What
is it?
Alcohol is a depressant that can affect each person in a variety
of ways. Although legal, it must be remembered that it is a powerful
and addictive drug that prove devastating to peoples lives.
Street names
Booze, bevy, pint, etc
How Alcohol Works
Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the small
intestine, and less rapidly from the stomach and colon. In proportion
to its concentration in the bloodstream, alcohol decreases activity
in parts of the brain and spinal cord. The drinker's blood alcohol
concentration depends on: * the amount consumed in a given time.
* the drinker's size, sex, body build, and metabolism. * the
type and amount of food in the stomach. Once the alcohol has
passed into the blood, however, no food or beverage can retard
or interfere with its effects. Fruit sugar, however, in some
cases can shorten the duration of alcohol's effect by speeding
up its elimination from the blood. In the average adult, the
rate of metabolism is about 8.5 g of alcohol per hour (i.e. about
two-thirds of a regular beer or about 30 mL of spirits an hour).
This rate can vary dramatically among individuals, however, depending
on such diverse factors as usual amount of drinking, physique,
sex, liver size, and genetic factors.
Short term effects
reduced inhibitions, loss of control, sexual risk taking increasing
chances of STD's or HIV etc, loss of control and reduction of
reaction times, incoherent speech, dizziness, loss of conciousness.
Long term effects
Hangover, damage to internal organs, dependency and increased risk
of violent behaviour.
The Law
There are many laws relating to alcohol such as age limits, times
alcohol can be available on licenced premises, and the amount
that can be ingested before driving a vehicle on a public highway.
It is legal to produce your own wine or beer but distillation
is illegal.
Detection
Breathalyzer, blood tests and urine tests. |
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