Alcohol
Alcohol is a drug that slows down the brain and nervous system. Drinking a small amount is not harmful for most people, but regular drinking of a lot of alcohol can cause personal, social and health problems.
- Other Variables
- Immediate Effects
- Binge Drinking
- Alcohol Poisoning
- Alcohol & Driving
- Alcohol & Sex
- Long-Term Effects
- Tolerance
- Dependence
- Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs
- Effects on Pregnancy
OTHER VARIABLES
The effects of alcohol differ from person to person, depending on:
- how much they drink
- how often they drink
- how quickly they drink it
- their size and weight
- whether they are male or female
- how good their general health is
- how healthy their liver is
- where they drink
- whether they drink alone
- whether they use alcohol with other drugs
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
Alcohol slows down the messages sent between the brain and the rest of the body. This can cause:
- a person to do or say things they normally wouldn't
- dizziness
- loss of balance
- loss of coordination
- slowed reflexes
- blurred vision
- slurred speach
- intense emotions
- vomiting
- delayed reactions
Drinking a lot in a short time span can cause:
- a hangover
- headaches
- nausea
- vomiting
- shakiness
- vomiting
- passing out
- loss of involuntary muscle control, such as the heart or lungs
BINGE DRINKING
Binge drinking is drinking a lot over a few hours - or non-stop over days or weeks. This can be very dangerous as it makes the harms from alcohol worse and may lead to alcohol poisoning. Also, because drinking a lot can stop a person from thinking clearly and acting sensibly, and may put him/herself in danger from other things.
ALCOHOL POISONING
Alcohol poisoning is life threatening and should delt with immediately. Symptoms include:
- person is unconscious or semi-unconscious and cannot be awakened
- cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
- breathing is less than eight times per minute
- breathing irregularly
- breathing with ten seconds or more between breaths
- vomiting while sleeping or passed out, and not waking up after vomiting
- pulse rate less than 60 beats per minute
If you believe you or someone with you needs help please contact someone immediately. Their life may depend upon it. Click here to find help.
ALCOHOL & DRIVING
Driving while or after consuming alcohol is very dangerous for everyone on the road. The impared vision, reflexes, judgment, and coordination make it difficult to operate a vehicle safely. There are very strict laws regarding drunk driving and harsh punishments for those who break them. If you would like more information about Iowa and federal Laws click here.
ALCOHOL AND SEX
As many as 70% of college students admit to having engaged in sexual activity primarily as a result of being under the influence of alcohol, or to having sex they wouldn't have had if they had been sober. (Facts on Tap website)
At least one out of five college students abandons safe sex practices when they're drunk, even if they do protect themselves when they're sober. (Facts on Tap website)
60% of college women who are infected with STDs, including genital herpes and AIDS, report that they were under the influence of alcohol at the time they had intercourse with the infected person. (Facts on Tap website)
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Drinking a lot of alcohol regularly over time is likely to cause physical, emotional, and social problems. These include:
- poor diet
- stomach problems
- frequent infections
- skin problems
- liver and brain damage
- damage to reproductive organs
- memory loss/confusion
- heart and blood disorders
- depression
- relationship problems
- work problems
- money or legal troubles
- permanent damage to organs
TOLERANCE
Anyone can develop a 'tolerance' to alcohol. Tolerance means that a person must drink more to feel the same effects he or she used to have with lower amounts. It is important to understand that a person's 'tolerance' does not block the harmful effects of alcohol. The more a person drinks to get 'drunk' the more damage that person is doing to his/her body and life.
DEPENDENCE
Dependence on alcohol means that it takes up much of your thoughts, emotions and activities. Not all people who drink are dependent. Dependent people find it very difficult to stop or reduce drinking. This is because of withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- anxiety
- sweating
- shaking
- vomiting
- fits
- hallucinations
MIXING ALCOHOL WITH OTHER DRUGS
Using alcohol at the same time as any other drug can be extremely dangerous. This includes drinking alcohol while using illegal drugs or medicines prescribed from the pharmicist or doctor. One drug can make the negative effects of the other even worse. Alcohol can also stop medicines from working properly.Mixing alcohol with other drugs that slow down the body (e.g. sleeping pills, heroin, marijuana) can:
- exaggerate the effects of the drug or alcohol
- make it harder to think clearly
- make it harder to properly control your body
- stop breathing and cause death
EFFECTS ON PREGNANCY
Regular drinking of any alcohol during pregnancy can cause problems for both the mother and the baby. Drinking a lot can lead to losing the baby before it is born or the baby being born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (slow growth before and after birth, and mental disabilities). Doctors do not think that pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should drink alcohol at all.
