Page 3 - Alcohol... is it just a drink? ALDAF + DEN 2019

What are the effects? How long does alcohol stay Pregnancy

Alcohol causes a wide range of effects : in the body? Alcohol is known to cause birth
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defects and brain damage,
• Slurred speech • Impaired movement known as fetal alcohol spectrum
• Nausea • Impaired thinking Alcohol is water-soluble – it is distributed in the disorder (FASD). Because of
• Drowsiness • Talkativeness water in people’s bodies. Because of this, the this, it is safest to avoid alcohol
same number of standard drinks will cause a
completely during pregnancy
• Vomiting • Altered mood different Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) in different and breastfeeding .
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• Poisoning • Unconsciousness / people.
• Relaxation passing out Tolerance and Dependency
The less diluted alcohol is in the water of the Repeated use of alcohol over a period of time can
Once consumed, these effects start within 5 to 10 body, the higher the BAC. This is why women cause tolerance – this means that the body needs a
minutes and last roughly as long as it takes for the often have a higher BAC than men after drinking higher dose of the drug to achieve the same desired
alcohol to leave your body . Drinking coffee, fresh the same amount – men have more water in effect. Repeated use can also cause dependency,
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air, sweating, vomiting, cold showers will not speed their body, and so the alcohol is more diluted . where a person has a very strong desire to
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up the process of alcohol leaving your blood stream. continue using alcohol (even if there are negative

Alcohol is metabolised (processed) almost consequences), and may have difficulty stopping.
The levels of alcohol in your bloodstream is entirely by the Liver. The liver can process about
referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). A person who has an alcohol dependency may
1 standard drink per hour, so the amount of experience withdrawal effects if they try to stop
time it stays in the body depends on how much
A BAC of 0.05% (“point o-five”) means that there is drinking, such as shaking of the hands, increased
0.05g of alcohol in every 100ml of blood. you have had to drink. If you have 10 standard heart rate, sweating and nausea. It is very important
drinks, you are likely to still have some alcohol to seek medical advice about safely managing
in your body 10 hours later. alcohol withdrawal.

Long Term Health
Long term use of alcohol can cause a number of
Risks serious health problems, including various cancers
(stomach and bowel, mouth and throat etc.), brain
Behind Alcohol use is associated with some risks to health: damage and stroke, liver disease (fatty liver, cirrhosis),

the wheel Alcohol and Other Drugs depression, anxiety, psychosis, reduced fertility,
impotence, and more.
Alcohol in combination with other drugs, including legal
Australia has strict laws drugs such as caffeine, anti-histamines, or prescription The Law
regarding Blood Alcohol Content medications can interact in unexpected ways and In Australia, alcohol laws differ
while driving. It is illegal for a fully potentially have unintended side-effects. between states and territories.
licensed driver to operate a vehicle Accident, Injury, and Driving Generally alcohol is legal to buy
with a BAC greater than 0.05, and for Alcohol can impact on an individual’s ability to think and consume for people over the
a learner or provisional driver to clearly, to drive safely, and increases the potential age of 18. In some states, people under 18 years may
operate a vehicle with a BAC for falls, burns, drownings and machinery related drink with a parent or guardian’s permission.
greater than 0.00. accidents. A person who has drunk alcohol should not Some states also have restrictions on the hours that
drive or operate any heavy machinery until the effects take-away alcohol can be sold, having open alcohol
have passed. Too much alcohol is one sitting can cause containers in public, and licensing for the sale of
poisoning. alcohol.

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