Alcohol
Alcohol and other drug use among our nation’s youth remains a major public health problem. Substance use and abuse can increase the risk for injuries, violence, HIV infection, and other diseases.
What is alcohol? Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. How does alcohol affect a person? Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes; however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed. Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience:
For more information, click below. |
Drinking and Driving
Every day, 28 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 53 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion. Thankfully, there are effective measures that can help prevent injuries and deaths from alcohol-impaired driving. |
Alcohol Videos
Watch the first video of the story of a young teenager that is being pressured into stealing and drinking alcohol. Then choose each of the videos below for an alternate A, B, and C ending of what could happen with each of the choices he could make!