Alcohol: Know the Risks!
Ben Gordon Center
Angel Hernandez, LSW, CADC, ATE
Summary of Presentation
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Why do people choose to drink?
How does alcohol enter the bloodstream?
Short term effects of alcohol use
Long term effects of alcohol use
Blood Alcohol Level
Abuse vs. Addiction
Harm Reduction of Alcohol Use
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
What to do if you have a problem
Why do people choose to drink?
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De-stress from school or work
Reward themselves
Like the effects
Feel less inhibited in social situations
Fit in with others that are drinking
Express feelings that are difficult to
express when they are sober
• Escape problems
How does alcohol enter the
bloodstream?
1 MOUTH
2 STOMACH
3 SMALL INTESTINE
4 BLOODSTREAM
5 LIVER
6 BRAIN
About 20% of the
alcohol is absorbed in
the stomach and about
80% is absorbed in the
small intestine.
• 1) Swallowed through the mouth
• 2) Stomach-small amount of alcohol is
absorbed into the blood stream through the
stomach wall.
• 3) Small Intestine- Most of the alcohol passes
into the bloodstream through the small
intestine.
• 4) Bloodstream-takes blood and alcohol all
over the body.
• 5) Liver-organ where alcohol is oxidizedturned into water, carbon dioxide, and
energy at a rate of ½ oz. of alcohol per hour
for adults.
• 6) Brain-affects the brain by depressing (or
slowing down the it’s function.
Short term effects of alcohol use
• after 30 -60 minutes reaches the highest
blood concentration
• relaxation
• slight body warmth
• muscle coordination becomes poor
• short-term memory loss
• loss of balance
• Lethargy
• Blackout
Long term effects of alcohol use
• Unintentional injuries such as car crash,
falls, burns, drowning
• Intentional injuries such as firearm injuries,
sexual assault, domestic violence
• Increased on-the-job injuries and loss of
productivity
• Increased family problems, broken
relationships
• Cancer of the mouth and throat
Long term effects continued
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High blood pressure and stroke
Liver disease
Sexual problems
Alcohol does destroy brain cells. The
earlier one starts drinking and the more a
person uses the faster the brain function is
lost.
• Ulcers
• Malnutrition
Blood Alcohol Level
• Blood Alcohol Concentration/Content: How
much alcohol is in your system compared
to how much total blood volume you have.
• What are some factors that affect BAC?
• 1)Body weight- more
body weight-more
alcohol to get the same
effects.
• 2) If one has had
anything to eat before
or during drinking
• 3) Amount of alcohol
consumed
• 4) Thoughts &
Expectations: Often
what you think alcohol
will do for you is what it
actually does for you.
Vs.
Effects of alcohol at different BAC
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Typical Effects
Predictable effects on driving
0,2‰
Some loss of judgment, relaxation,slight
body warmth, altered mood
Decline in visual functions (rapid
tracking of a moving target), decline in
ability to perform two tasks at the same
time (divided attention)
0,5‰
Exaggerated behavior, may have loss of
small-muscle control (e.g., focusing your
eyes), impaired judgment, usually good
feeling, lowered alertness, release of
inhibition
Reduced coordination, reduced
response to emergency driving
situations  double risk of having a
car accident !
0,8‰
Muscle coordination becomes poor (e.g.,
balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and
hearing)
■ Harder to detect danger
■ Judgment, self- control, reasoning,
and memory are impaired
Concentration
■ Short-term
memory loss
■ Speed control
■ Reduced information processing
capability (e.g., signal detection, visual
search)
■ Impaired perception
1‰
Clear deterioration of reaction time and
control
■ Slurred speech, poor coordination, and
slowed thinking
Reduced ability to maintain lane
position and brake appropriately
2‰
Vomiting ■ Major loss of balance, possible
loss of conciusness ■ risk of freezing
outside - body temperature declines
Substantial impairment in vehicle
control
3-4‰
Loss of consciousness, reduction in heart
beat and respiration, coma, possible death
Abuse vs. Addiction
Alcohol Abuse
• drinking alcohol in dangerous situations,
such as while driving a car, getting into
trouble with the law as a result of your
alcohol intake, neglecting your home or
work responsibilities, and continuing to
drink despite the negative impact it is
having on your relationships.
Alcohol Addiction
• a craving or strong urge to drink; an inability
to stop drinking; symptoms of withdrawal
such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and
anxiety and tolerance; or the need for greater
amounts of alcohol to feel "high." Other
symptoms include drinking in secret, not
remembering conversations or "blacking out,"
drinking as a ritual and becoming frustrated
when this gets interrupted, and no longer
enjoying activities or hobbies that you used to
find pleasure in doing
Harm Reduction of Alcohol Use
1. Eat before or while drinking.
2. Drink slowly and maybe switch to non
alcoholic drinks in between.
3. Do not drink to get drunk!
4. Don‘t drink to cope with stress, anger,
sadness or because you can‘t sleep…
5. Never drive after drinking!
6. Don‘t mix alcohol with drugs or medications!
7. Respect non-drinkers.
8. Don‘t allow anybody to tell you have to drink
if you don‘t feel like it.
9. Check that who‘s driving stays sober
Take Action To Cut Back!
• Here are some strategies to help you cut back or
stop drinking. Remember, try to limit your
drinking to no more than:
• 1 drink a day for women
• 2 drinks a day for men
• Keep track of your drinking.
First, set a drinking limit. For example, you may
decide to have no more than 3 drinks per week.
• Step 1: Write down your drinking limit on a piece
of paper.
• Step 2: Keep track of your drinking. Write down
every time you have a drink for 1 week.
• Take a day off from drinking.
Choose a day each week (for example, Tuesday)
when you will not drink.
• Don’t drink when you are upset.
If you have a bad day or are feeling angry, don’t
reach for a drink. Try taking a walk, calling a friend,
or seeing a movie.
• Avoid places where people drink too much.
Stay away from bars or other places that make you
want to drink.
• Learn new skills to change drinking habits.
Planning ahead can help you manage situations
when you might be tempted to drink too much.
Plan ahead of time how you will say “no” if
someone offers you a drink.
Continue to Take Action!
• Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at
home.
This way you won’t be tempted to go over your
drinking limit.
• Make a list of reasons not to drink. Keep this
list in your wallet, bag, or on your fridge. Refer to
it when you have the urge to drink.
• Ask for help if you need it.
Ask your friends and family to support you. Talk
to a doctor or nurse if you are having a hard time
cutting down on your drinking. Don’t give up!
What is “low risk” drinking?
Research demonstrates “low-risk” drinking levels for
men are no more than 4 drinks on any single day AND
no more than 14 drinks per week. For women, “lowrisk” drinking levels are no more than three drinks on
any single day AND no more than seven drinks per
week. To stay low-risk, you must keep within both the
single-day and weekly limits.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and
sometimes deadly — consequence of
drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short
period of time. Drinking too much too
quickly can affect your breathing, heart rate
and gag reflex and potentially lead to coma
and death.
• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person
cannot be roused.
• Vomiting.
• Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths
per minute).
• Hypothermia, bluish skin color, paleness.
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What to do if someone needs
help
Don‘t leave them alone
Talk to them, calm them down if
necessary
• Get them in the fresh air, but watch
that they doesn‘t get cold
• Offer water
If they have lost conciousness
1. check thier airways are free from
vomit,
2. check if they are breathing
3. put them in the safety position to
avoid them suffocates himself
4. Pinch thier arm to verify reflexes
5. If they don‘t react in any way call
safety position
What to do if you have a
problem
Ask yourself these questions
If you answer yes to 1 or more of the following
questions, you may have a problem with alcohol.
Have you ever felt:
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The need to cut down on your drinking?
Annoyed by criticism of your drinking?
Guilty about your drinking?
As if you need a drink in the morning?
Resources
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration
http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx
Or the treatment locator 1-800-662-HELP
Ben Gordon Center (815)756-4875 or crisis
number (866)242-0111
Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org or call
(800)452-7990 or (630)377-6610 to find a
meeting near you