Chapter 12: Alcohol Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Chapter 12 on alcohol, its physical effects, addiction, and recovery.

Alcohol

A drug that is produced by a chemical reaction in fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Depressants

Drugs that slow down the body’s functions and reactions.

Alternatives

Other ways of thinking or acting.

Reaction Time

The ability of the body to respond quickly and appropriately to situations.

Intoxication

A person’s mental and physical abilities have been impaired by alcohol.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

A measure of the amount of alcohol present in a person’s blood.

Alcohol Poisoning

A dangerous condition that results when a person drinks excessive amounts of alcohol over a short time period.

Malnutrition

A condition in which the body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to grow and function properly.

Fatty Liver

A condition in which fats build up in the liver and cannot be broken down.

Cirrhosis

A disease characterized by scarring and eventual destruction of the liver.

Binge Drinking

The consumption of a large quantity of alcohol in a very short period of time.

Inhibition

A conscious or unconscious restraint of a person’s own behaviors or actions.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A group of alcohol-related birth defects that include both physical and mental problems.

Addiction

A physical or psychological need for a drug.

Alcoholism

A progressive, chronic disease involving a mental and physical need for alcohol.

Tolerance

A process in which your body needs more and more of a drug to get the same effect.

Physical Dependence

A type of addiction in which the body itself feels a direct need for a drug.

Enablers

Persons who create an atmosphere in which the alcoholic can comfortably continue his or her unacceptable behavior.

Alcohol Abuse

A pattern of drinking that results in one or more well-defined behaviors within a 12-month period.

Intervention

A gathering in which family and friends get the problem drinker to agree to seek help.

Relapse

A return to the use of a drug after attempting to stop.

Recovery

The process of learning to live an alcohol-free life.

Withdrawal

The physical and psychological reactions that occur when someone stops using an addictive substance.

Detoxification

The physical process of freeing the body of an addictive substance.