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Alcohol:. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?. Modified from Oregon Partnership. What Is Alcohol?. The most abused drug in the United States A CNS depressant (substances that can slow brain activity). Alcohol can be found in:. Beer Distilled Spirits Alcopops /Wine Coolers Wine. What's in Alcohol?.
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Alcohol: WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Modified from Oregon Partnership
What Is Alcohol? • The most abused drug in the United States • A CNS depressant (substances that can slow brain activity) Alcohol can be found in: • Beer • Distilled Spirits • Alcopops/Wine Coolers • Wine
Why the Concern? Nationally, alcohol use is associated with the three leading causes of death among persons age 15-24: -Unintentional injuries (including car crashes) -Suicide -Homicide In Oregon, these causes accounted for 78% of deaths among 15-19 year olds in 2000. Source: Oregon Department of Human Services CD Summary, “The sobering Facts on Kids and Drinking,”
More than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth result from drinking alcohol (CDC, 2014) • Six teens die every day from other alcohol related causes(CDC, 2005) • Alcohol is linked to 75-90% of college sexual assaults in U.S. (Brown University Study) • Americans who begin drinking before the age of 15 are 40% more likely to develop dependence than those who wait until age 21 (B.F. Grant, D.A. Dawson, 1997) • One in 10 teens in high school drinks and drives. (CDC, 2014) Know the Facts
“Never” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otR8V7rlnjA
Though alcohol is the most abused drug in the States, we have decided that the “fun” outweighs the risks and consequences. As a nation, we have DECIDED TO ALLOW alcohol to be a legal part of our society.
HOW CAN WE LIMIT CONSEQUENCES? • Disallow drinking and driving • Require those who sell alcohol to be licensed • Limit venues in which alcohol can be sold • Restrict advertising • Limit consumption to people who are 21 years of age and older
Youth Use vs. Adult Use What's the difference? • Brain development • Development continues through the early 20s • Last lobe to fully develop: prefrontal cortex • Decision-making and impulse control
Consequently, young people are far more likely THAN ADULTS to drink excessively and/or get behind the wheel under the influence.
What's the difference? Young people who drink are more likely: • To be sexually active and to have unsafe, unprotected sex • Be involved in a fight, • Commit violent crimes • Fail at school • Use other drugs, • Experience verbal, physical, or sexual violence. • Those who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcoholism later in life than those who begin drinking at age 21.
Alcohol & the brain Image from Susan Tapert, PhD, University of California, San Diego, October 2002
Why do Teen Start Drinking? • Check out from family problems or issues with school/grades • Loneliness, low self–esteem, depression, anxiety disorder and other mental health issues • Deal with the pressures of everyday social situations • Change image or to fit in when moving to a new school or town • Gain confidence or lose inhibitions • They have parents/guardians who drink and if their parents don't give them clear messages about not drinking
Binge Drinking NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) defines binge drinking as: A pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL or more in a short period of time. • This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.
Alcohol Poising • A deadly consequence of binge drinking • Very high levels of alcohol in the body can shutdown critical areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, resulting in death.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning • Drinks excessively • Drinks after using medications or other drugs • No response/slow response • Vomits while sleeping or passed out • Cannot stand up or remain standing unless aided by others • Won’t wake up • Has slow breath • Clammy or cool skin
Alcohol poisoning • Get Help! • Keep Victim on Side • Keep Victim Awake • Stay with them • Honestly Report • Consumption
Why Don't Teens Get Help? Fear of the consequences of drinking • Get an MIP • Trouble with parents • Lose friends Consider This: Is getting in trouble worth your saving your friend’s life?
The only legal limit for teen use of alcohol is ZERO • If a person is convicted of a “Minor in Possession” • he/she could: • Be fined • Lose driving privileges for up to one year • Community service • If a person does not show up to court, • his or her license will be suspended • School consequences’ • Jail Time
Even with these regulations, ALCOHOL USE COMES AT A GREAT COST TO US.
Traffic Crashes Violent Crime Burns Drowning Suicide Attempts Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Alcohol Poisonings Treatment TOTAL $19,452,000,000 $29,368,000,000 $189,000,000 $426,000,000 $1,512,000,000 $493,000,000 $340,000,000 $1,008,000,000 $52,788,000,000 -Source: OJJDP, Costs of Underage Drinking (1999) Underage drinking cost the citizens of Oregon $697 million in 2001 Levy, D.T., Miller, T.R., & Cox, K.C. (2003): Underage drinking: societal costs and seller profits
WHO PAYS FOR DAMAGES? • Taxpayers? • The victims? • Alcohol retailers? • The people who cause the damage? • But what if those people cannot pay? • What if those people are minors? • What if they were provided with alcohol illegally?
For alcohol and drug information and referrals call toll-free: 1-877-553-8336 TEENS HELPING TEENS Youthline@hotmail.com