Substance abuse Flashcards
(52 cards)
What is alcohol abuse
Drinking too much, drinking too often, or drinking at inappropriate times
Describe the path alcohol takes through the body
Mouth, stomach, Small intestines, Blood stream, Brain , Liver
What are the bi-products of consuming alcohol
Bi products are water, carbon dioxide, and energy).
Why is an unconscious drinker at risk of alcohol poising
Their BAC May keep going up. They may have consumed a fatal dose that may have killed them when they go
unconscious. Choking on vomit.
Where is alcohol absorbed into the bloodstream
Stomach and small intestine
What are some signs of problem drinking
When drinking causes problems like fights, destroying property, DUIs, job and work problems
Short term effects of alcohol use
Loss of self-control, vomiting, nausea, blackout (can’t from memories but are conscious), coma and death, poor vision, impaired judgement, reduced reaction time, memory loss
Long term effects of alcohol use
Cancer of mouth, stomach, esophagus, and liver; cirrhosis (scar tissue of liver), anemia, heart damage, kidney strain, diminished immune system function, hepatitis (inflamed liver), decreased ability of the body to absorb vitamins, shrunken brain and dead brain
cells
What is the difference between enabling and codependency
Enabling is helping an addict avoid the negative consequences of his/her behavior
Codependency is the condition in which a family member or friend sacrifices his or her own needs to meet the needs of an addict. Sometimes this means taking on roles in the family that the addict should have.
Enabling is helping avoid consequences codependency being overly invested in another persons problems to the point that they lose focus of their own problems.
Define alcoholism
A disease that causes a person to lose control of his/her drinking behavior
Define binge drinking
Drinking a large quantity in a short amount of
time. Usually 4 or more drinks rapidly
List the three types of drinks we talked about that each contain one ounce of pure alcohol
Beer etc- 10-12 oz bottle or can
Wine 4-5 ounce glass
Hard liquor- 1-1.5 ounce shots
Oxidation
Burning up alcohol. Happens in the liver.
Why is alcohol classified as a depressantf
It depresses your central nervous system so you have inhibited faculties like slurred
speech. It slows down breathing, heart.
What is the hepatitis and cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is permanent and hepatitis may or not be
reversible. Cirrhosis develops from hepatitis and cirrhosis is more advanced and bad than hepatitis. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis is scarring.
Decribe the difference between AA, Al-anon, and ALA teen
Alateen – a program specifically designed for teens who have an addict in their lives
Al-anon – a program designed to help family members of alcoholics
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) a treatment program for alcoholics
AA is to help alcoholics, Al-anon is to help family members of alcoholics, aka teen is
supposed to help teens with an addict in their lives.
What happens with 1 to 2 drinks
BAC of .01-.05
- Person’s systems begin to slow down, relaxed feeling, less inhibited, slight decrease in fine motor skills. Person should wait at least an hour before driving
- Effects small outer layer of brain
What happens with 3-4 drinks
BAC of .05-.1
Fine motor skills are decreased, performance and responsiveness are reduced. There is a reduction in judgment as well as reaction time. People feel more alert and talkative, but, in reality, the systems are slowed
-Legally intoxicated
-Effects Cerebrum (voluntary actions and control of ability to reason) second outer most layer
What happens with 5-7 drinks
BAC .1 to .18
The senses are dulled, especially speech, hearing, and vision. Balance is altered and person may stagger. There is a decreased sense of pain
Effects center-ish area of brain
What happens with 8-12 drinks
The reflex actions are decreased, body temperature drops, blood circulation slows, as does respiration. Unconsciousness may occur. Further drinking may cause coma and eventual death from alcohol overdose
-Effects Cerebellum (coordination, muscular control, balance). Lower, inner portion of brain
What does the liver do
Aid in detoxification and acts as a cleansing station to rid the body of poisons. The liver breaks down the alcohol at a rate of .5 ounce of pure alcohol per hour. This is called oxidation NOTHING CAN CHANGE THE RATE OF THIS PROCESS. The excess use of alcohol can damage the liver and lead to a serious disease called cirrhosis
What does the stomach and intestine and esophagus do
Alcohol irritates the esophagus and it has no food value. It is not digested in the stomach. A small amount of alcohol is absorbed directly/rapidly into the bloodstream through the smallest blood vessels called capillaries. The rest of the alcohol passes into the small intestines where is is absorbed completely/directly into the blood stream. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining. Acute abdominal stress, vomiting, and ulcers may occur
What does the alcohol do to the brain and nervous system
The bloodstream carries alcohol to the brain within minutes. Alcohol is a sedative drug that depresses the Central Nervous system. It impairs the functions of behavior., judgment, coordination
Drugs of abuse
( for example: cocaine, nicotine, alcohol and marijuana) change the way the brain works in ways that are not healthy.
When these drugs are taken for no medical reason they are called “drugs of abuse”
