Alcohol Use

1. Outline three statistics/facts that stand out to you/caught your attention.

• 83% of grade 12 Ontario students admit to using alcohol

• Among Ontario grade 11 drinkers, 13 years was the average age of

first exposure and 14 years was the average age for first intoxication

experience

• More than 2700 children are born each year with FASD

2. What is alcohol?

Alcohol is a drug (depressant) that can slow down parts of your brain. Taking it can make you feel relaxed but much harder to think clearly.

3. Describe the pathway alcohol takes to enter the bloodstream.

Instead of the path food takes, alcohol goes from the stomach and the

small intestine directly into the bloodstream. Mouth to the stomach to the small intestines (circulatory system) then it goes to the brain it ends up at the liver through oxidation 

4. The liver is the organ responsible for processing alcohol.  When its healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue, this is known as cirrhosis. The scar tissue blocks the flow of blood its ability to process.

5. What are the factors affecting intoxication?

6. True or False?  Wine, beer and liquor all contain the same amount of alcohol?

False they all have different amounts. Some can be stronger than others while some are more diluted 

7. List four areas of the body that are affected by alcohol (long term effects).  For each area, provide an example of how.

Cardiovascular: can lead to a heart attack or a stroke

Nervous system: can affect your brain 

Liver: could eventually damage your liver due to constant consumption

Mouth/Stomach: can cause ulcers or sores

8. Explain the difference between dependence and addiction: 

Dependence: strong want and desire upon the drug constantly - only psychological

Addiction: is the psychological AND physiological feeling where you have a need for the drug and can’t stop