Alcohol and Other Drugs Flashcards
(41 cards)
drug
any substance causing a change in physical or psychological state
medicine
any drug used to cure, prevent, or treat illnesses; judged on effectiveness, safety, and minor side effects
drug misuse
use it for illnesses not treated by drug
abuses
no medical reason for misusing drug
5 WAYS Drugs Enter Body
- ingestion (most common)
- absorbtion (cream, etc.)
- inhalation
- injection
- implantation (think birth control)
alcohol
drug that depresses the brain and nervous system
3 TYPES of Alcohol, Their Percentages of Alcohol, and the Size of One Drink
beer, 4% alcohol, 12 oz
wine, 12-14% alcohol, 4-5 oz
liquor, 40% alcohol, 1.5 oz
Remember: wine cooler, carbonated and fruit flavored wine, 1.5-6%
proof
double the percentage of alcohol content
Ex.) 40% alcohol = 80 proof
liver and alcohol
It takes one hour for the liver to process one drink into waste. The alcohol enters the bloodstream within minutes and affects every cell in the body.
BAC
blood alcohol concentration
10 FACTORS Affecting BAC
amount of alcohol, speed of drinking, body weight, percentage of body fat, gender, feelings, amount of food eaten, other drug use, age, carbonated beverages
Legal Drunk BAC
0.08
10 SHORT TERM EFFECTS
nausea, vomiting, dehydration, loss of judgment, increased reaction time, poor vision, memory loss, blackout, coma, death (think binge drinking)
LTE nervous system
impairs and permanently damages brain; impairs nerve cells; can cause blackouts, seizures, and dementia
Digestive System
increases cancer risk in mouth, stomach, esophagus, and pancreas; stimulates stomach acid secretion, causing ulcers (open sore on skin) in stomach; liver disease & cancer (see 3 STEPS)
3 LIVER DISEASE STEPS
- liver enlarges with fatty tissue, usually no medical effects
- alcoholic hepatitis (liver swells), illness & death
- cirrhosis (chronic liver damage)
immune system
depresses function, lowers # of infection fighting cells, increases development of illnesses
cardiovascular system
damages organs, disease, high blood pressure, stroke, anemia
skeletal system
loss in calcium, osteoporosis
urinary system
increased urine, kidney failure
reproductive system
disrupts menstrual cycle (female)
size of testes and muscle mass changes (male)
Pregnancy Problems
early pregnancy, miscarriages & still births, low birth weight, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): small eye slits, small head, physical and mental delays
alcohol causes
violence, domestic violence, suicide, rape, trouble with the law, school policies, driving
4 ALCOHOLISM STAGES
- problem with drinking
- tolerance
- dependence
- alcoholism
