Alcohol

Alcohol is a harmful substance that is legal. Alcohol is a depressant, in which you may feel “good” when drinking but when the high of alcohol goes away you can experience a lower mood the following days.

WHAT IS ALCOHOL?

Drinking alcohol is harmful to your body and brain. Alcohol is a poison to your body and affects your organs, decision-making, and mental health. It’s very easy to make excuses and think that drinking often is “normal”.

Teens are highly susceptible to using alcohol, especially because it is a legal substance and easy to access in most homes, please talk to your teen about alcohol and check out the parent and youth resources tab.

What are the stages of alcohol addiction?

  • Pre-alcoholic symptomatic phase, is occasional social drinking that may progress into thinking that a person needs to drink in order to relax, deal with stressful situations, or have fun. This can lead to increased frequency and amount of alcohol consumed. The body begins to develop tolerance to alcohol in this early stage.
  • Symptomatic (prodromal) phase, is the beginning stage of alcoholism. The person may experience some difficulty remembering what happened when drinking or experience blacking out, and the person may have some feelings of guilt around drinking.
  • Crucial phase, is when a person has lost control drinking. They show full symptoms of alcoholism, including denial, disruptions in work or family life, failed attempts to get help or stop drinking, and periods of both refraining from drinking and excessive drinking. The cycle to end drinking is difficult and withdrawals occur.
  • Chronic phase, is when a person goes through extended periods of binge drinking that leads to long periods of intoxication (drunkenness). Their physical and mental health may follow a sharp decline during this phase. The person will most likely experience a significant disruption of social interaction and daily routine. They may disappear from family and friends, struggle to maintain jobs, lose their housing, etc…

STREET NAMES

Booze, Liquor, Drank, Liquid Courage, Sauce, Juice

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

Liquor bottles

Beer cans

Water bottles/coffee cups to conceal alcohol

Flasks

Shot glasses

Shooters (mini 2oz bottles of liquor)

SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS USING ALCOHOL

Drinking multiple drinks

Slurred speech

Vomiting

Blacking out

Stumbling when walking

Extreme emotions/behaviors

Not making sense when they talk

Passing out

Dilated pupils

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF AN ALCOHOL OVERDOSE

If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose or alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately.

Mental confusion

Difficulty remaining conscious, or inability to wake up

Vomiting

Seizures

Slow breathing/irregular breathing

Slow heart rate

Clammy skin

Dulled responses

Low body temperature

Pale skin, blueish lips

SHORT-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS

Hangovers

Nausea

Vomiting

Headache

Memory loss

Mood swings and depression symptoms

Difficulty thinking clearly

Increased heart rate

Elevated blood pressure

Shakiness

Alcohol poisoning

Behavioral problems/reckless behavior

LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS

Mood swings

Difficulty thinking clearly

Increased risk of suffering a stroke

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Chronic alcoholic hepatitis and inflammation

Liver failure

Pancreatitis

Muscle aches

Chronic gastrointestinal disturbances

Vertigo (dizziness/fainting)

Brain damage

Permanent loss of fine motor coordination

Cirrhosis

Fatty liver disease

Chronic tremors

Ready to get Involved?

Organizations and community members involved in SUD/OUD are welcome to join!
Email Yara Castro at info@sosaheal.org or call 520-375-6050 for more information.