Welcome to Lifeskills

1. Welcome to Lifeskills

2. Alcohol: Myth and Reality • What is alcohol? • Is alcohol a drug? • Is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant? • How does it affect the body?

3. Points to Ponder • Alcohol is a drug contained in beverages (drinks) such as wine, beer, wine coolers, or hard liquor. • After you drink it, alcohol is absorbed through the walls of your stomach and intestines, directly into your bloodstream. The alcohol then travels through the blood to the brain. • Alcohol is a depressant. Once it reaches the brain, it depresses the brains activity, which in turn affects the body.

4. If alcohol is a depressant and slows down the brain activities, what do you think are some of the physical and behavioral affects it has on the body?

5. Small doses of alcohol will… Slow down he ability to think clearly and to make decisions Make you feel a little more relaxed Make you feel more loose and daring than you usually do Larger doses of alcohol will… Slow down other area of the brain and nervous system Cause dizziness Decrease coordination Cause difficulties in speaking, walking, and staying awake Cause emotional behavior

6. Some people may • Pass out temporarily or lose their memory because of the drug’s action on the brain Behavioral effects include: • Fighting/arguing/violence • Talking loudly or more than usual • Obnoxious behavior • Silliness/ giggling/ giddiness

7. Patterns of Drinking • Abstinence: About 30% of Americans don’t drink at all. Reasons: religion, alcoholism; allergy • Ritual Drinking: This is the drinking of alcohol in the context of a religious service of family rite. For Example: Church, Sabbath services, toast, Bar Mitzvah

8. Patterns of Drinking • Social Drinking: Many Americans call themselves social drinkers. The drinking is appropriate to time and place. • Compulsive or Problem Drinking: Alcohol is used as a way to cope with problems or negative feelings. It involves drinking too much too often. This kind of drinking is destructive and frequently increases a person’s problem instead of decreasing them.

9. Lets Summarize • Many people (30%) don’t drink at all. • There are several different kinds of drinking. • Some types of drinking( ritual or social drinking) are generally considered acceptable to most adults. • However some type of drinking is dangerous and destructive. • Most high school student report that they would disapprove if a friend drank regularly

10. Reasons for Not Drinking • Reasons for not Drinking • Don’t like the taste • Don’t like getting drunk • It’s fattening • Religious or family prohibitions • Need to stay in shape for sports • It’s illegal

11. Reasons for Drinking • Look grown up • Be more popular • Look cool • Feel less nervous in social situations • Like the taste • Get high to have fun • Peer pressure • boredom

12. Reasons why people become problem drinkers • Cope with problems • Cope with stress • Cope with negative emotions • Physical and psychological dependence • Have friend who are problem drinkers

13. Myth or Reality • Our whole society is concerned with getting a “high”.

14. Myth or Reality • It takes a real tough guy or girl to hold a lot of alcohol.

15. Myth or Reality • My friends will think I’m a “--------” if I don’t drink a lot.

16. Myth or Reality • I just drink beer or wine.

17. Myth or Reality • Lots of creative and successful people drink too much.