Transcript Alcoholism
ALCOHOLISM
Umesh Bhati
513 A
The human brain doesn’t fully
develop until the early 20’s.
Alcohol use before then
drastically impacts learning and
memory.
Health Consequences of Alcohol
Use
Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases
(Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, Hypertension)
Increased risk of cancer:
(liver, stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, mouth,
throat)
Impaired immune system
Malnutrition
Reproductive problems
Behavioral Consequences
of Alcohol Use
Contributes to 50% of all
motor vehicle fatalities
Contributes to unsafe sex
and increased risk of AIDS
Contributes to risky behavior
and accidental death
Academic Consequences
of Alcohol Use
40% of poor academic performance at
college has been linked to drinking
7% of first year dropouts are
related to alcohol
Why People Start Drinking
Peer pressure
Need to belong and be accepted
Media depiction of drinking
Easy access (often at home)
Absence of religious attachment
Cultural / sociological traditions
Social "lubrication"
Makes one "feel good"
There are more than 150
medications that should not be
mixed with alcohol.
For example, drinking alcohol
while taking acetaminophen
(Tylenol®) can increase the risk of
serious liver damage.
Alcohol affects men and women differently.
Women become more impaired than men from
drinking the same amount of alcohol. This is
because women:
•
Are generally smaller in size
•
Have less body water
•
•
Have less dehydrogenase
(Dehydrogenase is an enzyme in the stomach
that breaks down alcohol.)
Have more estrogen
Low risk drinking =
1 drink a day for women
2 drinks a day for men
Alcohol is a central nervous system
depressant.
In small amounts it can have a
relaxing effect.
But, in large amounts it can cause
impaired judgement, slurred speech,
reduced reaction time, and difficulty
walking.
Social factors
Alcoholism high in
some cultures:
Americans, Swiss,
Irish, Polish, Russians.
Low in others:
Chinese, Koreans,
Orthodox Jews.
Alcoholism is low in cultures where
Children learn alcohol is a
beverage.
Served in dilute forms.
Abstain okay.
Parents model moderate
drinking
Getting drunk not seen as
comical.
Everyone knows ground rules.
Media images of alcohol
Ireland has highest heavy
drinking rates in Europe.
Youth bombarded with
alcohol ads.
Have begun to restrict
advertising.
Change the culture.
Pharmacology
Absorbed rapidly form GI tract
Proximal
Small Bowel
>>>
Stomach
Large Bowel
Mouth
>>
Esophagus
Rapidly equilibrates in blood and all tissues.
Treatment for Alcoholism
Successful treatment/cessation
Family, friends, & peers MUST be
supportive & involved
Support groups
Alcoholics Anon
Pharmacologic intervention – “antabuse”
Best if linked to the above