Alcohol

What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a clear
drink that is made
from corn, barley,
grain, rye, or a
beverage containing
ethyl.
Alcohol is a central
nervous system
depressant. In other
words, it is a drug
that slows down the
nervous system.
How is it made?
Beer and wine are called
fermented beverages. They
are made by adding yeast to a
substance that contains sugar.
The yeast starts the formation
process, which turns sugar into
ethyl and carbon dioxide gas.
Another type of alcoholic
beverage is called a distilled
beverage. That is made from
fermented grain mash or
fermented juice. Distilled
beverages include drinks such as
whiskey, vodka, liqueurs, gin,
rum, and other beverages.
 What happens when
alcohol enters the body?
alcohol is technically a food because
it supplies a concentrated number
of calories, but they are empty
calories - no nutrients, just calories.
Lots of calories. Alcohol is fattening!
95% of alcohol - absorbed through
the stomach wall
moves through the bloodstream into
the heart and increases the heart
rate
 It immediately travels to
your brain. Once there, it
alters:
your response time
your motor
responses
your reflexes
your balance
your muscle control
your judgment
your ability to delay
or inhibit your
words or actions
your emotions
 Alcohol has four stages
when it reaches the brain.
Whether the
drinker moves to
any stages
beyond number
one depends on
how much and
how fast he/she
drinks
 Stages:
1. It stimulates and
produces a sense
of euphoria
2. It depresses and
sedates, producing
calmness
3. It anaesthetizes
4. It induces a
hypnotic state and
sleep
 After the brain, the alcohol
moves into the muscles and
impairs reflexes and muscle
coordination (in direct proportion
to the amount of alcohol that has
been consumed.)
The alcohol next moves into the
liver.
Only 5% of alcohol is eliminated
from the body through the
breath, urine or sweat.
The rest, 95%, is broken down in
the liver.

 The short-term effects of

alcohol abuse include:
distorted vision, hearing
and coordination
altered perceptions and
emotions
impaired judgment
temporary increase in
heart rate and blood
pressure
decreased heart rate
slowed reaction time
loss of balance
bad breath and
hangovers
Alcohol abuse usually leads to
other problems
heavy drinking
disrupts eating and
sleeping patterns
and lowers one's
resistance to illness
slowed reaction
times and impaired
judgment frequently
contribute to
accidents, injuries,
increased aggression
and risky behaviour
 The long-term effects of
alcohol abuse include:
loss of appetite
vitamin deficiencies
stomach ailments
skin problems
liver damage
heart and central nervous system
damage
memory loss and blackouts
hallucinations
 While these conditions
generally occur when
someone has abused
alcohol over an
extended period of
time, it is important to
understand that even a
single episode of
excessive drinking can
lead to
unconsciousness and
even death if the
amount consumed is
large enough and is
consumed fast enough.

What are the "day after"

effects of alcohol abuse?
Alcohol is a depressant and has
a depressant effect on the
central nervous system. When
this depressant effect is
removed there is a rebound of
sensitivity to all stimuli
noise,light.....
Digestive organs are affected.
Alcohol is an irritant which
produces a flow of gastric juices
to the stomach. The next day a
'rebound effect' is produced as
the stomach works extra hard
to neutralise the gastric acid.
Nausea usually results.
 The brain receives less
oxygen when alcohol is
present, which creates a
feeling of fatigue for the
next 12-24 hours.
Alcohol depresses REM sleep
(Rapid Eye Movement -
dreaming) and causes sleep
disturbance. REM is critical
to a healthy sleep cycle.
Even if people think they
slept well, the loss of REM
will make them feel tired
throughout the next day.
 Alcoholism is a disease
Alcoholism is an equal opportunity
disease - striking people of every
economic class and race and both
genders and any age.
Only 3 to 5 percent of alcoholics are
what we think of as bums. Most
alcoholics are just like people you
know. Anyone can become an alcoholic
young, old, rich, poor, single,
married, employed, or out-of-work.
Recent studies are confirming that
there is a genetic factor in alcoholism.
Some people just don't have the kinds
of enzymes needed for their bodies to
effectively metabolize alcohol.
This makes them far more susceptible
to the effects of alcohol.

 If either your mother or

your father is an
alcoholic, you are four
times more likely to
become an alcoholic
yourself.
There is growing
evidence that some
people have a genetic
tendency to become
alcoholics.
Studies of individuals
with either an alcoholic
mother or father (or
both) show that even if
they are adopted, they
still have a greater risk
of becoming alcoholics
than the general
population.
 Someone on his/her way to a
serious drinking problem:
Often can't stop drinking once started.
Often gets drunk when the intention was just to have a
few drinks.
Drinks in the morning.
Drinks to escape from pressures.
Has a history of injuries, accidents and/or aggressive
behaviour as a result of drinking.
Frequently drinks to the point of intoxication.
Is developing a tolerance, requiring more and more
alcohol to get the same effect.
Has blackouts or memory loss.
Drinks alone.
Drinks to feel comfortable with others.
Drinks to cope with sadness or anger or frustration.