss of
coordination, loss of judgment, and drastic mood swings (bad for
everyday tasks)
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
Long-term use of alcohol can cause permanent damage to the body
such as an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and enlargement
of the heart
 Long-term use of alcohol can also cause Cirrhosis a disease that
replaces healthy liver tissue with scar tissue
Alcoholism is the second leading cause of Dementia a decrease in
brain function that includes personality changes and memory loss
Alcoholism Affects the Family and Society

Alcohol abuse is drinking too much alcohol, drinking it too often, or

drinking it at inappropriate times (drinking 10 cups of whiskey for ex.)
Alcoholism is a disease that causes a person to lose control of his or
her drinking behavior (a lot of alcoholics who are fathers end up
divorcing)
Alcoholism Develops in Stages
Problem drinking (over assumption of alcohol)
Tolerance (acceptance)
Dependence (relying on another person for help)
Alcoholism (addiction)

Risk Factors for Alcoholism:

Age teens who start drinking before age 15 are four times more
likely to become alcoholics than people who wait until theyre 21 to
drink
Social environment (changes in mental state, emotional state, and
social state)
Genetics (kids raised by alcoholics are more likely to have a disease
or become alcoholic)
Risk-taking personality (more than usual)
Warning Signs of Alcoholism:
Alcohol may be used to deal with anger, disappointment, and
frustration (sometimes negative)
Alcoholics usually battle feelings of depression and hopelessness
Most drinkers cant recognize these symptoms in themselves denial
Alcohol Effects the Family and Society

Guilty
Guilty feelings
feelings (blame for your actions)
Unpredictable behavior (ex: climb on roof)
Violence (punching someone)
Neglect and isolation (ignoring family members)
 Protecting the alcoholic- Enabling means helping an addict avoid the
negative consequences of his or her own needs to meet the needs of
the addict.
Ignoring ones own needs- Codependency is the condition in which a
family member or friend sacrifices his or her own needs to meet the
needs of the addict.
Alcohol and pregnancy: Fatal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of
physical and mental defects that affects a fetus that has been exposed
to alcohol because of the mothers consumption of alcohol during her
pregnancy.
Alcohol affects the society by the number of car wrecks, drowning,
murder, family violence, child abuse, rape, and assault associated with
alcohol use
Society is also affected in the sense that a lot of money is spent to
cover losses due to alcohol-related crime and treating alcohol-related
illnesses.
Alcohol treatment programs include AA, AL-Anon, and Alateen

Teens and Alcohol

The number one cause of death among teens is motor vehicle

accidents
The majority of these accidents are alcohol related
Alcohol slows your reaction time, affects your vision, makes you
drowsy, reduces your coordination, and affects your judgment

Getting Home Safe and Sober

Dont drink. (prevents car accidents, violent behavior)

Plan ahead have a friend be a designated driver
Have an arrangement with your parents or guardian to pick you up if
you need a safe ride home.
Cal a cab/Uber.

Drinking Puts Your Future at Risk

Drinking and jail

 Drinking and sexual activity
Drinking and driving
Drinking and teen brains

Saying No to Alcohol

Dont set yourself up.

Practice by saying no
Buy yourself time
Give good reasons why you choose not to drink
State the consequences that could result if you do drink
Say no firmly
If necessary, say no again and include an alternate activity
Walk away
Join the Fight Against Drunk Driving:
1. MADD
SADD