Alcohol is an addictive depressant that can cause both short and long term health effects. It is made through the fermentation of sugars by yeast and its effects are influenced by various factors like body size, gender, food, and medicine. Long term heavy drinking can lead to fatty liver, cirrhosis, and hepatitis while binge drinking or alcohol poisoning from too much intake at once can result in mental confusion, coma, vomiting, seizures, irregular heartbeats, and low body temperature. Teens may drink due to social factors but need to understand the health risks.

1. Alcohol

2. Alcohol is an addictive drug Ethanol: type of alcohol in an alcoholic beverage. Fermentation: the chemical action of yeast on sugars Depressant: a drug that slows the central nervous system Intoxication: the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the persons physical and mental control is significantly reduced.

3. Factors that influence Alcohols’ Effects Body size Gender Food Rate of intake Amount medicine

4. Long Term Effects Liver: Fatty liver: fat build up in the liver and cannot be broken down. Cirrhosis: scarring of the liver and poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver

5. Binge Drinking/ Alcohol Poisoning Binge drinking: drinking five ore more alcoholic drinks at one sitting. Alcohol poisoning: a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose.

6. Effects of Alcohol Poisoning Mental confusion Coma Vomiting/seizures Slow respiration Irregular heartbeat Hypothermia or low body temperature

8. Why Teens Drink?