ALCOHOL THE RAW FACTS

Wendy McGurk

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is produced by fermenting and sometimes distilling various fruits, vegetables, or grains. Fermentation is the process where sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose are converted into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide. 

Alcohol is classified as a drug Depresses Central Nervous System

AlcoholismAlso know as alcohol dependence is a disease.

The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.

Where Wisconsin Rates for Alcohol Consumption

Wisconsin ranks number one in: Binge drinking Driving under the influence Percentage of drinkers in the population Top in Brandy consumption Top in Vodka consumption Near top of Beer consumption

Drinking in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is the highest state for binge drinking The annual economic impact of alcohol-related

health and social problems in Wisconsin is nearly $5 billion.

Every year alcohol in Wisconsin is responsible for: 1,300 deaths 8,500 traffic crashes 6,800 traffic injuries 2,400 cases of child abuse 90,000 arrests 68% of fatal and serious injuries are first-time drunken

driving

Standard Measure of Alcohol In the United States a standard drink

is any drink that contains 0.6 ounces (13.7 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. Regular beer or wine cooler 12 ounces Malt liquor 8 ounces Any wine 5 ounces 80 proof distilled spirits or liquor 1.5

ounces

.

Physiological Effects of Alcohol Abuse

1. Inhibitions become effectedblood alcohol level 0.05 person behavior begins to

change.2. Loss of muscle Control

at 0.10 slurred speech, impaired judgment, poor coordination.3. Memory loss/blackouts

alcohol suppress brain control mechanisms.4. Stupor

at 0.40 person can hardly function, dazed and confused.5. Coma

at 0.50 person is at risk for coma/maybe death.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence

Tolerance: you need more and more alcohol to feel same effect

Withdrawal: as alcohol wears off you may experience anxiety, shaking, vomiting,

Loss of Control: Drinking more than you want despite telling yourself you’re not going to.

Desire to stop-but can’t: Persistent desire to stop drinking and being unsuccessful.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence (cont.)

Neglecting other activities: spending less time on activities that used to be important, because of the use of alcohol.

Alcohol takes up all your time: spend all your time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects.

Continued used despite negative consequences: you drink even though it’s causing serious problems in all aspects of your life.

Withdrawal Symptoms mild to moderate Feeling jumpy, shakiness, nervous

(anxiety) Irritability, rapid emotion change, Depression, mood swings, can’t think

clearly Fatigue, bad dreams, insomnia Headaches, sweating, nausea, Paleness, rapid heart rate, skin is

clammy Abnormal movements, tremors of

the hands Involuntary, movements of the

eyelids

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

With in 48 hours alcohol withdrawal can turn very serious. Seizures, convulsion, and hallucinations can occur. The symptoms may progress into Delirium Tremens (DT’s) after 3 to 5 days without alcohol. DT’s include; profound confusion, disorientation, extreme cardiovascular changes, and hyperactivity. Heart attack, seizures , and this can be fatal.

Short and Long Term Health Risks Short term health

risk Disinhibition occurs Increase heart rate Lowers blood pressure Stimulates appetite Increases urine output Increases production

of gastric secretions Hangover

Long term health risks Heart damage Kidney and Liver

damage: alcohol hepatitis, cirrhosis

Cancers Gastrointestinal

disorder Malnutrition

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Physical and mental birth defects that can result from a women drinking to much during pregnancy.

This syndrome is characterized by Brain damage/ retardation Growth deficiency Vision and hearing problems Facial deformities, Infants usually have learning and

attention problems.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome cont. Fetal alcohol syndrome is something

that never needs to happen. Alcohol passes easily through the placenta, and often damages the fetus. It can be total avoided if women would just not drink alcohol during pregnancy. One study reports that 30-40% of women who are moderate to heavy alcohol consumers will give birth to a child with FAS.

Alcohol Screening Quiz

Do you lose time from work due to alcohol drinking? Y or N

Is drinking making your home life unhappy? Y or N

Do you drink to escape your troubles ? Y or N

Is drinking affecting you reputation? Y or N Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?

Y or N Do you drink alone? Y or N

Quiz cont.

Have you had financial difficulties as a result of drinking? Y or N

Does your drinking make you careless of your families welfare? Y or N

Has your ambition decreased since drinking? Y or N

Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? Y or N

Do you want a drink the next morning? Y or N

Quiz Results If you answered yes to more than

three of these questions, than it is possible you might have a drinking problem. I suggest being evaluated by a health care professional as soon as possible. DO NOT FEEL ASHAMED!! Many people have struggled with the same addiction and there is treatment available for anyone who wants it.

References

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/withdraw/a/aa030. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm. CDCs alcohol use.

http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/signs-and-symptoms. NCAAD

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/2845/1/Alcohol-Abuse-Effects---5-Physical-Effects-Of-Alcohol-Abuse.html. Alcohol Abuse Effect

http://brainblogger.com/2008/09/12/physiological-effects-of-alcohol-consumption/ Alcohol consumption.

Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein. (2012). Drugs and Society, Jones and Bartlett Learning.

http://www.bewell-dowell.org/bewell/content.php?page=whatisalcohol. What is Alchohol

http://www.gov.je/HEALTH/HEALTHYLIVING/ALCOHOLDRUGS/Pages/AlcoholFacts.aspx Alcohol the Facts