Why is alcohol harmful
Drugs that slow down the body's functions and reactions
depressant
a person’s mental and physical abilities have been impaired by alcohol
Intoxication
a disease characterized by scarring and eventual destruction of the liver
cirrhosis
a physical or psychological need for a drug
addiction
a gathering in which family and friends get the problem drinker to agree to seek help
intervention
a drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains
Alcohol
the ability of the body to respond quickly and appropriately to situations
Reaction time
a condition in which fats build up in the liver and cannot be broken down
fatty liver
a process in which your body needs more and more of a drug to get the same effect
Tolerance
the process of learning to live an alcohol-free life
Recovery
other ways of thinking or acting
alternatives
the ability of the body to respond quickly and appropriately to situations
Reaction time
the consumption of a large quantity of alcohol in a very short period of time
Binge drinking
a type of addiction in which the body itself feels a direct need for a drug
Physical dependence
the physical and psychological reactions that occur when someone stops using an addictive substance
Withdrawal
The legal age for drinking in the US
21
a measure of the amount of alcohol present in a person’s blood
blood alcohol content (BAC)
a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
a progressive, chronic disease involving a mental and physical need for alcohol
Alcoholism
a return to the use of a drug after attempting to stop
relapse
1/3 of these deaths are alcohol-related
traffic accendents
a dangerous condition that results when a person drinks excessive amounts
Alcohol poisoning
a conscious or unconscious restraint of a person’s own behaviors or actions
inhibition
persons who create an atmosphere in which the alcoholic can comfortably continue his or her unacceptable behavior
Enablers
the physical process of freeing the body of an addictive substance
Detoxification