L.1: Why is Alcohol Harmful?
What group of drugs does alcohol belong to?
Depressants
What does BAC stand for?
Blood Alcohol Concentration or Content
What is the long-term liver disease caused by alcohol?
Cirrhosis
What is alcohol abuse?
Alcohol abuse is drinking too much, too often, or for the wrong reasons.
Name one place or group that helps people with alcohol problems.
Help from rehab centers, counselors, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), support groups, or doctors.
What organ is mainly responsible for breaking down alcohol?
Liver
Name one short-term physical effect alcohol has on the body.
Short-term effects: slurred speech, poor coordination, nausea, dizziness, slowed reaction time.
Name one long-term effect alcohol has on the heart.
high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart disease, and stroke risk
What is one sign that someone might have alcoholism?
Signs: craving alcohol, drinking alone, hiding alcohol, loss of control, or withdrawal symptoms.
What is treatment, and why is it necessary for alcohol addiction?
Treatment helps people stop drinking, manage withdrawal, and learn how to live alcohol-free.
Why are teenagers more affected by alcohol than adults?
Teens' brains are still developing, so alcohol affects memory, decision-making, and impulse control more.
Why does alcohol slow a person’s reaction time and coordination?
Alcohol slows down messages between the brain and body, making movement and response slower.
How can long-term drinking affect mental and emotional health?
It can cause depression, anxiety, mood swings, and behavior problems.
What is tolerance in alcohol use?
Tolerance means needing more alcohol to feel the same effects.
What is an intervention?
when friends/family talk to someone about their drinking to encourage treatment.
Vocab: What is intoxication?
a person's mental and physical abilities in a person's blood
How can alcohol take away a person’s ability to make good choices?
Alcohol affects the brain’s judgment center, making people take risks they normally wouldn’t.
How does long-term alcohol use damage body organs? Name two.
Damage to nervous system, liver, heart, digestive system, and brain function.
Why is alcoholism considered a disease, not just a habit?
Alcoholism is considered a disease because it changes the brain and causes dependence and addiction.
Why is support from family and friends important during recovery?
Family and friends give emotional support, encouragement, and help avoid relapse.
Explain how alcohol affects the brain’s ability to make good decisions and control emotions.
Alcohol slows brain development, affects the frontal lobe, harms judgment, behavior, memory, and emotional control.
Explain how alcohol can cause blackouts or memory loss in teens.
Alcohol blocks memory-making in the brain, which can cause blackouts or memory loss.
Explain how long-term alcohol use can permanently change brain function.
Alcohol changes the brain’s structure and damages brain cells, affecting thinking, memory, and self-control permanently.
Explain how alcoholism harms personal life, school/work, or family relationships.
It can cause broken relationships, job/school problems, legal issues, money problems, and family stress.
Explain the steps in the recovery process—from recognizing the problem to long-term sobriety.
Recovery steps: admitting the problem, detox, treatment/therapy, support groups, long-term sobriety.