Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol and Driving

blood alcohol concentration- the amount of alcohol in a person's blood, expressed as percentage

Any amount of alcohol in the blood can cause slow reflexes, reduced ability to judge distances and speeds, increase in risk-taking behaviors, and reduced concentration and increased forgetfulness

  • adult drivers who have a BAC of .08 percent can be charged with drunk driving
  • the consequences for DWI or DUI are injuries to or death of the driver and others, arrest, jail time, severely restricted driving privileges, confiscation of driver's license, and higher auto insurance rates

Alcohol and Pregnancy

fetal alcohol syndrome- a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

The effects of FAS are small head and deformities, heart, liver, and kidney defects, vision and hearing problems, central nervous system problems. poor coordination, difficulties learning and short attention span, anxiety, and social withdrawl

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease that affects the person who drinks and others around him or her

The symptoms are craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance

An alcoholic is an addict who is dependent on alcohol

  • one study shows that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics

The stages of alcoholism is abuse, dependence, and addiction

Effects on Family and Society

  • alcohol abuse is a major factor in the four leading causes of accidental death: car accidents, falls, drowning, and house fires

Recovery- the process of learning to live an alcohol-free life

Sobriety- living without alcohol

The steps to recovery is admitting that alcohol is a problem, detoxification, receiving counseling, and taking responsibilities for one's life