Alcohol & The Brain
Alcohol is which type of drug?
A) Stimulant
B) Cannabinoid
C) Depressant
C) Depressant
What is the first step in the 4 C's of decision making?
Consider options
Your friend invites you to a party. You think there might be alcohol there, and you don't want to be pressured to drink. What is something you could suggest doing instead?
*Several possible answers*
True or false?
You will not get in trouble for underage drinking if you call 911 to help a friend who has passed out from drugs/alcohol.
True
The brain is still developing until age:
25
You're at a friend's house playing video games. You were planning on sleeping over, but your older brother has offered to give you a ride home if you change your mind. Your friends decide to take some alcohol from their parents' liquor cabinet and offer you some.
1) Consider your options
2) Compare the outcomes of each option
*several possible answers
What can you do to reduce the risk of someone slipping something into your drink?
Don't take drinks from strangers, pour your own drinks, keep your drink in sight and keep it covered
Your friend has passed out from drinking too much. They are laying on their back unconscious. What do you do to get them into the recovery position?
Roll them onto their side.
Why is alcohol especially harmful to a teenager's brain?
A teenager's brain is still developing.
What are a few things to consider before making the decision to drink alcohol?
Alcohol harms your health, you could get into trouble with the law, you could be suspended from sports teams, your family might be disappointed, drinking too much can lead to addiction.
What is the best way to prevent harm as a result of alcohol?
Don't drink
Your friend at school is telling you about how he went to a party and doesn't remember what happened. He's confused why he blacked out because he only had "2 drinks". The drinks were filled with a lot of vodka and some cranberry juice. Explain why he got drunk from "only 2 drinks". Do you think he would have blacked out from drinking 2 beers instead?
Vodka has a very high percentage of alcohol, and even a little bit can cause someone to become dangerously intoxicated.
Why does alcohol make you have bad balance, slurred speech, or make bad decisions?
Alcohol slows down your brain and causes different parts of your brain to not work properly.
You and your friend chose to drink and can't drive home safely. What do you do?
Call an Uber/Lyft, call a trusted adult, sleep where you are (if it's safe).
You and your friend are invited to a party, and you're pretty sure there will be alcohol there. You're choosing not to drink, but your friend says she wants to try it. What are a few things you can suggest she do to prevent harm as much as possible?
1) Eat before she drinks
2) Drink lots of water
3) Make sure she has a safe ride home
What are the signs of alcohol poisoning? What do you do in this situation?
-The person is unconscious
-Slow or stopped breathing (fewer than 8 beats per minute)
-Vomiting
-Skin that looks blue, pale, or gray
-Seizures
Call 9-1-1