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Understanding Alcohol's Impact on Mind and Body

Explore the effects of alcohol on the brain, heart, lungs, mental health, and more. Learn about the risks of early alcohol consumption, its impact on various body systems, and the dangers of alcohol poisoning. Educate yourself to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption.

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Understanding Alcohol's Impact on Mind and Body

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  1. Kerry Herndon, MSW, LAC-E Western Montana Addiction Services Project SUCCESS- Sentinel HS Alcohol

  2. First Thing First…THE BRAIN • Age 25: Fully Developed • Age 30: Fully Mature • Younger Chemicals Are Introduced, the Greater the Risk to Brain Development • More than 4 in 10 who drink before age 15 will become alcoholics

  3. A couple terms…. • Neurotransmitters • Send and receive messages in the brain • Neuron • The chemical (message) being sent

  4. Tolerance • Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus, especially over a period of continued exposure. • The capacity to absorb a drug continuously or in large doses without adverse effect; diminution in the response to a drug after prolonged use. • Physiological resistance to a poison. ** increased tolerance DOES NOT mean you are any less drunk – your BAC does not change because your tolerance increases. **

  5. Alcohol • Depressant • Suppresses Central Nervous System • Slows Breathing • Slows Heart Rate • Slows Reflexes • Stimulates Dopamine • Neuron • Feel Good Sensors • Example: Runner’s High

  6. Alcohol & The Brain • Shrinking of the Brain • Hippocampus –Learning and Memory • Prefrontal Cortex – Decision Making/Personality • Reticular Formation – Sleep/Awake Cycles & Consciousness • Spinal Cord • Cerebral Cortex – Thinking and Problem Solving • Cerebellum – Body Movement & Coordination

  7. Alcohol & The Heart • Irregular heart beat • Weakens heart muscles • Decreases heartbeat • High blood pressure • Increased risk of heart attack • Some research shows a correlation of an enzyme found in red wine used in moderation can have a positive effect on the heart. This is dependent on many other factors.

  8. Alcohol & The Lungs • Slow or irregular breathing • Choking or asphyxiation • Lowers protective antioxidants in lung lining • Keeps proteins our lungs need out impacting capacity.

  9. Alcohol & Mental Health • Mental Health Diagnosis • Increases risk of substance use • Most common among • Depression • Anxiety • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder • Bi-Polar Disorder • Schizophrenia • Other Personality Disorders

  10. Alcohol, Mouth, Throat, Stomach, Kidney, Pancreas and Liver • Cancer of the Mouth & Throat • Cancer of the Pancreas • Cirrhosis of the Liver • Kidney Failure • Stomach Ulcers • Too much alcohol to metabolize leads to alcohol poisoning, possibly death

  11. Alcohol & The Immune System • Lowers the immune system • More prone to disease & illness • Prevents nutrients from absorbing • Decreases a lymph node's ability to release antibodies into the blood to protect you from illness.

  12. Alcohol & Musculoskeletal System • Weakens Muscles • Nerve functions • Decreases testosterone needed for building muscle or maintaining muscle tone • Weakens Bones • Overtime osteoporosis • Decreases bodies ability to absorb calcium

  13. Wernicke’s Encephalophay • Inability to absorb vitamin B • Causes: • Lack of Coordination • Impaired Vision • Short-Term Memory Problems • Confusion

  14. Alcohol & Reproductive System • Infertility • Male • Decreased testosterone • Shrinking Testacies • Impotence • Female • Reduces estrogen • Abnormal menstrual cycles and ovulation cycles • Spontaneous abortions • Early menopause

  15. Alcohol: Pregnancy • Biggest impact in first weeks of pregnancy when most vital organs are starting to form (you may not even know you are pregnant) • Can take 1 drink, can take 50 drinks during pregnancy during any stage of gestation • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • Physical and Mental Health • Fetal Alcohol Effect • Mental Health

  16. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

  17. Other Health Risks w/ Alcohol • Can cause seizures • Hypothermia (Low body temperature) • Enhances carcinogens in other chemicals, such as tobacco or marijuana • Can cause damage to DNA cells • Hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar) • Dangerous for someone with diabetes

  18. Alcohol is Addictive!

  19. Alcohol Poisoning • Binge Drinking • 5 standard drinks in 2 hours for males • 4 standard drinks in 2 hours for females • Too much too quickly • Body can’t metabolize alcohol that quickly • Males metabolize alcohol more quickly than females

  20. Alcohol: Dangerous Games • Higher risk for sexual assault • Rape case investigations last year in Missoula showed that most victims were drinking at the time of their rape. • Rapid drinking on a bet or a dare • Alcohol hits stomach faster than your body can process/metabolize the substance • Girls keeping up with boys • Girls metabolize alcohol slower than boys

  21. Signs of Alcohol Poisoning • Mental confusion, stupor, or coma • No response when pinching skin • Vomiting while sleeping • Seizures • Slow or irregular breathing • Low body temperature • Bluish skin color, paleness

  22. Alcohol Poisoning & Death • Hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar) • Seizures • Choking or asphyxiation on vomit • Breathing slows, becomes irregular, stops • Heartbeat irregular, stops • Hypothermia (low body temperature) • Causing cardiac arrest

  23. Alcohol: What You Can Do • Know the signs of alcohol overdose • Be aware of your responsibility • Ask for help • Don’t be embarrassed • Know what to do if someone overdoses • Be honest about how much they drank • Seek medical assistance • Don’t leave them alone

  24. Alcohol: Sobering Up Eating, drinking coffee, sleeping it off, taking a cold shower, walking it off, and being left alone just create a very….. Full, wide awake, well rested, dripping wet, exercised and possibly irritated drunk. Only TIME sobers a person up. Your body can only get the alcohol out of your body as fast as it can metabolize it.

  25. Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol • VERY DANGEROUS. • 2 hrs – weeks after use • Shakes/Tremors • Chills • Sweating • Nausea • Anxiety • Nervousness • Depression • Irritability • Heart issues • Jumpiness • Mood Swings • Nightmares/Terrors • Clammy Skin • Dilated pupils • Insomnia • Headaches • Rapid heart rate • Confusion • Hallucinations • Seizures

  26. Alcohol Impairs Your Judgement

  27. Alcohol Facts (From 2011 Study) • Alcohol is the most abused drug in the USA • Alcohol related crashes cost the State of MT approximately $511 million per year • Youth that drink are 50x more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink. • Binge drinkers are more likely to drive impaired than non-binge drinkers • More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholics. • This increases if you have a family history of substance abuse

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