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WHAT
IT IS
Names:
Ethyl (beverage) alcohol, ethanol, booze.
Type: Central nervous system depressant.
Forms: Clear absolute alcohol liquid diluted and/or blended as wine,
beer, liquor (distilled spirits) or liqueur.
Usage: Swallowed in drinks which may be blended or mixed with other spirits or nonalcoholic
substances.
Legal Status: Legal, regulated by various state laws for purchase eligibility and distribution location.
Other Forms: Small amounts used in products such as mouthwash and cough medicine.
Non-beverage isopropyl and methyl alcohols are "alley juice"
drinks for street alcoholics and teenagers.
WHAT
IT FEELS LIKE
Initial relaxed and/or sociable feeling may be replaced with
depression, anger, loss of control, and drowsiness. Effects vary
with individual.
WHAT
IT DOES
To Your Mind: Lowers ability of brain to control behavior and impairs your ability to perform motor
skills such as driving.
To Your Body: Lessens ability to move or speak effectively.
Special Characteristics: Milk can retard absorption. Food or drink does not change ongoing effects. One "shot' equals one glass of wine or beer. Effects vary by size of person related to blood absorption
capacity, amount of food in stomach, built up tolerance level and other factors. There is no known cure for the next day withdrawal 'hangover.'
HOW
CAN IT HURT YOU
Memory loss. Hypothermia. Decreased sex drive, impotence, menstrual problems, liver and kidney damage. General stomach and intestine damage. Lack of ability to feel pain, coma, susceptibility to alcohol related diseases, anxiety, insomnia, socially unacceptable behavior. Brain damage, affected walk. Depletion of vitamins and nutrients.
Death from inability to breathe, heart failure, severe withdrawal effects, interaction with other drugs, driving while under the influence, suicide. Aspiration of vomit leading to asphyxiation or pneumonia is not uncommon.
Dependence can be both emotional and physical. Unborn children of drinking mothers may be
affected by mental retardation, deformities and heart defects.
HOW
IT CAN HURT YOU
--
Do you think you're more witty and attractive
when you drink?
-- Do you think about how and when you're going to drink again?
-- Is your job performance affected by your drinking?
-- Has your health changed?
-- Are you spending more money on booze?
-- Do family and friends mention your drinking to
you?
-- Do you stop and start drinking to test yourself
-- Are you a weekend binge drinker?
-- Have you been stopped for drunk driving?
One 'yes' and your common sense is all it takes to know it's
time to get smart about alcohol and the rest of your life.
FACT: It's estimated that one in 20 Americans has
an alcohol dependency problem. Of all the drugs in the world,
alcohol and tobacco remain the two top killers.
©1989
Parlay International
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