Page 5 - Alcohol... is it just a drink? ALDAF + DEN 2019
P. 5

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
   defects  and brain damage,
 3
 •  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 .
                     5
 •  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,
 3
 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
 4
 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
   drink with a parent or guardian’s permission.
 operate a vehicle with a BAC   for falls,  burns, drownings and machinery related
 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.





 Alcohol_Final_Smaller_text.indd   2            9/7/19   12:50 pm
   1   2   3   4   5   6