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ALCOHOL FACTS SHEET:
Alcohol is a socially acceptable drug that has been consumed throughout the world for centuries. It is considered a recreational beverage when consumed in moderation for enjoyment and relaxation during social gatherings. However, when consumed primarily for its physical and mood altering effects, it is a substance of abuse. As a depressant, it slows down physical responses and progressively impairs mental function.
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Alcohol Abuse & Effects |
Signs and symptoms of use:
- Dulled mental processes
- Lack of coordination
- Odor of alcohol on breath
- Possible constricted pupils
- Sleepy or stuporous condition
- Slowed reaction time
- Slurred speech
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The Annual Toll:
- 24,000 people will die on the highway due to legally impaired drivers
- 12,000 more will die on the highway due to the alcohol-affected driver
- 15,800 will die in non-highway accidents
- 30,000 will die due to alcohol-related liver disease
- 10,000 will die due to alcohol-induced brain disease or suicide
- Up to another 125,000 will die due to alcohol-related conditions or accidents
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Health Effects:
The chronic consumption of alcohol, the average of three servings per day of beer (12oz), liquor (1oz), or wine (6oz) over time may result in the following health hazards:
- Decreased sexual functioning
- Dependency (up to 10% of all people who drink alcohol become physically and/or mentally dependent on alcohol and can be termed "alcoholic")
- Fatal liver diseases
- Increased cancers of the mouth, tongue, pharynx, esophagus, rectum, breast and malignant melanoma.
- Kidney disease
- Pancreatitis
- Spontaneous abortion and neonatal mortality
- Ulcers
- Birth defects (up to 54% of all birth defects are alcohol related)
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Social Issues:
- Two-thirds of all homicides are committed by people who drink prior to the crime.
Two to three percent of the driving population is legally drunk at any one time. This rate is doubled at nights and on weekends.
- Two-thirds of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related vehicle accident during their lifetimes.
- The rate of separation and divorce in families with alcohol dependency problems is seven times the average.
- Forty percent of family court cases are alcohol problem related.
Alcoholics are 15 times more likely to commit suicide than are other segments of the population.
- More than 60% of burns, 40% of falls, 69% of boating accidents, and 76% of private aircraft accidents are alcohol related.
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School or Workplace Issues:
It takes one hour for the average person (150lbs) to process one serving of an alcoholic beverage from the body.
Impairment in coordination and judgement can be objectively measured with as little as two drinks in the body.
A person who is legally intoxicated is six times more likely to have an accident than a sober person. |
| Source: Drug Enforcement Administration in cooperation with the National Institute on Drug Abuse |
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