Transcript Alcoholism

ALCOHOLISM
Umesh Bhati
513 A
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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
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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
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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
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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"
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There are more than 150
medications that should not be
mixed with alcohol.
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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:
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Are generally smaller in size
•
Have less body water
•
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Have less dehydrogenase
(Dehydrogenase is an enzyme in the stomach
that breaks down alcohol.)
Have more estrogen
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Low risk drinking =
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1 drink a day for women
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2 drinks a day for men
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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.
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Alcoholism is low in cultures where
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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.
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Pharmacology
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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
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