Alcohol Facts
A person can get as drunk by drinking a can of beer or a flavored bottled/canned alcoholic beverage as they can by drinking hard liquor.
YES. 12 oz. of beer or flavored malt beverage, 4.5 oz. of wine and 1.5 oz. of hard liquor (80-90 proof) all contain the same amount of alcohol - the amount a "healthy adult liver" can process in one hour.
Everyone has blackouts.
NO. Blackouts are a warning sign of addiction.
It is easy for teen smokers to quit.
NO. 75% of those who try to quit are unsuccessful at least initially.
Marijuana smoking affects the respiratory system the same way tobacco does.
NO. One marijuana joint causes more damage to the respiratory system than five tobacco cigarettes. This is due in part to the chemical make-up of marijuana and in part to the nature of its use, which includes longer inhalation and absence of filters.
It is good to be able to drink more than others without showing it (have high tolerance).
NO. High tolerance is a warning sign of addiction. It means your body is not reacting normally to alcohol.
Only alcoholics focus on alcohol.
NO. Alcoholics and their family members both focus on alcohol. Alcoholics, because it is very important that they have alcohol available; their families because they are concerned about the person's drinking.
Smoking only harms the smoker.
NO. Tobacco smoke consists of organic matter, nicotine alkaloids, and additives, which, when heated, break down into carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and tar which affect the brain and lungs of both the smoker and anyone else who breathes the smoke. Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy put their unborn babies at risk for many of the same health problems caused by smoking during pregnancy (miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, and premature birth).
Marijuana use affects your ability to learn.
YES. The receptors in the brain that react to marijuana are located in the hippocampus which is associated with learning and memory. Studies indicate that short-term memory loss is common in users.
Your chances of developing cancer and heart disease are affected by drinking.
YES. Studies have shown that drinking only 2 drinks a day doubles the risk of developing breast cancer. Although some studies claim that 1 drink a day is "good for the heart", more than 3 drinks a day increases your chance of heart disease.
Denial is the number one symptom of addiction.
YES. Alcoholics tend to blame others for their drinking/using, such as their partner, friends, boss, teachers - not recognizing that their drinking/using is causing the problem.
Nicotine and alcohol affect our brains.
YES. ATOD directly affect, alter, and take control of specialized receptor cells in the brain which initially stimulate the brain, but then act as tranquilizers and sedatives. Alcohol is a depressant. People seem to be “happier” when they drink because it slows down their ability to control their impulses.
Prescription drugs are safer than illegal (“street”) drugs.
NO. A person can become addicted to all drugs. Prescription drugs can be highly addictive. ALSO – it is a felony to share prescription drugs with others, even among family members.
If a student does not start using alcohol until age 15, he/she is less likely to become addicted.
YES. If you use alcohol/drugs before the age of 15, you are 2-5 times more likely to become addicted.
People with alcoholic/addicted relatives are more likely to be at risk for addiction themselves.
YES. The more blood relatives with alcohol/drug problems you have, the more at risk you are.
Anyone who smokes tobacco greatly increases their risk of lung disease.
YES. People who smoke dramatically increase their risk of lung disease, such as bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer. Smokers develop bad breath, periodontal disease, and stains on their teeth and tongue.
Inhalant use damages brain cells.
YES. Severe damage can occur and is largely irreversible. The type of substance, method of inhalation and frequency dramatically impact the amount of harm done to the brain, bones, and organs. Neurological effects result from damage to the white matter (the area of the brain which has the highest fat content). The effects include memory disturbance, cognitive problems, coordination, visual and hearing impairments.
High risk drinking is defined differently for women.
YES. High risk drinking for adult (18 years or older) women is 1 or more drinks on a regular basis; for adult men it is 2 or more. There is much discussion as to why: it maybe fat or water content of women’s bodies. Research has revealed that men have an enzyme in their stomachs that breaks down alcohol twice as fast and effectively. Women do not have this enzyme.
Research has shown no relationship between brain chemistry and addiction.
NO. Researchers have found a clear relationship between the dopamine D2 Receptor Gene Pattern and addiction.
Females who smoke are more likely to develop acne than non-smokers.
YES. Females who smoke are 3 times more likely to develop acne than non-smokers.
Drinking or smoking during pregnancy affects the health of the baby.
YES. During pregnancy most drugs taken by the mother, including alcohol and tobacco, cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of the developing fetus. Similarly, after birth, most drugs taken by the mother are passed on to the infant through the mother’s milk. Even secondhand smoke puts their unborn babies at risk of many of the same health problems caused by smoking during pregnancy – miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, and premature birth.