Alcohol's Effects on the Body

Brain/Central Nervous System
Alcohol is a depressant that also acts as an anesthetic in the central nervous system. Although a depressant, alcohol has a unique action that initially creates a feeling of mild and pleasant stimulation. Alcohol affects the thinking, judgment and reasoning abilities first. More alcohol intake means that breathing and reflexes will also be impaired. Heavy social drinking may also cause brain atrophy. Over time, the brain and nervous system become less sensitive to alcohol's effects.

Stomach
Some of the alcohol consumed is absorbed quickly from the stomach into the bloodstream. The amount of food in the stomach helps determine the effect alcohol has on a person. Alcohol stimulates the stomach to secrete more stomach acid. Prolonged heavy drinking is related to ulcers and even cancer of the stomach, mouth, tongue and esophagus.

Lungs
Some alcohol is exhaled through the breathing process, which is why alcohol can be smelled on the breath of a person who has been drinking. Extremely high alcohol levels result in unconsciousness, coma and even death through the suppression of the brain's breathing center, the cerebellum.

Liver
Almost all the alcohol consumed is metabolized or oxidized in the liver at the rate of ¼ to ½ ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Since each typical drink of beer, wine, wine cooler or distilled spirit contains about ½ ounce of pure alcohol, it takes about two hours for the body to fully oxidize one typical alcoholic drink. Prolonged heavy drinking can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, which will eventually become non-functional due to scar tissue or cirrhosis, the sixth leading cause of adult deaths in the United States.

Kidneys
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it increases the production of urine from the kidneys. Drinking alcohol on a hot day greatly increases the risk of dehydration.

Small Intestine
Almost all alcohol consumed is absorbed from the small intestines into the bloodstream.

Cardiovascular System/Circulatory System
Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it opens up blood vessels, especially those near the surface of the skin. This gives drinkers a feeling of warmth, even though their body temperature may actually go down. This phenomenon is often observed at football games played in very cold weather. Some fans will drink so much alcohol they will take their jackets off to "cool off." Unfortunately, they often find themselves in bed days later with upper respiratory infections.

Reproductive System
Alcohol decreases production of the male sex hormone testosterone. Women who drink during pregnancy risk giving birth to an infant with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a disorder that causes heart malformation, joint problems, growth deficiencies and mental retardation. Less obvious but more common is Fetal Alcohol Effect, which includes all of the conditions of FAS, but to a lesser degree.

Alcohol and Its Effects

Alcohol is one of the most commonly used and abused drugs by people of all ages and backgrounds. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the intoxicating substance in beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation process, in which certain yeasts convert fruit, sugar and grain into ethyl alcohol. Proof refers to the percentage of pure alcohol in a beverage. For example, a 100-proof bottle of vodka is 50 percent alcohol. The distillation process involved in the production of liquor results in the higher alcohol content.

Alcohol's Effects
Physiologically, alcohol is a depressant that also acts as an anesthetic in the central nervous system. Although a depressant, alcohol has a unique action, which initially creates a feeling of mild and pleasant stimulation. It is absorbed quickly from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream and starts to show effect in five to ten minutes. Alcohol is metabolized or oxidized in the liver at the rate of one-quarter to one-half ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Since each typical drink of beer, wine, wine cooler or distilled spirit contains about half an ounce of pure alcohol, it takes about two hours for the body to fully oxidize one typical alcoholic drink.

Factors Influencing Alcohol's Effects

Tolerance and Dependence
Physical tolerance means that the user's brain and nervous system have become less sensitive to alcohol's effect. For example, some people may find that a six-pack of beer is necessary to achieve the same feeling they once attained from drinking two or three beers.

Physical dependence is characterized by increased tolerance, which requires greater doses of the drug in order to achieve the same effect. When a person is physically dependent on alcohol, withdrawal symptoms appear if the drug is discontinued.

Although people have attempted to sober up by drinking hot coffee, taking a cold shower or exercising, the actual oxidation rate of alcohol remains unaffected. So far, the FDA has not approved any commercial product that can help people sober up more quickly. Passage of time is the only remedy.

Intoxication Levels
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in the blood at any given time. In most states, legal intoxication is defined at .08 percent to .10 percent BAC. At a BAC of .02 percent to .03 percent, people often feel very loose or relaxed. U.S. federal law requires that all states must enforce a .04 percent BAC limit for "driving under the influence," or DUI. Although this is not the same as "Driving While Intoxicated," or DWI, which is legal drunkenness, penalties can still be severe.

At a BAC of .04 percent to .05 percent, judgement, speech and motor coordination are definitely affected. With a BAC of .08 percent to .10 percent, reflexes and judgement are clearly impaired.

Blood Alcohol Concentrations of .2 percent could result in unconsciousness, .3 percent could result in a coma, and a level of .4 percent to .5 percent could cause death through the suppression of the brain's breathing center, the cerebellum. The following table summarizes the symptoms of various levels of BAC.

Dangerous Levels of Intoxication
Not everyone who goes to sleep, passes out or becomes unconscious after drinking has a high BAC. People who are already tired or bored may doze off after very little alcohol. However, people who drink heavily in a short period of time are risking their lives, because a high BAC can result in Acute Alcohol Intoxication (alcohol poisoning). The first real danger signs are the typical signs of shock. By this time, the drinker is unconscious and cannot be aroused. When you recognize the symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication, it is important to get emergency help at once.

Involuntary regurgitation, or vomiting, is another potentially life-threatening situation for a person who has consumed too much alcohol. When a person is drinking more than the liver can oxidize, the pyloric valve at the end of the stomach (which leads to the small intestines) tends to close. Because the alcohol cannot escape from the stomach, the lining becomes irritated, and the person vomits. In a way, this rids the body of much of the alcohol and, no doubt, prevents acute alcohol intoxication in many drinkers.

An unconscious person, however, may be lying in such a position that the airway becomes obstructed. This person could easily asphyxiate on their own vomit. It is important to keep a watchful eye on anyone who passes out from drinking. Rather than carry these people to bed and forget about them, we should continually evaluate their condition until we are certain they are out of danger. A sleepless night is worth it if you save a life.

Long-term Effects of Alcohol Use
Prolonged heavy drinking can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, which will eventually become non-functional scar tissue, or cirrhosis, the sixth leading cause of adult deaths in the United States. Brain shrinkage or atrophy has been noted in at least half of all alcoholics. Heavy social drinking sometimes may also cause brain atrophy.

Women who drink during pregnancy risk giving birth to an infant with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a disorder that causes heart malformation, joint problems, growth deficiencies and mental retardation. Less obvious, but more common, is the Fetal Alcohol Effect, which includes all the conditions of FAS, but to a lesser degree.

Prolonged heavy drinking is related to cancers of the stomach, mouth, tongue and esophagus. Indirectly, alcohol is involved in about two-thirds of homicides and almost one-third of all suicides. Finally, about 50 percent of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related, as well as many fires, falls and other mishaps.

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are chemicals that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone, which is responsible for male secondary sex characteristics when young men reach puberty. Although they have been used (and continue to be used) in professional sports, anabolic steroids are used by increasing numbers of teenagers, especially non-athletes, who want to build size and strength.

Studies in the 1970s on anabolic steroids tended to dismiss their strength-enhancing properties. As a result, health educators used to tell students that steroids did nothing except tap into the well-known placebo effect. The rhetoric, however, did not match what steroid users were actually experiencing. Today, it is well established that anabolic steroids do, in fact, contribute significantly to increased muscle mass, especially when taken by an individual who is training intensely with weights and following an adequate diet. Whether this increased muscle mass causes better athletic performances, however, has not been scientifically shown. Remind students that athletics requires skill, speed, coordination, etc.-not just strength.

Two of the most visible groups taking anabolic steroids today are professional bodybuilders and, of course, professional wrestlers, who have become cult heroes for millions of young people. Football players, along with track and field athletes, whose events require explosive speed and strength, also comprise a significant portion of those who use steroids to enhance performance. Unfortunately, steroids can damage many body organs, including the liver, heart and kidneys. Former professional football star, Lyle Alzado, developed brain cancer, which was attributed to long-term steroid use.

How They Work
Anabolic steroids are more accurately defined as anabolic-androgenic steroids. The word anabolic refers to the "building-up" effects, while androgenic refers to the masculine effects of the drug. These chemicals are taken either orally in pill form or by injection.

When steroids enter the bloodstream, they are distributed to the muscles as well as the major organs of the body. The steroids then enter the cell membrane to the cytoplasm. Once there, the steroids bind to specific receptors and then enter the nucleus of the cell, where they are able to stimulate the production of new proteins. These proteins are responsible for the sought-after effects of steroids. They are also responsible for the side-effects. For example, changes in protein synthesis in muscle tissue may mean a greater capacity to adapt to increasing workload. On the other hand, changes in protein synthesis in the liver could result in excess production of cholesterol.

In the brain, steroids affect the hypothalamus and the limbic system. Because the hypothalamus controls the body's hormone levels, steroid use may result in lowered testosterone production in the male and the cessation of menstruation in the female. By affecting the limbic system, steroids produce changes in memory and moods. Animal investigations reveal that anabolic steroids impair learning and promote aggressiveness. Poor impulse control and even violent behavior have long been observed in people who use steroids.

Medical Uses for Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids were developed in the 1930s to treat rare diseases in males whose testosterone production was very low or non-existent. Steroids were also used to treat certain types of anemia and kidney problems. They are also helpful in treating severe burns and some types of breast cancer. Even with the new anabolic steroids, the androgenic properties are still present to some degree, and it is these properties that result in side-effects. Doctors prescribe the lowest dose possible that helps the patient.

The doses required to build muscle for athletes are much higher than those for patients with legitimate medical problems. This means there is no safe use of steroids for those not under a doctor's care. Routine blood tests will not detect much of the short-term damage until it is too late and permanent damage has occurred. Further, since 80 percent of the steroids used by athletes are from illegal sources, users have no idea what they are really getting.

Reasons for Concern
The desire to succeed in athletics, especially in lucrative professional sports, has always meant that some athletes will look beyond the search for performance-enhancing diets and workouts to chemicals that they believe will give them the edge. Because of steroids' side effects and the unfair advantage they may confer, anabolic steroids are banned by all major sports organizations. Both the NCAA and the National Football League test for anabolic steroids. Users may be banned from competition for one year to life, depending upon prior infractions. The news media gives substantial coverage to athletes who test positive for steroids.

Many young teenagers are rarely happy with their developing bodies and will do almost anything to improve their appearance. Although weight training and sound nutrition will develop a healthy, muscular body, the impatient young person wants to see results faster; hence, the temptation to use steroids. Today, most young people who use steroids are not even athletes, but people who want to look good in time for Spring Break, summer vacation, etc.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that 3 percent of high school students (5 percent of males and 0.05 percent of females) reported using steroids at least once. Another study claims that among students in grades seven through twelve, 5-11 percent of males and more than 2.5 percent of females have used steroids.

Steroids and the Law
In 1990, congressional legislation made steroids Schedule III drugs, meaning it is illegal for anyone to sell, purchase or use anabolic steroids for non-medical reasons. Selling steroids, especially to minors, is considered a felony and often results in a prison sentence. In addition, doctors, pharmacists and veterinarians who dispense anabolic steroids for non-medical reasons are committing felonies and risk both losing their licenses and prison terms.

How Do Young People Acquire Steroids?
Because they are legally available only through a doctor's prescription, about 80 percent of anabolic steroids come from illegal sources, the so-called "black market." These steroids are stolen from pharmaceutical warehouses, obtained from fraudulent prescriptions, smuggled in from countries where the sale of steroids is not carefully regulated, or produced in "underground" laboratories. The lack of quality controls makes these steroids especially risky.

Black market steroids are sold through body building magazines, drug dealers, in gyms and even through pharmacists. Many manuals are available to "instruct" people how to use various types of steroids. These manuals also have articles on how to "beat" the urine test for steroids.

Greater Risks for Teenagers
Many young people who are not comfortable with their bodies believe a perfect physique will make them happy. Because adolescents' bodies are still developing, steroids have greater potential to cause damages at this age. For example, natural hormones are necessary for puberty to occur and proceed at the appropriate rate. Steroids, which are also hormones, interfere with the natural maturation process. Adolescence and puberty have always been accompanied by mood swings and confusion. Taking steroids exacerbates these feelings.

Another example of risk is also related to hormone levels. A teenage male produces testosterone in the testicles based upon signals from the pituitary gland. If this person takes synthetic hormones like steroids, the pituitary gland thinks the testicles are producing too much testosterone and tells them to slow down. The result can be testicular shrinkage (atrophy], with the possibility of permanently changed hormone levels.

Finally, steroids cause premature closing of the growth plates at the end of the long bones of the body. Teenagers who take steroids may literally "lock in" their adult heights at the heights they are in adolescence.

Are Steroids Addicting?
People who have been using steroids for a long time may become dependent upon them; that is, they may psychologically believe that they cannot function without them. Just as anorexics develop an abnormal "fear of being fat," body builders and other strength athletes may develop an abnormal "fear of being small." Because long-term steroid use eventually "takes over" the body's natural production of testosterone, quitting steroids all at once will cause a shock to the endocrine system, which must now try to create testosterone normally. This shock may result in very pronounced withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, impotence, anxiety, etc.

These withdrawal symptoms are evidence that steroids may also be physically addicting. Some steroid users deal with these feelings by going back on steroids or by using other psychoactive drugs.

Side-effects of Steroid Use
Even among persons of the same gender, the main effects of steroids will vary a great deal, as will the side-effects. For both sexes, the following consequences have been observed by physicians, parents and coaches. As expected, they run the gamut from minor to potentially lethal.

General Consequences

Consequences for Males
For males, the following sexually related effects have been noted:

Consequences for Females
For females, the following sexually related effects have been noted:

Building Strength Without Steroids
Growth, or hypertrophy, of muscle requires three things:

Overload means that the muscles must be forced to work progressively harder over a period of time. This can be done by increasing the amount of weight that is used in workouts, the number of repetitions or both. Successful athletes in all sports use steroid-free strength training to improve performance and reduce the chance of injury. Success in most sports requires much more than strength; quickness, endurance, coordination and poise are all separate skills and must be practiced.

Nutrition means that there must be adequate energy for the workouts. Complex carbohydrates, protein and fats must come from a variety of food sources. Following a healthy diet means that vitamins and supplements (such as protein supplements or amino acids) are unnecessary and a waste of money.

Although muscles get pumped up during a weight workout (due to increased blood flow), muscles actually grow when the body is at rest, not when the workout is actually taking place. Many top athletes lift weights on alternate days, or, if they lift every day, not always at the same intensity.

Strength gains made during steroid use are quickly lost when people stop using steroids. Permanent strength and power are the reward for those who work with their body's natural gifts, using progressive overload, good nutrition and adequate rest.

Marijuana Facts

Marijuana is produced from the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. The active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a fat-soluble drug, which produces marijuana's psychoactive effects. Fat-soluble means that the drug will be distributed to those areas of the body with high fat content, such as the brain, lungs and reproductive system. It also means that THC will stay in the body for several weeks. Unlike alcohol, THC is not water soluble and cannot leave the body quickly. A person who uses marijuana may be under its effects several days later, even though the "high" has worn off.

How It's Used
Marijuana can be smoked, ingested or taken as a pill. When smoked, much more THC enters the bloodstream. It is used to achieve a state of calmness or euphoria, although other short-term effects include increase in heart rate, reddening of the eyes, talkativeness and giddiness. Marijuana causes some users to become quiet and reflective. Almost all users report a change in how they perceive time. Larger doses may produce anxiety and feelings or paranoia.

Medical Uses of THC
When made synthetically and given orally, THC can lessen the nausea associated with chemotherapy. Synthetic THC may also help people with AIDS to regain their appetite. Synthetic THC can also be used to treat glaucoma, which is the build-up of pressure on the eyeball. Synthetic THC produces very little euphoria.

Effects of Marijuana Use

The Brain
THC works by binding to specific receptors in the brain called "cannabinoid receptors," which are located throughout the following brain structures:

The Lungs
Marijuana leaves contain more coal tar than tobacco leaves, which increases the potential for chest colds, bronchitis and lung cancer. Because they are smoked further down and the smoke is held in the lungs longer, two marijuana cigarettes are estimated to have the same carcinogenic potential as a pack of regular cigarettes.

The Reproductive System
Because it is fat soluble, THC binds to areas of the body with high fat content, such as the testes and ovaries. In males, marijuana may decrease testosterone production to the point that female secondary characteristics, such as breast tissue, may be observed.

Personality
A lack of motivation appears among many chronic users of marijuana. Called the "amotivational syndrome," this symptom is marked by lethargy, lack of focus and an inability to concentrate on future goals. Some chronic marijuana users become aggressive when questioned about their use. When threatened with loss of their drug, some marijuana users become violent, suggesting dependency.

Inhalants and Their Effects

Inhalants are commonly used household products such as fingernail polish remover, gasoline, glues, cigarette lighter fluid and paint thinner. Other inhalants include fluorinated hydrocarbons found in aerosol products such as whipped cream, paint spray, hair spray and even computer cleaners. Nitrous oxide, a commonly used gas, is also an inhalant. When the fumes from these products are sniffed, a type of mind-altering sensation can be experienced. Unlike alcoholic beverages, which all contain the same mind-altering drug (alcohol), inhalants contain many different types of chemicals. This factor makes it difficult to predict how someone will be affected by inhalant use.

Inhalant Effects
Inhalants cause chemical changes in the brain and nervous system. Some of these effects disappear after a short time; others may be permanent. For example, frequent use of certain inhalants can cause irreversible damage in nerves in the back and legs (polyneuropathy). In addition, the direct effect of inhalant use on the cerebellum and the cortex may result in abnormalities in movement and in thinking.

Inhalant users are also at risk for Sudden Sniffing Death (SSD). Death actually occurs through suffocation, when the inhaled fumes take the place of oxygen in the lungs and central nervous system. Certain inhalants may disrupt the heart's rhythm and cause cardiac arrest. Muscle weakness and hepatitis also frequently develop in chronic users of inhalants.

Certain inhalants decrease the number of red and white blood cells in the body, which can result in potentially fatal aplastic anemia. Benzene found in gasoline is related to the development of leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. Obviously, lead poisoning is connected to sniffing certain gasoline.

The most commonly used inhalants usually do not result in the development of tolerance to the chemicals or physical dependence on the chemicals. Many inhalant users, however, develop a psychological dependence that is difficult to overcome.

How They Work
Because they are breathed, inhalants enter the bloodstream rapidly and are then distributed throughout the body. Both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are subsequently affected. Magnetic imaging techniques show that long-term users of inhalants have marked reduction in certain brain structures, including the cortex, cerebellum and brainstem. The resulting losses in reasoning abilities and difficulties in balance and coordination attest to these alterations.

Many researchers now believe that the dangers of inhalants are compounded by their attraction to fatty tissue such as myelin. Myelin is a fatty tissue that insulates and protects the branches (axons) of nerve cells, much like insulation around an appliance's electrical cord. The chemicals in inhalants break down the myelin and thereby slow the speed of nerve cell transmissions. The nerve cells' branches (the axons) may also be destroyed. Unfortunately, damaged nerve cells do not regenerate.

Dependency
The most commonly used inhalants usually do not result in the development of tolerance to the chemicals or physical dependence on the chemicals. Many inhalant users, however, develop a psychological dependence that is difficult to overcome.

How Psychoactive Drugs Affect the Brain

Nerve cells in the brain are called neurons. These neurons "talk" to each other by passing chemicals back and forth, just like passing notes in class. The neurons' "notes" are called neurotransmitters, and they are manufactured in vesicles in the nerve cell. Neurotransmitters include serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine and about two dozen others.
The nerve cells are separated by a small space called a "synapse." When a message moves down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron, neurotransmitters are released from the vesicle. These chemicals (or notes) cross the synapse to the post-synaptic neuron, where they bind with receptors specifically designed to receive them, much as a key is designed to fit into a specific lock.
Many nerve cells have receptors that are sensitive to various drugs. These drugs operate on the "lock-and-key" principle, where the drug can be thought of as the "key" that either (1) fits into the "lock," causing the nerve cell (neuron) to discharge its chemicals, or (2) "jams" the lock, preventing the nerve cell from discharging.

Influences of Psychoactive Drugs
Drugs are often made more tempting when portrayed by users as magical or possessing special properties. For example, in the 1960s, LSD was considered by many to be a "mind expanding drug." Quaaludes were called "peace pills," "love drugs," and "super zoom," etc. These attractive descriptors likely helped persuade others to experiment.

Today's drugs of abuse are no different. PCP is called "angel dust," pure methamphetamine is sold as "ice," and MDMA, a designer drug, is called "ecstasy." No matter what type of nickname a psychoactive drug possesses, it basically produces its effect by altering the powerful neurotransmitters in the brain.

When students can describe scientifically how this process occurs with different types of drugs, they are less likely to be impressed by glamorous "street names" given to these substances. They are also much less likely to think that a psychoactive (mood-altering) drug can confer magical abilities or powers on the user.

The influence of psychoactive drugs is almost entirely limited to changes in the synapse. The exception would occur where the drug itself produced changes in other parts of the neuron, such as the cell membranes. For example, hallucinogens are believed to cause synesthesia ("seeing" sounds, "hearing" colors) by mimicking serotonin, acetylcholine and norepinephrine.

Drug Mechanisms
The mechanisms of drug action include: