Alcoholism

The Addictive Side of Alcohol

• The addictive type of alcohol found in
alcoholic beverages is called ethanol.
• Ethanol can be produced synthetically or
naturally through fermentation (grains, fruits,
vegetables); fermentation is the chemical
action of yeast on sugars.
• Alcohol is classified as a depressant, which will
slow down the process of the CNS (Central
Nervous system).
 Short Term Effects
• Effects on the brain: • Effects on the heart:
– Development – Increase heart rate and
– Memory blood pressure
– Judgment and control – Heart rhythm becomes
– Risk of stroke irregular
– Decreased body
temperature
 Short Term Effects
• Effects on Liver and Kidney: • Effects on Stomach:
– Chemicals that are – Nausea and vomiting
metabolized can cause – Disrupt the absorption of
inflammation and scarring nutrients (pancreas)
of the liver.
– Increase urine output and
increase the chance of
dehydration.
 Long Term Effects
• Damage to brain cells
• Increase in blood pressure (heart attack,
stroke)
• Buildup of fat cells in the liver
• Damage to digestive lining of the stomach
(ulcers and cancer)
• Destruction of the pancreas
• Cirrhosis of the liver
 Alcohol and the Family
• Alcoholism is a disease in which a person and a
physical or physiological dependence on alcohol.
• Alcoholism can lead to alcohol abuse which is an
excessive use of alcohol. It is estimated that 25%
of youth are exposed to alcohol abuse in their
household.
• A person who begins drinking alcohol as a teen is
4x’s more likely to develop dependence then
someone that waits until adulthood.
 Benefits of living Alcohol-free
• Maintaining a healthy body
• Establishing healthy relationships
• Making healthy decisions
• Avoiding risky behavior
• Avoiding illegal activities
• Avoiding violence
• Achieving your goals
People choose to drink because

◦ Peer Pressure
◦ Addicted
◦ Stress
 Reasons why people don’t drink

– ReligionSports
– Don’t like tastePast Experience
– Family history of alcoholism
– Don’t like the effects Expense
– Don’t need artificial means to have fun
– Medical conditions
 Alcohol’s Most Common Effects
• 1. Thinking skills impaired
• 2. Physical performance impaired
• 3. Diseases and Body Damage:
4. Liver Cirrhosis
– Brain function
– Delirium Tremens – condition which leads to
cardiovascular collapse.
– Death
 Alcohol’s Most Common Effects
• 5) Physical Tolerance: body gets used to
having the alcohol in the system-need more
alcohol to get the same effects with smaller
amounts previously.

• 6)Body Temperature-generates more heat as it

cools off the body lowering body temp.
 Alcohol’s Most Common Effects
• 7) Energizer: makes person seem like they
have more energy. Example: run a lot faster-all
a myth.

• Alcohol seems to permanently destroy brain cells

• Alcohol does destroy brain cells every time it is
consumed.
• Over time and use it may cause a person to lose
certain functions of the brain.
• The more a person uses the faster the brain function
is lost.
 Social Drinker
• A social drinker is a person who can control
their drinking.
• They rarely if ever drink to excess.
 Problem Drinker:
• A person who can control their drinking.
• Do not have to drink very often but when they
do drink they cause problems for themselves
or others
– Abuse spouse or children
– Drive under the influence
– Drinking aggravates other medical conditions.
People continue to drink despite problems
• Psychological: Something in their thoughts and
feelings causes them to drink.

• Social: How people drink is a result from what is

going on in their society. Whether they are taught
that drunkenness is acceptable or not.

• Biological: There is some evidence that alcoholism

may be genetic.
 Treatments
• Drugs: Antabuse is most common. Makes a
person ill if they drink with this in their
system.

• Talking Cures: psychologists, trained

counselors.

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): World-wide

organization where alcoholics talk about what
their drinking did to them and their families.