The Effects
of Alcohol
Alcohol
is a depressant drug. It is the number one abused drug in the
United States (and most, if not all other countries). There are
three types of alcohol: beer, wine and liquor. Each of these is
created by fermenting yeast with either grains, fruits or vegetables.
Alcohol is absorbed into a person's bloodstream through the stomach
lining and slows down the central nervous system. The effects
of alcohol on a person's body will depend on that person's age,
weight, the time between each drink and if there is food in the
stomach. The liver has the job of processing alcohol out of a
person's bloodstream. In an average adult male (21 or older) it
takes the liver approximately one hour to process one serving
of alcohol (12 oz. of beer or 5 oz. of wine or 11/2 oz. of liquor).
Short-
and Long-Term Effects of Drinking Alcohol:
- Physical
and psychological addiction (alcoholism)
- Impaired
judgment and self-control
- Slurred
speech
- Altered
perceptions and emotions
- Loss
of coordination
- Blackouts
(memory loss)
- Vitamin
deficiencies
- Stomach
ailments (ulcers)
- Skin
problems
- Sexual
impotence
- Damage
to central nervous system
- Cirrhosis
of the liver
- Increased
risk of heart disease/stroke
- Coma
- Death
due to alcohol poisoning
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