Alcohol is a depressant and the most widely used psychoactive drug. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream and affects every organ in the body. One drink is defined as: 12 ounces of lager beer, 7 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (a shot).
While alcohol is a legal drug and many people can drink in moderation without becoming dependent or experiencing adverse consequences, consider these statistics:
- 25-35% of hospital admissions are due to alcohol;
- More than half of rapes involve the abuse of alcohol;
- About half of murder victims and half of the murderers were drinking alcohol at the time of the crime;
- Alcohol causes most of the world’s health and societal problems.
Source: Cohen, W. & Inaba, D. (2007). Downers: Opiates/Opioids & sedative-hypnotics. In Uppers, Downers, All Arounders (2nd ed., pp 246). Medford, Oregon: CNS Productions, Inc.
Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous
www.aa.org
Alcohol’s Damaging Effects on the Brain
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
All About Alcohol – Medline Plus
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcohol.html#cat11
CDC Fact Sheet on Binge Drinking
www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm
College Drinking – Changing the Culture
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov/
http://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov
(If you’re a parent, learn how you can start the conversation.)
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