Long-Term Risks of Alcohol - PowerPoint Presentation

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Long-Term Risks of Alcohol

Damage to the bodyLong-term alcohol abuse may have serious physical effects on the brain, liver, heart, and digestive system.

Continue through the slides to learn more about each of these effects!

Brain DamageLong-term alcohol abuse destroys never cells in the brainThe loss of many nerve cells cause permanent changes that

impair memory

, the ability to

concentrate

, and the ability to

make sound judgments. Teenage drinkers may suffer long-term learning and memory problems

Liver DamageAlcohol interferes with the livers ability to metabolize, or break down, fatsHeavy drinking causes the liver to fill with fat, which blocks the flow of blood in the liverThis is called Cirrhosis and may lead to liver failure or death

Heart DiseaseExcessive drinking contributes to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States

Alcohol may cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and a buildup of fatty deposits in the heart muscle

Digestive ProblemsOngoing drinking irritates the tissues that line the digestive system, causing inflammationRepeated irritation increases the risk of:Cancers of the mouth, tongue, esophagus and stomachRecurring diarrhea

Chronic indigestion, heartburn or ulcers

Fetal Alcohol

Syndrome

A group of birth defects caused by the effects of alcohol on an unborn child

Babies born with this syndrome may suffer from heart defects, malformed daces, delayed growth, poor motor development, and mental retardation

Even small amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can cause brain damage

AlcoholismA disease where someone cannot control their use of alcoholPsychologically, alcoholics consider drinking a regular essential part of coping with daily life

Changes to the BrainWhen repeated use of alcohol, its effects in the brain become reduced- the body has developed tolerance to alcoholWith increasing tolerance, the body will eventually develop

dependence

- the brain develops a chemical need for alcohol and cannot function normally without it

Addiction

- the drinker no longer has control over his or her drinking

Who is at Risk

Anyone who drinks is at risk of becoming an alcoholic

Alcoholism is 4-5 time more common among children of alcoholics than in the general population

Underage drinking increases a persons risk of becoming an alcoholic

3 Stages of AlcoholismWhat begins as problem drinking becomes absolute dependence, and finally later stage, alcoholismStage 1: Problem Drinking

Stage 2: Absolute Dependence

Stage 3: Late Stage Alcoholism

Stage 1: Problem DrinkingEven a “social drinker” – someone who occasionally drinks small amounts with meals, at parties, or on special occasions- can become an alcoholicH

aving a social drink to relieve stress or escape from problems can quickly become a problem

Stage 2: Absolute DependenceAt this stage, the drinker becomes totally dependent on the drug, alcohol dominates the drinkers life They usually cannot stop after one drink, and feels a constant need to drink

Signs of alcoholism may include frequent absences from work or school and strained relationships

Stage 3: Late Stage of AlcoholismDuring this stage, alcoholics rapidly lose their mental, emotional, and physical health

During this stage, alcoholics experience

reverse tolerance

for alcohol, a condition in which less and less alcohol causes intoxication

Without medical and psychological help, an alcoholic may die

Effects of Alcohol on OthersAlcohol abuse and alcoholism affect many people other than the drinker

Alcohol is involved in approximately 150,000 deaths per year. Most of those deaths are due to violence committed under the influence of alcohol and car crashes involving drunk drivers

3 Stages in an Alcoholics RecoveryStage 1: Acknowledging the Problem – Alcoholics must acknowledge they have a problem and ask for help

Stage 2

:

Detoxification – removing all alcohol from a persons body, the alcoholic will suffer from

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

Stage 3:

Rehabilitation – the process of learning to cope with everyday living without alcohol, during this stage alcoholics receive counseling to help them understand their disease and behavior