Alcohol Fact 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.

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

Note: Except for the body odor, these are general signs and symptoms for most depressant substances.

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)

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.

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

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.

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