Transcript Alcohol
Welcome to Lifeskills
Alcohol: Myth and Reality
What
is alcohol?
Is alcohol a drug?
Is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant?
How does it affect the body?
Points to Ponder
Alcohol is a drug contained in beverages (drinks) such as
wine, beer, wine coolers, or hard liquor.
After you drink it, alcohol is absorbed through the walls of
your stomach and intestines, directly into your
bloodstream. The alcohol then travels through the blood to
the brain.
Alcohol is a depressant. Once it reaches the brain, it
depresses the brains activity, which in turn affects the
body.
If
alcohol is a depressant and slows down the brain
activities, what do you think are some of the
physical and behavioral affects it has on the body?
Small doses of alcohol will…
Slow down he ability to think
clearly and to make decisions
Make you feel a little more
relaxed
Make you feel more loose and
daring than you usually do
Larger doses of alcohol will…
Slow down other area of the
brain and nervous system
Cause dizziness
Decrease coordination
Cause difficulties in speaking,
walking, and staying awake
Cause emotional behavior
Some people may
Pass out temporarily or lose their memory because of the
drug’s action on the brain
Behavioral effects include:
Fighting/arguing/violence
Talking loudly or more than usual
Obnoxious behavior
Silliness/ giggling/ giddiness
Patterns of Drinking
Abstinence:
About 30% of Americans don’t drink
at all. Reasons: religion, alcoholism; allergy
Ritual Drinking: This is the drinking of alcohol in
the context of a religious service of family rite.
For Example: Church, Sabbath services, toast, Bar
Mitzvah
Patterns of Drinking
Social
Drinking: Many Americans call themselves
social drinkers. The drinking is appropriate to time
and place.
Compulsive or Problem Drinking: Alcohol is used
as a way to cope with problems or negative
feelings. It involves drinking too much too often.
This kind of drinking is destructive and frequently
increases a person’s problem instead of decreasing
them.
Lets Summarize
Many
people (30%) don’t drink at all.
There are several different kinds of drinking.
Some types of drinking( ritual or social drinking)
are generally considered acceptable to most adults.
However some type of drinking is dangerous and
destructive.
Most high school student report that they would
disapprove if a friend drank regularly
Reasons for Not Drinking
Reasons
for not Drinking
Don’t
like the taste
Don’t like getting drunk
It’s fattening
Religious or family prohibitions
Need to stay in shape for sports
It’s illegal
Reasons for Drinking
Look grown up
Be more popular
Look cool
Feel less nervous in social situations
Like the taste
Get high to have fun
Peer pressure
boredom
Reasons why people become problem
drinkers
Cope
with problems
Cope with stress
Cope with negative emotions
Physical and psychological dependence
Have friend who are problem drinkers
Myth or Reality
Our
whole society is concerned with getting a
“high”.
Myth or Reality
It
takes a real tough guy or girl to hold a lot of
alcohol.
Myth or Reality
My
friends will think I’m a “--------” if I don’t
drink a lot.
Myth or Reality
I
just drink beer or wine.
Myth or Reality
Lots
of creative and successful people drink too
much.