•+Alcohol



**What is Alcohol?**

"Alcohol is a “depressant” drug. This means it slows down the parts of your brain that affect your thinking and behaviour, as well as your breathing and heart rate" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009). "The use of alcohol has been traced as far back as 8000 BC, and is common in many cultures today" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009). "Alcohol is made by fermenting (and sometimes distilling) fruits, vegetables or grains" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009). "Alcohol itself is a clear liquid; the colour in beer, spritzers, wine and other alcoholic drinks comes from other ingredients and from the process of fermentation" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

**What are the effects of alcohol?** "Alcohol affects many parts of the body" (Maher, 1997). "After it is ingested, it passes through the esophagus and into the stomach, where small amounts are absorbed" (Maher, 1997). "From there most of it travels to the small intestine where it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream" (Maher, 1997). "The circulatory system distributes the alcohol throughout the body, where it contacts every major organ, including the heart" (Maher, 1997). "Some of the alcohol goes into the lungs, where is vaporizes and is exhaled, a phenomenon that is the basis for the breath analyzer test that measures levels of intoxication" (Maher, 1997). "As alcohol passes through the liver, it is broken down or metabolized into carbon dioxide and water by enzymes" (Maher, 1997). "An average size person is able to metabolize about 7 to 10 grams of alcohol per hour, an amount comparable to about one beer, one glass of wine, or 1 ounce of 90-proof spirits" (Moak & Anton, 1999).

 "Small dose effects include euphoria, drowsiness, dizziness, flushing, release of inhibitions and tensions (Health Canada, 2000). Larger doses produce slurred speech, staggering, double vision, stupor" (Health Canada, 2000). A “hangover” with headache, nausea, shakiness and vomiting may begin 8 to 12 hours after a period of excessive drinking (Health Canada, 2000)." Long-term effects of daily drinking can lead to liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, loss of memory, ulcers, disorders of the pancreas and impotence"( Health Canada, 2000). "Chronic drinkers are likely to become physically and psychologically dependent" (Health Canada, 2000). "Withdrawal symptoms are the same as a “hangover” but may also include tremors, agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, seizures, delirium tremens, hallucinations and death" (Health Canada, 2000).

**Lungs:** Respiratory depression leading to coma, cardiac arrest or death (Thompson Rivers University, 2011).

**Heart:** Enlargement of the heart, heart murmurs, increased blood pressure, and increased risk of heart attacks (Thompson Rivers University, 2011).

**Liver:** Alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure (Thompson Rivers University, 2011).

**Stomach:** Ulcers, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bleeding lesions and increased chance of cancer (Thompson Rivers University, 2011).

**Reproductive System:**  Impaired sexual functioning, infertility, impotence, and increased chance of delivery of baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder( Thompson Rivers University, 2011).

**How does alcohol make you feel?**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The way alcohol affects you depends on many factors, including:

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• Your age, sex and body weight (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• How sensitive you are to alcohol (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• The type and amount of food in your stomach (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• How much and how often you drink (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• How long you’ve been drinking (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• The environment you’re in (Centre for Addicition and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• How you expect the alcohol to make you feel (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">• Whether you’ve taken any other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal) (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">"For many people, a single drink of alcohol releases tension and reduces inhibition, making them feel more at ease and outgoing" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). "Some people feel happy or excited when they drink, while others become depressed or hostile" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). " Suicide and violent crimes often involve alcohol" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). "Women are generally more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than men, and all adults become increasingly sensitive to alcohol’s effects as they age" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). "When someone is more sensitive, it takes less alcohol to cause intoxication, and more time for the body to eliminate the alcohol consumed" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). Early signs of alcohol intoxication include flushed skin, impaired judgment and reduced inhibition (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). "Continued drinking increases these effects, and causes other effects, such as impaired attention, reduced muscle control, slowed reflexes, staggering gait, slurred speech and double or blurred vision" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). "A severely intoxicated person may “black out,” and have no memory of what was said or done while drinking" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012)." Effects of extreme intoxication include inability to stand, vomiting, stupor, coma and death" (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Is alcohol addictive?**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Yes, alcohol is an addictive drug. The more alcohol we drink and abuse, the more our body comes to depend on it (Michaels House, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, 2012). "What is it that makes alcohol so addictive? The ironic thing about alcohol is that, to your body, it is poison, and in order to ingest alcohol and survive, your body must alter itself significantly" (Michaels House, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, 2012). " Specifically, your brain and liver undergo changes when you consume alcohol -they literally adapt to this toxin in their midst in an effort to keep you healthy, and breathing" (Michaels House, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, 2012). "Alcohol is also a psychologically addictive drug, it eases stress and anxiety and therefore becomes a crutch to use in any situation that may cause stress" (Michaels House, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre, 2012).

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Nicknames/Slang for Alcohol**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Booze, brew, chug, cold one, gargle, goof, giggle juice, hard stuff, hooch, jack, juice, kool aid, mouthwash, poison, refreshment, sauce, shine, swish, vino (Casa Palmera, 2009).