Information
on substance abuse
ALCOHOL
A father was trying to teach his
young son the evils of alcohol.
He put one worm in a glass of water and another worm in a glass of whiskey.
The worm in the water lived, while the one in the whiskey curled up
and died.
"All right, son," asked the father, "what does that show you?"
"Well, Dad, it shows that if you drink alcohol, you will not have worms."
About Alcohol - AKA: booze,
beer, wine, liquor
- What is it?
Alcohol is a depressant that comes from organic sources including grapes,
grains and berries. These ferment or are distilled into a liquid.
Alcohol affects the central nervous system and brain. It can make users
loosen up, relax, and feel more comfortable or can make them more aggressive.
Unfortunately, it also lowers their inhibitions, which can set them up
for dangerous or embarrassing behavior. Alcohol is a drug and is only legal
if you're 18 or older.
- Who uses it?
Alcohol is the most-used drug in the country. Among teens, it is the
number one abused substance. Over 50 percent of seniors in high school reported
drinking in the past month.
- What does it do?
Alcohol can make you feel silly, uninhibited and buzzed. You may feel
more confident, comfortable or relaxed, and then as the alcohol leaves
your system you feel drowsy and sleepy. This can lead to drinking more
alcohol to keep your "buzz" going.
The problem is alcohol messes with your ability to control your muscles,
mind, and mouth. It blocks the messages going through your brain, and changes
your perceptions and emotions. It affects your eyesight, hearing, coordination
and reactions, making it difficult to act normally. A number of people also
experience nasty hangovers afterwards, which can result from your body
being dehydrated by the alcohol. Alcohol also has a high calorie content.
- How does alcohol work?
Alcohol affects every part of the body--it is carried through the bloodstream
to the brain, stomach, internal organs, liver, kidneys, muscles--everywhere.
It is absorbed very quickly (as short as 5-10 minutes) and can stay in the
body for several hours.
Overdose occurs among younger drinkers because they try to drink too
much, too fast. This can result in alcohol poisoning. When alcohol poisoning
occurs, the person may pass out and can end up choking on their vomit.
Alcohol can also decrease guys' sperm count and increase their chance
of impotence. In the long term, alcohol use can lead to vitamin deficiencies,
stomach problems, major liver damage, heart problems, kidney damage, and
brain problems such as memory loss.
- What about alcohol and
sex?
Because it gets in the way of your ability to make smart decisions,
you're much more likely to participate in risky sexual behavior when you're
drunk-and less likely to worry about using protection or getting pregnant.
Share how you handle parties and social settings where alcohol is served.
- What about alcohol and
driving?
Eight young people a day die in alcohol-related crashes. Alcohol makes
it difficult to drive a car with any intelligence or coordination at all.
Do not drink and drive.
- What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease, kind of like diabetes or high blood pressure.
And although many people see it in a very negative light, it is not something
to be ashamed of. It is a treatable disease, and thousands of teens are
finding help for it through Alcoholics Anonymous.
- How do i know if I have
a drinking problem?
The signs of a serious problem include:
Being unable to control your drinking...no matter what you plan on doing,
you always end up drinking a lot.
* Using alcohol to escape your day-to-day reality.
* Using alcohol to change your personality--either into a total party
animal or anything else that's different from the normal you.
* Being able to drink way more than anyone you know, or having a high
tolerance.
* Having blackouts, or periods where you don't remember what happened.
* Letting alcohol get in the way of your schoolwork, or your friendships
or family relationships.
- Quick Facts
* Know the law. Alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under
18.
* Get the facts right. One 12-ounce beer has as much alcohol as a 1.5-ounce
shot of whiskey or a 5-ounce glass of wine. And it affects each person differently.
For instance, women's bodies react more quickly to alcohol.
* Stay informed. Wine coolers look like juice sparklers but they have
just as much alcohol as a 12-ounce beer. One glass of clear malt can give
a teenager a .02 on a Breathalyzer test. In some states, that amount is
enough for anyone under the age of 21 to lose his/her driver's license and
be subject to a fine.
* Be aware of the risks. Drinking increases the risk of injury. Car
crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other dangerous behaviors are all
linked to alcohol and other drug use. When you're not thinking straight,
you're more likely to get pulled into bad situations.
* Keep your edge. Alcohol can ruin your looks, give you bad breath,
and make you gain weight.
* Play it safe. Drinking can lead to intoxication and even death from
alcohol poisoning.
* Do the smart thing. Drinking puts your health, education, family ties,
and social life at risk.
* Be a real friend. If you know someone with a drinking problem, be
part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help.
* Remain alert. Stay clear on claims that alcohol means glamour and
adventure. Stay clear on what's real and what's illusion.
* Sweep away the myths. Having a designated driver is no excuse to drink.
Drinking only at home or sticking only to beer does not make drinking any
"safer."
Things You Oughta
Know About...
A Top 10 Fact Sheet on Alcohol:
- 1. Alcohol is the most socially accepted addictive substance and
is a contributing factor in over 75% of all Date Rapes.
- 2. Alcohol dehydrates you: it does not quench thirst, it makes
thirst worst. Alcohol is also extremely high in empty calories.
- 3. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause permanent
brain damage and often causes physical deformations in babies. FAS and
PFAS (formerly FAE) are devastating disorders that often render their victims
unable to function is society or to care for them selves in socially acceptable
ways; many of these children grow up to commit suicide or end up "living"
in the criminal justice system.
- 4. Alcohol causes varying degrees of the following side effects
in EVERYONE who uses it; dulness of sensation, lowered sensory motor skills,
lowered reactive or reflexive motor responses, impaired thought processes,
impaired memory, impaired judgement, sleep or sleeplessness, and in extreme
cases can cause coma and death.
- 5. When an alcoholic beverage is ingested a full 20% of the alcohol
immediately enters the bloodstream by penetrating the wall of your stomach;
drinking on a full stomach can slow this process.
- 6. Many people mistakenly believe alcohol is a stimulant, like
coffee, when in fact it is a depressant.
- 7. One of the first things to go when you have been drinking alcohol
is your sense of "good judgement" and your "inhibitions".
- 8. Alcohol can cause the following behaviours; aggression, sexual
openness, excessive talking, spilling secrets, lying, phony friendliness
and quick tempers.
- 9. A "hang over" is what happens when your body enters alcohol
withdraw and the head aches you get are caused by extreme dehydration of
your brain - your brain is literally being pulled away from your skull,
leading to throbbing aches and sharp pains at attachment points like the
temples and base of the neck.
- 10. 70% of alcoholics and alcohol abusers will suffer the following
irreversible physical side effects; cirrhosis of the liver (fatal in over
60% of cases), "cauliflowering" of the nose and ears (where your ears and
nose become cauliflower shaped), permanent restructuring of the brain including
loss of long term memory, heart problems, obesity, premature dementia (partial
and full), loss of bladder control and slurred speech even when sober.
Drugs & Addiction
- Will I Be An Addict?
Q:
Is it possible to try drugs without becoming addicted? Some of my friends
do X before a rave and they seem to have such a blast! I want to have the
same good time but am scared of becoming addicted. My father is a recovering
alcoholic and I know from Alateen that addiction runs in families. Is it
OK to experiment just a little?
A:
There are lots of issues to address in this question, but I will start
with the easiest part to answer. It seems you want somebody to tell you
it is "OK" for you to try drugs, and I can't and won't do that. I will say
that it is an unfortunate fact of the teen years that drug and/or alcohol
experimentation is the norm, not the exception. For most teens experimenting
with drugs or alcohol is just that - an experiment. Teens try drugs or alcohol,
they measure the various reactions they get, and they come to a conclusion
based on those reactions. Despite some pretty scary statistics, the vast
majority of teens who try drugs or alcohol end up as well adjusted contributing
members of adult society. Even teens who are habitual users, even abusers
of drugs, can come through it all without becoming addicted. No one really
knows why some people become addicted while others who use just as many drugs
don't, and there is no "test" to take to see if you are one of the unlucky
ones who, once you try drugs, will find it next to impossible to stop. It
is all a matter of personality, circumstance and genetics.
There are 5 commonly referred to "levels" or categories of drug and
alcohol use.
Non Users
Occasional or Social Users
Habitual Users
Abusers
Addicts
Most teens who try drugs or alcohol fall in to categories 2 or 3. Social
Users; use on some weekends or at the occasional party but rarely to never
try drugs outside of social situations. Habitual Users; are similar to Social
Users but use more regularly in social settings (ie: every party or rave)
and may use at other times - they rarely to never use alone. Abusers are
heavy drug users who often use alone or outside of social settings. On the
outside, they appear to be very much like an addict. What separates Abusers
from Addicts is the degree to which using invades their life, their physical
"need" for the drug, and their ability to stop on demand. In short, Abusers
do not experience the same degree of drug dependency as Addicts. This does
not mean that a drug Abuser is "better" than an Addict or that it is "OK"
to abuse drugs, it just means that the Abuser does not depend on the drugs
the same way an Addict does. While Addicts find it next to impossible to
quit, Abusers may stop suddenly and never look back. The habit does not normally
take over their life, nor does it "define" who they are. They do not feel
a "need" to use. Unfortunately, the line between Abuser and Addict is a
fine one and it is hard to know for sure which category a person falls under
until it is already too late. In fact, Abusers and Addicts themselves often
don't know which category they fall under until they try to quit and can't.
It is quite literally a roll of the "life dice".
That said, given your stated family history of alcoholism, I would strongly
caution you against any type of drug or alcohol use. Although experimentation
is normal among teens, you have a family legacy nipping at your heels. There
is very strong evidence that a propensity toward addiction is in the genes.
The fact that your father's addiction was to alcohol and you are curious
about drugs notwithstanding, you still may have a genetic pre-disposition
to dependency and addiction. Whether that addiction shows up as alcoholism
or drug use is irrelevant since the cycle of addiction is about just that
- addiction. The cycle of addiction is well established, and be it through
drugs or alcohol, you are already a part of that cycle. The best way for
you to break the cycle is to avoid anything that may jump start it in you.
I think, subconsciously, you already know all this since you mentioned Alateen
and your father's illness - this shows great wisdom and maturity and you
should be very proud of yourself.
There is no guarantee against addiction and there are people who have
become addicted after doing a drug only once. Addiction is as much a physical
thing as it is a mental one and all it takes is a very small taste to get
those addictive cravings going. Also, unlike alcohol, drugs are generally
illegal and often dangerous. You have no way of knowing for sure that a
drug is what a dealer claims, you have no way of knowing that the drug hasn't
been "cut" with poison and you have no way of ensuring your "trip" will
be a good one. Lots of teens have allergic or other reactions to drugs that
leave them permanently disabled - something that is just as life altering
as addiction. Drugs also render you incapable of making important decisions
like; when you have had enough, whether to drive a car or not, whether
to have sex or not, and how to properly react to what others say and do.
Drug use can cause one to be sexually uninhibited, resulting in STDs, HPV,
pregnancy, rape, or even AIDS. Depending on the type of drug and the way
it is delivered, even a one time user can fall victim to; hepatitis, HIV,
and AIDS. When on drugs you are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents
or to act recklessly, causing harm to yourself and/or others. An overwhelming
number of violent and criminal incidents involving teens include drugs and
or alcohol use.
While drug experimentation during the teen years is normal, this does
not make it "OK" in the sense you want to hear. As with any other thing
you do as a teen, doing drugs can and will change you forever. Even if it
is "just one time", a part of you will never be the same. Even if your experiment
goes "smoothly", a piece of your innocence will die. You have to ask yourself
if you are really ready to say "good bye" to your drug free self forever.
Try to remember that while your friends may appear to be having a drug induced
"blast" at the rave you can't see the bigger picture. I am willing to bet
that they do more than a few things they regret while on drugs, that they
miss a few opportunities to make new friends, and that they feel anything
but great the next day. There is a reason drug users stick together and
it is simple - drugs tend to close people off to others despite a reputation
of "opening people up". Everything in life has a price and drugs are no
exception. However, for most people, the price of drug use is higher than
they ever imagined. My best advice - STAY AWAY!!!
We get hit with messages all the time. From the moment we wake up to
the minute we go to sleep, we hear music, we see ads, we watch TV, we see
clothing logos, we read books, we hear commercials, we surf the Web, we
view music videos, and a lot more. In many public bathrooms there are even
ads in the stalls!
Not all the information says the same thing. On one hand, for example,
an ad will tell us that doing drugs is bad. But then we'll turn on the radio
or open a magazine, and we'll get a different message. One minute they'll
tell us that smoking is bad, and the next minute they'll show us super-happy
models smoking. One minute they'll tell us that steroids are bad, and the
next minute they'll be showing us over-the-top muscular people having a
blast on the beach.
Many people say that the media has a major influence on how they feel
about themselves. Seeing pictures of rich and beautiful people all the
time gives them feelings of low self-esteem. They feel they can't really
be happy unless they're like those people: thin, or rich, or constantly
partying, or whatever. They believe the hype, and do anything-including
drugs-to get there.
We know you're smarter than that. We know you'll make up your own mind
about the messages you see and hear. We know you're able to put media in
its place, and separate real life from the fake stuff. But we know it's
not easy. And if you aren't careful, that stuff sneaks up on you.
To help you through this mess, we've come up with ten important things
to keep in mind all day long. Oh, and don't just think about it alone-get
out of your head and talk about it with other people like, "Can you believe
they're telling me that coloring my hair will get me a date?" or "Yeah,
like that logo on his T-shirt makes him Oooooooh so cool!"
- 1. When you hear that first song of the morning on the radio,
think about the lyrics. Write them down, if you have time. Say them out
loud, without the music. What do they really say? And who is singing or
rapping them?
- 2. When you see that first commercial of the morning on television,
think about what they're selling. Are they showing you a product? Or are
they showing you something else, like a lifestyle?
- 3. When you see that second commercial of the morning on television,
think about what they're saying. Are they telling you that the product they're
talking about is really good? Or are they saying that you'll be a better
person if you use it? If they are saying that, how would they know?
- 4. When you see that billboard on the way to school, think about
who put that ad there. Why would someone agree to put something there for
you to see? Do they want to educate your mind? Or do they want to influence
you to give them your money?
- 5. When you see that first clothing ad in the magazine you're
flipping through over lunch, think about how you would explain this ad
to an alien from outer space. What are they selling? Is it clear? If it's
not clear, why? Why did they choose the picture or words that they chose?
- 6. When you see that second ad, have another imaginary conversation
with that alien. How would you explain how this ad makes you feel?
- 7. When you're at the bookstore/cafe later on, check out what
they're selling in the windows. What are these books about? Are they pushing
them because they're good? Or because they're popular? Or because they
want you to feel like if you read them you'll be cool?
- 8. When you're watching your favorite TV show, think about the
characters. Are they realistic, or are they stereotypes? What do they represent?
Do you want to be like them? How? Why?
- 9. When you're still watching that TV show, think about how YOU
feel. Does the show make you feel better about your own life? Does it make
you feel worse?
- 10. When you're surfing the Web, think about who put up the Web
site you're looking at. Do they really know what they're talking about?
The bottom line is, if you want to be smart, independent, and able to
make your own decisions about your life, you gotta use your brain. All
the time. So next time you see or hear messages-in ads, TV shows, online,
wherever-think about it a little. And talk about it with whoever you're
with. They'll be shocked at how smart you are.
Question:
Every time I go to a party I feel so alone when I don't drink. The pressure
from my friends is often so bad that I'll hold a beer just to look cool.
As a teen, is it wrong for me to drink? Some times my parents even give me
wine at dinner.
Answer:
Scripture: Luke 21-34-35; Romans 13:11-14; Galatians 5:19-24; 1 Peter
4:1-6.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church: #2290-2291.
- 1. While there are many issues involved in answering this question,
the first issue is to realize that many teens today are looking for any
excuse you can give them to drink. So, if you open the door just a little
bit, you walk the line of helping them justify their behavior. Let's start
by answering the question, "Is it wrong to drink?" The answer to that is
easy: No. (Yes, you're gonna have to shut this door real quick.) There is
no doubt that it is permissible to drink, because Scripture tells us that
Jesus Himself drank. Just look at the Last Supper or the Wedding of Cana
as examples of Jesus offering wine to others. There is a big difference,
however, between responsibly drinking and getting drunk. We have to be honest
and say that, 99 times out of 100, a teen wants permission to drink so they
can get drunk. Scripture condemns drunkenness (Galatians 5:21) to the point
of saying that, "those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God". This is a strong statement by St. Paul that should call us to see
that abusing alcohol could cost us our souls. Why would St. Paul say this
so strongly?
- 2. Alcohol can place such a stranglehold on people's lives that
it can lead to addiction and cause people to abandon their relationship
with God. No one ever got hurt because they chose not to drink. Many families
and teens today suffer from alcoholism. Alcohol is an escape for so many
people to avoid their daily duties, responsibilities and problems. It deadens
a person's pain. Yet pain, both physical and emotional, is a sign that we
need to take care of something that is hurt. If we ignore it, the problem
increases and the pain will grow.
- 3. For teens, drinking alcohol at parties sends a message to all
those there that Christian purity and standing up for Jesus is not as important
being popular and cool. Like it or not, all of us have a responsibility
to our brothers and sisters to be a witness for Christ. When we stand up in
front of others and carry around a can of beer, we shake the faith of those
who thought we were different. Many teens at parties are actually counting
on their Christian friends not to drink. This helps them avoid the pressures
of the party scene and have an excuse not to drink. If you drink at a party,
it often causes teens to say, "if they're doing it, so will I". This might
cause someone to begin to drink to the point where their life is completely
out of balance. It could lead them to further experimenting with other chemicals.
It could lower someone's defenses and lead them to sexual activity. There
is just too much at stake to justify any teenage drinking. While the drinking
age is a set by human beings, any drinking for minors causes scandal to their
friends and weakens the Body of Christ.
Getting our drink
problem under control
Patrick Kenny says that bringing Ireland's alcohol problem under control
will need more than just restricting drink advertising, it will also require
greater personal responsibility.
Alcohol consumption has risen by over 40 per cent in this country over
the last decade.
The social consequences of this is incalculable. Therefore, the recent
announcement by the Taoiseach of plans to place restrictions on alcohol marketing
is to be welcomed.
The main elements of this include the restriction of TV alcohol ads prior
to 10pm, the prohibition of alcohol ads prior to the commencement of films
aimed at under 18 year olds, restrictions on cheap drinks promotions in
bars, as well as a proposal to place warning labels on alcohol products.
This is a welcome first step. While there is some dispute in the research
literature over the impact of advertising on overall alcohol consumption,
there is strong evidence that alcohol advertising has an impact on teenagers
by portraying young, happy, attractive people engaged in exciting social
situations. It is precisely these kinds of ads that most appeal to teenagers.
Alcohol marketing is not the main cause of alcohol abuse in Ireland, but without
a doubt, it does have some impact.
Merely restricting these ads will not be enough. The alcohol industry has
significant marketing resources at its disposal. In 2001 over e38 million
was spent on alcohol ads, and that's only for placing them in various media.
It does not account for their production or for consumer research supporting
their development. This is in addition to money spent on sponsorship and
newer forms of marketing like text- messaging and website development. These
"below-the-line" marketing initiatives are strongly oriented towards young
people. For example, 25% of those who watch Friends, which is sponsored by
different alcohol brands depending on which channel it is shown, are under
the legal drinking age, while it is only the young or very immature that could
be attracted to the games and other interactive features that are built into
the websites of alcopop brands. These new forms of marketing are extremely
difficult to regulate, and it is in these areas that more money will be spent
as traditional forms of advertising become increasingly restricted.
The Government's plan can do little to regulate these new marketing initiatives,
but more could have been done to deal with one of the greatest difficulties
in this area Ð self- regulation of the advertising industry.
Advertising in Ireland is regulated by the Code of Advertising Standards
for Ireland. This lays down various restrictions on how alcohol products
can be portrayed in advertisements. For example, alcohol should not be shown
to contribute to social, sexual or personal success, nor should it be shown
to contribute to bravery or heroism. Even a cursory glance at recent alcohol
ads would reveal that many of them breach this code.
The situation as it stands at present is that a member of the public must
make a complaint and the offending advertisement will then be investigated.
Complaints against many alcohol ads have been upheld by the Advertising Standards
Authority, but only after they have received significant exposure. Given
how many alcohol ads are found to breach the codes I find it difficult to
accept that those responsible for their creation could be acting in good faith.
In the absence of a complete ban on alcohol advertising, a compulsory pre-vetting
system entirely independent of the advertising and alcohol industries is
necessary to prevent the alcohol industry abusing the system by getting significant
exposure prior to having their ads removed.
Alcohol in itself is not a bad thing, but its abuse wrecks lives and destroys
the social fabric of our communities. There can be little doubt that alcohol
abuse is a major contributing factor to the rise in abortions, sexually
transmitted diseases and marriage breakdown. This can only be compounded
with the launch of new products like the alcopop Roxxoff. This is a mix
of alcohol and Chinese aphrodisiacs and is to be marketed as a form of "alcoholic
viagra". EU rules prevent it from being banned in Ireland. Legal restrictions
can only go so far, and as a free society we should not wish for State control
of our day-to-day activity. But the alternative to such State control must
be a greater commitment to ethical behaviour on the part of those in the
advertising and alcohol industries.
Those working in education and business need to instill an awareness of
these ethical obligations on the part of their students and peers. A free
society requires socially responsible citizens - the alternatives are either
social chaos or State restrictions on individual and commercial freedoms.
Patrick Kenny is a lecturer in marketing in the Dublin Institute of
Technology