Health- Unit 4 Substance Abuse S.G

Fun fact

*Fun fact: In some cases, alcoholics verbally or physically abuse family members

Fun fact

*Fun fact: a driver over the age of 21 caught driving with a BAC that exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 is charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Fun fact

*Fun fact: about 1 in 8 Americans grow up in an alcoholic family (stress arises from uncertainty and embarrassment; money problems, legal problems, divorce)

Fun fact

*Fun fact: over 1/3 teen deaths in motor vehicle crashes are alcohol-related

Factors that contribute to alcoholism

-attitudes toward drinking -the availability of alcohol in the home -underage drinking

Effects on the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves)

-brain activity slows down -slurred speech -blurred vision -reflexes become sluggish -balance and coordination become impaired

Effects on the reproductive system (hormones, etc.)

-decreased hormone production -can lead to impotence or infertility in males -irregular menstrual cycles for females

Effects on the cardiovascular system (heart, blood vessels)

-heart rate & blood pressure increase (initially) -more blood flows to the skin's surface (so core body temperature decreases)

What to do if someone has alcohol poisoning

-if person is vomiting: keep from choking, prevent drowning in toilet -if person is hard to awaken or has passed out: turn on her left side to avoid choking on vomit, try to keep person awake, call 911 -if person is not breathing, cannot be awakened, or has blue lips or nail beds: call 911

Motor vehicle crashes

-impaired vision, coordination, reaction time, and judgement can reduce a person's ability to drive safely

Stage 1: problem drinking

-increased tolerance -blackouts -makes promises to quit/cut back and can't keep them -drinks often to relieve tension -personality changes (more irritable, forgetful)

Effects on the excretory system (kidneys)

-increased urine production (drinker loses more water from body than usual, causing dehydration)

Effects on the digestive system (stomach, intestines)

-irritation -too much alcohol in the stomach may cause vomiting

Alcohol affect on behavior

-lose judgement and self-control -decrease in natural fears (when these 2 factors are combined, drinkers behave in ways they normally wouldn't)

Stage 3: late stage

-never seems to eat; becomes weak due to malnutrition -isolation from friends and/or family -liquor more important than family or job -tremors -very tense/irritable -loneliness -hallucinations

Factors that affect BAC

-rate of consumption -body weight -gender -amount of food in stomach

Liver

-to filter out toxins from blood -the liver can only break down/process 1/2 oz. of alcohol per hour (standard drink)

Stage 2: absolute dependence

-tries to deny or hide drinking -drinks at (or before) work or school -drinks in the morning/alone -harder to feel "drunk" no matter how much consumed -drinking a daily necessity

Signs of alcohol poisoning

-vomiting -unconscious/passed out -slow/irregular breathing -bluish skins, lips, nail beds

Personal (protective) factors

Commitment to success in academics/extracurriculars; Belief that drug abuse is unacceptable

Opiates

Drugs derived from the poppy plant and sometimes used to relieve pain; also known as Narcotics (Heroin)

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort perception, thought & mood (Marijuana, Salvia, LSD, PCP (animals))

Depressants

Drugs that slow down the brain and body reactions (DHB-"date-rape drug")

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up activity of the central nervous system (cocaine/crack, meth)

Inhalants

Highly toxic substances that produce dangerous chemical vapors (paint thinners, glues, cleaning products, & aerosol sprays)

Digestive problems

Ongoing drinking irritates the tissues that line the digestive system, causing inflammation and increasing the risk of -cancers of the mouth, tongue, esophagus, and stomach -recurring diarrhea -chronic indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers

Increased blood pressure and heart rate

Over time, alcohol causes what?

Social (risk) factors

Peers/friends who abuse drugs; Role models who use drugs (i.e., celebrities); Competitive pressure (i.e., to excel at athletics)

Family (risk) factors

Poor relationships; family members who abuse drugs

Staying drug-free

Practicing Refusal Skills; Seeking help when needed; Get involved in drug-free activities

Social (protective) factors

Strong bonds to school and/or community institutions; Peers who are drug free; Supportive & accepting friends

Family (protective) factors

Strong family bonds; Parental awareness of a teen's social activities; Clear rules that are consistently enforced

Steroids

Synthetic substances, similar to the hormone testosterone, that are used to build muscle

Personal (risk) factors

Unable to deal with stress; Low self-esteem

Irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)

a build up of fatty deposits in the heart muscle

Drug (depressant)

a chemical substance taken to cause changes in a person's body or behavior

Illegal drug

a chemical substance that people of any age may not legally manufacture, posses, buy, or sell (cocaine, meth, heroin)

Reverse tolerance

a condition in which less and less alcohol causes intoxication (due to damaged liver)

Prescription drug

a drug that can be obtained only with a written order from a doctor and can only be purchased at a pharmacy

Fetal alcohol syndrome

a group of birth defects caused by the effects of alcohol on an unborn child (babies suffer from: heart defects, malformed faces, mental retardation, poor motor development, delayed growth)

Withdrawal

a group of symptoms that occur when a dependent person stops taking a drug

Over the counter drug

a medicine that is sold legally in pharmacies or other stores without a doctor's prescription (aspirin)

Rehabilitation

a residential treatment center where former drug abusers live together and learn to adjust to drug-free lives (the process of learning to cope with everyday living without alcohol

Treating alcoholism- stage 1

acknowledging the problem

Heart disease

alcohol contributes to the leading cause of death in the US (Over time, alcohol causes: increased blood pressure and heart rate)

Liver damage

alcohol interferes with the liver's ability to metabolize fats

150,000 deaths

alcohol is involved in approximately how many deaths per year

100-200 billion dollars

alcohol-related crimes, medical expenses, injuries, lost productivity on the job, and treatment programs cost the U.S. how much each year?

4-5

alcoholism is how many more times more common in children of alcoholics than in the general population (combo of genetics and environment)

Side effects

are unwanted physical or mental effects (nausea, drowsiness)

BAC

blood alcohol concentration

Treating alcoholism- stage 2

detoxification, which involves removing all alcohol from a person's body (will suffer from withdrawal)

Risks to fetus (newborn)

developmental problems; baby could be born with a drug dependency

Hepatitis and HIV

disease-causing viruses can be spread through sharing needles

Zero tolerance

drivers under the age of 21 can be charged with DUI if BAC is 0.02 or higher, which is referred to as what?

Risk factors

factors that increase the likelihood for abusing drugs

Protective (risk) factors

factors that reduce a person's potential for harmful behavior

Detoxification

gradual but complete withdrawal from abused drug under medical supervision (which involves removing all alcohol from a person's body)

Alcoholic hepatitis

heavy drinkers also suffer from what, an inflammation of the liver caused by the toxic effects of alcohol

Impurities

illegal drugs are not regulated by the law, therefore there is no guarantee that they are pure

Drug misuse

improper use of medicines (taking drugs with wrong foods/wrong time of day)

Tolerance

is a condition when repeated use of a drug causes it to have less effect on the brain (they need more of a drug to feel its affects)

Alcoholism

is a disease when people can no longer control their use of alcohol

Black-out

is a period of time a drinker cannot recall (typical at BAC level of .20 or higher)

Hangover

is a term used to describe the after effects of drinking too much alcohol (symptoms: nausea, upset stomach, headache, shakiness, sensitivity to noise)

Binge drinking

is the excessive consumption of alcohol at one time

Intoxification

is the state in which a person's mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance

Brain damage

long term alcohol abuse can destroy nerve cells in the brain, which can impair: memory, concentration, make sound judgements

Interactions with other drugs

mixing alcohol with other drugs can produce effects that are greater than either drug would produce itself (mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can cause slow breathing and heart rates, leading to coma/death)

Alcohol content

multiply drink volume by percent alcohol (ex: 5 oz. wine x 0.10 = 0.5 oz. alcohol content)

Drug synergism

occurs when drugs interact to produce effects greater than those that each drug would produce alone (sleep meds and alcohol)

Drug antagonism

occurs when each drug's effect is canceled out or reduced by the other (taking antibiotics while on birth control pills)

Legal risks

penalties for individuals who produce, process, transport, or sell illegal drugs include long prison terms and fines

Treating alcoholism- stage 3

rehabilitation, the process of learning to cope with everyday living without alcohol

Supervised medication

replacing the abused drug with a drug that produces some of the same effects without the "high" (Ex. The drug methadone can help heroin abusers)

Breathing and heart rate

since the liver can only process 1/2 oz. of alcohol per hour, the amount of alcohol in a person's blood will continue to rise, affecting parts of the brain that control what and what?

Alcohol poisoning (overdose)

taking excessive amounts of a drug that can lead to coma or death

Drug abuse

when a drug is intentionally used improperly or safely (sing painkillers to get high)

Addiction

when the drinker no longer has control over their drinking (characterized by: a craving, or a strong emotional need)

Dependence

with increasing tolerance, the body will develop what, when the brain develops a chemical need for alcohol and can't function normally without it (they need a drug to feel normal)