Alcohol Awareness and Blood Alcohol Concentration

Alcohol

• Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is an addictive drug found in beer, wine, and liquors, produced through fermentation.
• Fermentation is the process where yeast break down plant sugars to create ethanol.
• Distillation releases alcohol vapors from a mash at high temperatures, which are then condensed and mixed with water to form alcohol products.
• Proof measures the percentage of alcohol in a beverage.
  • Most wines are between 12% and 15%.
  • Most ales are between 6% and 8%.
  • Most liquors are between 2% and 6%.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

• BAC is the ratio of alcohol to total blood volume.
• One drink equals 0.54 ounces of alcohol.
• BAC levels are affected by the number of drinks consumed in one hour and gender/weight.
• BAC impacts driving ability, causing impairment, including loss of attention and coordination, affecting judgment, reaction time, and visual function.

Binge Drinking

• Binge drinking is consuming a predetermined number of drinks in a single sitting.
• The amount differs based on gender, where five drinks is considered binge for men, and four for women.

Effects of Alcohol

• Dehydration and hangover symptoms such as muscle aches, headaches, upset stomach, and anxiety.
• Shrinkage of brain size and weight.
• High blood pressure and increased heart rate.
• Cirrhosis of the liver, where liver cells die and damage becomes permanent.
• Cancer of the esophagus, stomach, mouth, tongue, and liver.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

• FAS is a disorder affecting a fetus when a mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy.
• Consequences during pregnancy include mental retardation, small head size, tremors, and abnormalities in the face, limbs, heart, and brain.
• Physical characteristics include flat nasal bridge, small palpebral fissures, upturned nose, and smooth philtrum.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

• AA is an organization that helps alcoholics stop drinking.
• Al-Anon helps relatives and friends of alcoholics understand the disease and how they can assist in recovery.
• Alateen supports adolescents who live with alcoholic parents.

Tobacco

• Nicotine is the primary stimulant in tobacco products, alongside approximately 4,000 other chemicals.
  • Chemicals present in cigarettes are also found in other products, including lighter fluid, sewer gas, and various industrial solvents.

Tobacco Products

• Tobacco products such as cigarettes, pipes, or cigars burn and release nicotine into the lungs, leading to inhaling.
• Chewing or dipping tobacco releases nicotine into saliva, which is absorbed into the oral cavity's membranes.

Effects of Smoking

• Smoking can cause numerous health issues, including cancer of the nose, mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, and bladder; shortness of breath, lung cancer, leukemia, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
• It also leads to issues like coronary heart disease, aortic aneurysm, and peripheral vascular disease, defective vision, stroke, and gangrene.
• Also includes cancer of the pancreas and peptic ulcers.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

• Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer development.
• Within a timeframe, quitting significantly improves lung function, improves immune response, and reduces damage to cells.

Caffeine

• Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some soft drinks.
• Side effects include restlessness, insomnia, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, nausea, indigestion, and heartburn.