Alcohol Alert

What is Alcohol? • Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. • Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change sugars in the food into alcohol. • Alcohol has different formes and can be use as a cleaver, an antiseptic, or a sedative. • Ø So if alcohol is a natural product, why

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• When people drink alcohol, it’s absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system, which controls virtually all body functions. •

Alcohol affects your brain: Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judjment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts. •

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Alcohol affects your body: •

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Alcohol can damage every organ in your body.

Alcohol affects your selfcontrol: Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, including having unprotected sex. This may expose you to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or cause unwanted pregnancy. •

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Alcohol can kill you: Drinking large amonts of alcohol can lead to coma or even death. In 2008, 36% of traffic deaths of 16 to 20 year-olds were alcohol-related. •

Alcohol can hurt you –even if you’re not the one drinking: If you’re around people who are drinking, you have an

increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence.

Alcohol can lead to Depression and Suicide: Alcohol may lead you to the risk of depression and even the chances of suicide. •

Alcohol can affects your baby: Alcohol is the leading known preventable cause of mental and physical birth defects (FAS- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) •When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price for his or her entire life. •

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Alcohol and Violence are partners in crime: •

Assault, adult and child abuse, rape and murder. More than half the time, alcohol is involved. Let's face it. If we can't stop abusing alcohol, we can't stop violence. Alcohol abuse hurts all of us.

Why do people drink? Ø Some reasons that people use alcohol and other drugs are: Ø •

o o o o o o o

Curiosity; To feel good; To reduce stress; To relax; To fit in; To feel older; To forget problems.

Effects of Alcohol

In low doses, alcohol produces:          

A relaxing effect; Reduces tension; Lowers inhibition; Impairs concentration; Slows reflexes; Impairs reaction time; Reduces coordination;

In medium doses, alcohol produces:   

Slur speeches;

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Cause drowsiness;

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Alter emotions.

In high doses, alcohol produces: 

Vomiting;

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Breathing difficulties;

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Unconsciousness;

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Coma;

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Death.

How can I avoid drinking?

üIf a ll yo u r frie n d s d rin k a n d yo u d o n ’ t w a n t to , it ca n b e h a rd to sa y “ n o , th a n ks” . ü üN o o n e w a n ts to risk fe e lin g re je cte d o r le ft o u t. ü üT h e re a re d iffe re n t stra te g ie s fo r tu rn in g d o w n a lco h o l:

ü“ I’ m n o t in to d rin kin g .” ü ü“ I h a ve a gam e to m o rro w .” ü ü“ M y u n cle d ie d fro m d rin kin g .” ü ü“ I a lre a d y g o t in m a jo r tro u b le fo r d rin kin g o n ce , I ca n ´t d o it a g a in .”

How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem?

qPro b le m s re m e m b e rin g th in g s; q qG e ttin g d ru n k ; q qLyin g a b o u t h o w m u ch a lco h o lh e o r sh e is u sin g ; q qB e lie vin g th a t a lco h o lis n e ce ssa ry to h a ve fu n ; q qH a vin g fre q u e n t h a n g o ve rs; q qH a vin g “ b la cko u ts” ; fe e lin g d e p re sse d , o r e ve n su icid a l; q qH a vin g p ro b le m s a t w o rk ; q qG e ttin g in tro u b le s w ith

•B e a re a l frie n d , y o u m ig h t e v e n sa v e a life .

•E n co u ra g e y o u r frie n d to sto p o r se e k p ro fe ssio n a l h e lp .

Before you risk it:

Know the law: •

It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under 18.

Get the facts: •

One drink can make you fail a breath test. You can lose your drive’s license and have your car permanently taken away.

Stay informed: •

All drinking is harmful for teens because their brains are still developing throughout adolescence and well into young adulthood.

Know the risks: •

Mixing alcohol with medications or illicit drugs is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidental death.

Keep your edge: •

Alcohol can make you gain weight and give you bad breath.

Look around you: •

Most people aren’t drinking alcohol.

End!