An Invitation to Health

Chapter 11 Alcohol Use, Misuse, and Abuse

Dr. Lana Zinger.

©2004 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

The Alcohol Content of Different Drinks

Proof

With distilled spirits, alcohol content is expressed in terms of proof, a number that is twice the percentage of alcohol: 100 proof bourbon is 50 percent alcohol.

Alcohol Impairment Chart Blood-Alcohol Concentration

The amount of alcohol in your blood at any given time.

Factors Affecting Your BAC How much and how quickly you drink.

What you’re drinking.

Your size.

Your gender.

Your age.

Your race.

Other drugs.

Family history of alcoholism.

Eating Expectations.

Physical tolerance.

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

 

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)



Men

: 2 drinks max.



Women

: 1 drink max.

American Heart Association (AHA)

 <15% of total daily calories.

 1.75 ounces of alcohol maximum.

 3 beers, 2 mixed drinks, or 3-1/2 glasses of wine.

  

Weighing The Effects of Light To Moderate Drinking

Positive Effects Lower risk of heart attack than abstinence.

Lower mortality than abstinence.

Lower risk of dementia.

Light to Moderate Drinking Men

: 1 drink/day

Women

: 2 drinks/day       

Negative Effects Higher risk of breast cancer in women.

Possible interaction with prescription and nonprescription drugs.

Impaired perceptions.

Diminished smell, taste, and sensation.

Impaired motor skills.

Impaired sexual performance.

Possible weight gain.

Alcohol in the Body

Alcohol = ethyl alcohol Mouth Esophagus Stomach Small Intestines Absorption into the bloodstream

The Impact Of Alcohol

Some Interesting Facts

     A alcohol in a typical drink reaches the bloodstream in 15 minutes and rises to peak concentration in about 1 hour.

Alcohol only leaves the body after metabolism by the liver.

Light alcohol intake is associated with lower mortality than abstinence, but mortality rates increase with the amount of alcohol consumed.

Alcohol is a diuretic and lowers body temperature.

Alcohol has 7 calories per gram and stimulates the appetite.

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse On The Body

Celebration Why People Drink Friendship Social Ease Self Medication Role Models Advertising

Why Do Students Binge Drink?

Low Price Of Alcohol Recreational Drinking At A Young Age Men : Binge Drinking 5+ alcoholic drinks Women : 4+ alcoholic drinks.

Easy Access To Alcohol Parental Acceptance Of Drinking Peer Pressure Residing With Binge Drinkers

Patterns of Alcohol Use

Abstinence Light Drinking Infrequent Drinking Moderate Drinking Social Drinking Problem Drinking Binge Drinking

The Consequence of College Drinking

Substance Abuse and Risky Sexual Behavior

Changing Drinking Patterns on Campus

    

College Alcohol Policies

Social and environmental approaches.

Student involvement.

Development of alternatives to drinking.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Campus-based AA, Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, peer education program called Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS)

Alcohol and Race

African-American Community Asian-American Community Hispanic Community Native American Community

Recognizing The Warning Signs of Alcoholism Experiencing drinking-related symptoms such as headaches, nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, gas, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeats .

Needing a drink in the morning to start the day.

Denying any problem with alcohol.

Doing things while drinking that are regretted afterward.

Dramatic mood swings, from anger to laughter to anxiety.

Sleep problems.

Depression and paranoia.

Forgetting what happened during a drinking episode.

Changing brands or going on the wagon to control drinking.

Having five or more drinks a day.

Defining Alcohol Problems

Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Dependence Alcoholism

Continued use of alcohol despite awareness of social, occupational, psychological, or physical problems related to drinking, or drinking in dangerous ways or situations.

A disorder in which individuals develop strong cravings for alcohol because it produces pleasurable feelings or relieves stress and anxiety.

A primary, chronic disease in which genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influence its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. Type I vs. Type II and Type A vs. Type B.

What Causes Alcohol Dependence and Abuse?



Genetics



Stress and Traumatic Experiences



Parental Alcoholism



Drug Abuse

Medical Complications of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence Liver Disease Cardiovascular Disease Cancer Brain Damage Vitamin Deficiencies Digestive Problems Accidents & Injuries Higher Mortality

Alcoholism Treatments

       Detoxification  Delirium tremens (DTs) Medications   Antianxiety and antidepressive drugs.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) Inpatient and Residential Treatment Alcoholics Anonymous Secular Organizations for Sobriety Individual Psychotherapy Women for Sobriety