6.3 Alcohol

Notes

Alcohol is a depressant: it slows the brain and body. It is illegal for people under 21 to buy or drink in the U.S.

• Short-term effects: slowed reaction time, poor judgment, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea and loss of balance. Judgment drops before a person realizes it.
• Binge drinking (heavy drinking in a short period) can cause alcohol poisoning, which slows breathing and heart rate and can be deadly.
• Alcohol use increases the risk of car crashes, injuries, violence and unwanted situations.
• Long-term effects: liver disease, heart problems, damage to the developing brain and a higher chance of addiction, especially when drinking begins in the teen years.
• Coffee, cold showers or sleeping do not make a person sober. Only time lowers blood alcohol.
• Never ride with a driver who has been drinking.
• Example: A friend who has been drinking becomes confused and cannot be woken up. Call 911 right away.