Alcohol & Body
What part of the body is the very first place alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream?
Mouth (Oral Cavity)
What is the legal BAC driving limit in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of . 08% or greater. For individuals under the age of 21, the Massachusetts RMV will suspend your license for operating a motor vehicle with a . 02% BAC or higher.
Can brain cells regenerate?
Yes - brain cells can regenerate through a process called neurogenesis
What are the meetings for alcohol support called?
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A)
Which organ in the body takes the most damage when it comes to alcohol?
Liver
What is the toxin/molecule in alcohol called?
Ethanol
Name 3 ways to get home safely after a night of drinking.
Call an Uber/Lyft, call a friend/family member to pick you up, have a DD, take a taxi, walk home, stay the night at a friends, take public transportation
Name two neurotransmitters that alcohol affects.
Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, & Glutamate
Alcohol stimulates GABA receptors, and thereby dampens activity in the brain. It is thought that this is why it produces an immediate reduction of anxiety, and overdoses can lead to coma. If there is a constant supply of alcohol, however, the brain receptors adapt by reducing GABA receptors.
Unlike the case with GABA, alcohol inhibits glutamate activity in the brain. This can be stated from the fact that acute alcohol exposure causes a drop in the extra cellular glutamate levels in a region of the brain called striatum which contains the nucleus accumbens and other structures.
How many fluid ounces is a standard drink of regular beer?
12 fl. oz.
(True or False) The liver is the only organ in the body that can fully regenerate.
TRUE - other organs have the ability to heal, usually with scarring. The liver is the only organ that can fully regenerate on it's own.
What two parts of the body do not easily absorb alcohol?
Bones & Fatty Tissue
Name one reason someone would be under the No Tolerance Law
Under 21 years old, on probation for another case
(True or False) It is more dangerous for young people to drink because their brain is still developing.
True - Alcohol can affect brain development, which can lead to significant brain change & damage.
(True or False) Drinking alcohol warms you up.
False - Consuming alcohol makes blood rush to your skin’s surface, which may make you feel warmer. However, alcohol actually causes your blood vessels to widen and makes you lose heat faster. Alcohol also impedes the body’s process of increasing heat through shivering
Name one reason people may experience a hangover.
Dehydrated, lack of sleep, physically exhausted, build up of acetaldehyde in body.
Can you explain how a breathalyzer works?
Ethanol is released & evaporated into the air sacs in the lungs. When we breathe out, ethanol travels up and out of the mouth.
(True or False) A BAC of .10 means that 10% of the blood is alcohol.
FALSE: BAC is Parts of Alcohol / 10,000 Parts of Blood. Meaning a .10 would be .001% of blood is alcohol.
(True or False) Does alcohol kill brain cells?
FALSE - Alcohol does not kill brain cells, it can severely damage the ends of neurons in the brain, dendrites, which can lead to altered brain function & possible permanent brain damage. Alcohol can affect the development of the brain, the brain develops until early 20's.
Describe the difference between tolerance and dependence.
Tolerance - you need more and more of a substance to feel the same/desired effects
Dependence - your body becomes physically dependent on a substance to function normally
Name three factors that affect the way alcohol effects you.
Age, weight, muscle/fat ratio, gender, genetics, food intake
Can you explain why we absorb alcohol faster on an empty stomach?
The pyloric sphincter at the bottom of the stomach is open when we have an empty stomach. This allows alcohol to flow more quickly into the small intestines, where the majority of alcohol is absorbed.
How many people die a year in the U.S. due to a DUI related crash? (A) <1,000 (B) 5,000-6,000 (C) 10,000-12,000 (D) >15,000
C - 10,000-12,000 In 2020 11,464 people died in an alcohol related crash
What is the name of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol in our body?
Alcohol Dehydrogenase.
Males have highly active (i.e., fast) forms of ADH in their stomach and their liver. The presence of ADH in the stomach of males can reduce the absorption of alcohol by 30%! By contrast, females have almost no ADH in their stomach. Consequently, females absorb more alcohol into their bloodstream.
What is the name of the practice commonly used in addiction treatment that focuses on being present in current moment & aims at replacing destructive behaviors with healthy ones?
Mindfulness
What two things happen when you urinate frequently when drinking alcohol?
1. Dehydrate 2. Lose electrolytes which makes it more difficult to rehydrate