Module: Effects of Drugs and Alcohol Topic: Alcohol and Drugs Section: Some Sobering Facts 40% of all

ll traffic fatalities are alcohol related National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 10,839 alcohol related fatalities in 2009 o 32% of traffic fatalities that year o One death every 48 min In 2008, 31% of 15 to 21 year old drivers killed in car crashes, had been drinking.

Section: Reasons to rethink drinking Alcohol related collisions greater risk for those 16 to 20 Brain damage Rises chance of being alcoholic in young people Alcohol rises the death rate of adolescents There is no safe dose for teenagers Drinking age limit in states has reduced alcohol related deaths for 18-20 yr olds by 13%, and saved an estimated 27,675 since 1975

Section: Effects of Alcohol Ethyl alcohol- most commonly abused drug in the us o Distorts perception o Hinders ability to function properly o Impaired driver feels no difference in ability o Increased risk taking o Loss of self control o Confusion o Inability to concentrate

Section: Debunking Myths About Alcohol and Drugs Myth: Alcohol gives you energy o Alcohol is depressant. Initially may heighten your mood, but ability to think and function is slowed down. Myth: If you only drink beer you wont have a problem o Its not the drink that you have its the amount of alcohol in the drink, which affects your BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL. ( determines level of impairment) Myth: Cold shower of coffee will make you sober o The only thing that sobers you is time. Alcohol needs to leave your system naturally. Coffee only makes you an alert drunk.

Myth: Its not my business if my friend drinks too much o Take the car keys and put them in a taxi Myth: The worst thing that can happen is a hangover o Risk of vomiting in your sleep and dying by asphyxiation, lowered heart rate, or coma.

Section: Influences on Teen Drinking Reasons why some teens drink o Peer pressure o Having an alcoholic family member, is one of the greatest risks of you being one (genes) o Influence of Parents (they condone teen drinking) o Sociological Factors Where you live o Anxiety and frustration o Just out for a good time (Partying= drinking for some) Remember most teens dont drink

Section: Effect of Alcohol on Driving Alcohol affects brain function and sensory perception directly o Judgment goes first o Distance and speed perception more difficult o Slower reaction Alcohol changes your sense of judgment: o Sense of speed, distance, and depth perception changed when you drink. Slows your reaction time o Slows reflexes and changes your hand eye coordination o Slows your ability to think quickly (cognition) Impaired drivers: o Tend to stare at road instead of scan o Forget to do important things like turn on headlights Alcohol can affect your vision o Regular eye function changes, alcohol slows Pupil movement Rapid eye movement Focus ability o Side vision may be eliminated Car collisions are the number one killer of teens in the us.

Topic: The ABCs of Blood Alcohol Level Factors Section: What is Bal? Blood/ Breath Alcohol Level Ratio btwn blood and alcohol

Ex: 0.08% bal =eight drops of alcohol for every 9,992 drops of blood in your body

Section: Contributing Factors to Calculating Bal Size of a persons body The amount of alcohol in a drink o These drinks will all raise your Bal to the same: 12 oz beer with 5% alcohol 5 oz glass of wine with 12 % alcohol A shot of 80 proof liquor ( hard liquor) Amount of time the user engages in drinking o Faster you drink higher the Bal Amount of food a person eats o Coats the stomach lining and slows the absorption of alcohol Gender of the person drinking o Women dont process alcohol as well as men, we produce less of the enzyme that breaks it down.

Section: Physiological Response To Alcohol How drinking affects the brain: o Within min of first drink, your impaired How drinking affects stomach/Intestines o 5% of alcohol is absorbed in mouth and throat, o Other 95 % absorbed in digestive system o Irritates stomach lining, which leads to: Vomiting Can lead to bleeding in stomach How drinking affects your liver o May cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation) o Cirrhosis of liver (scarring) Statistics related to alcohol consumption: o