This document summarizes information about alcohol, including how it is made from grains, fruits, and vegetables using yeast and bacteria. It discusses alcohol's classification as a depressant and its short-term effects like dizziness and long-term effects like organ damage. Withdrawal symptoms are explained. Statistics are presented on alcohol use by age groups. Risks of misuse and penalties for underage drinking or driving under the influence are outlined.

1. ALCOHOL REASERCH PROJECT By: Luis Ramirez

2. Name of Drug and Street Names Alcohol Booze

3. How Alcohol is Made Legal Factory Made using Grains Fruits Vegetables Sugars are changed using yeast Bacteria Courtesy of Faculty & Washington http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

4. Classification Alcohol is a depressant Pseudo-stimulant – fake Slows the function of the nervous system Blocks out messages that are being sent to the brain Courtesy of Faculty & Washington http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

5. Effects on the Nervous System Damages frontal lobes of the brain Can cause brain to grow shorter Vitamin deficiency Memory loss Kills thousands of brain cells Courtesy of Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html

6. This can change a person’s…. Perceptions Emotions Movement Vision Hearing Reactions Courtesy of Kids Health http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html

7. Things that can change the affects Age Gender Physical conditions Amount of food eaten Other medicines or drugs taken Courtesy of Faculty & Washington http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

8. How Alcohol is Taken Enters the mouth Goes down the esophagus Stomach - some gets released into the bloodstream Small intestine - alcohol enters the bloodstream through the walls Heart - pumps alcohol throughout the body Liver - alcohol is mixed with oxygen at about 0.5 oz/hr. Alcohol is changed into water, carbon dioxide and energy Courtesy of Faculty & Washington http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

9. Short-term Effects (In short amounts) Dizziness Talkativeness Lack necessary skills to drive To operate a machine Increase in aggressive behavior Courtesy of Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm

10. Short-term Effects (In large amounts) Slurred Speech Disturbed sleep Nausea Vomiting Hangovers Headache Thirst Fatigue Courtesy of Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm

11. Long-term Effects Can lead to addiction High blood pressure Lowers resistance against disease Permanent damage to organs Comas Courtesy of Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm

12. Symptoms of Overdose Excessive vomiting Severe sleepiness Unconsciousness Difficulty breathing Really low blood sugar Seizures Courtesy of Help Guide http://helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm

13. Symptoms of Withdrawal (Mental) Nervous Anxiety Easy excitability Depression Not thinking clearly Emotion changes Courtesy of National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001944.htm

14. Symptoms of Withdrawal (Physical) Headache Sweating Loss of appetite Sleeping difficulties Fast heart pulse Eye pupils get bigger Courtesy of National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001944.htm

15. Drinking by Age Groups Adults who are current regular drinkers is about 50%(had at least 12 drinks in the past year) Adults who were current moderate drinkers is about 14%(1-11 drinks in the past year) Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm

16. Penalties of Misuse Legal drinking age is 21 Legal amount is 0.08 mg to drive Legal limits are measured using a blood test or a breathalyzer Failing either one or these tests can result in arrest or loss of driver’s license Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm

17. Risks of Misuse Interactions between alcohol and medications can result in illness, injury or death When medications and alcohol compete against each other in the body for absorption, the effect is increased Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm

18. Medical Uses At one time it was used for medical uses but it isn’t anymore In now a days it is mixed with other ingredients in cough syrups, medicines and other remedies Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm

19. Facts Almost half of all Americans over the age of 12 are alcohol consumers Every day about 11,318 people(12-20) try alcohol for the first time 65% of kids get alcohol from family and friends 56% of students in grades 5 - 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink Half of all car crashes are alcohol related 28% of suicides by children ages 9 - 15 were caused by alcohol Courtesy of Marine Institute http://www.marininstitute.org/Youth/alcohol_youth.htm

20. Resources “Alcohol”. Alcohol. Dowshen, Steven. April 2009. Kids Health. Dec. 2, 2009. http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html “Alcohol”. Alcohol. GDCADA. March 6, 2006. Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse. Dec. 2, 2009. http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm “Alcohol”. Alcohol Use. Ballas, Paul. Jan. 20, 2009. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health. Dec. 2, 2009. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001944.htm “Alcohol”. Alcoholism & Alcohol Abuse. Smith, Melinda; Saisan, Joanna; Segal, Jeanne. Dec. 2009. Help Guide. Dec. 2, 2009. http://helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm

21. Resources “Alcohol”. Frequently Asked Questions. CDC. August 6, 2008. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Dec. 2, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm “Alcohol”. Alcohol & Youth Facts. The Marine Institute. April 2005. Marine Institute. Dec. 2, 2009. http://www.marininstitute.org/Youth/alcohol_youth.htm “Alcohol”. Alcohol. Chudler, Eric H. 2008. Faculty & Washington. Dec. 2, 2009. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html “Alcohol”. Alcohol Use. CDC. May 15, 2009. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Dec. 2, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm