Alcohol and Other Drugs

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Alcohol Facts Information:

1. Alcohol is a psychoactive drug (makes you think things that aren’t real).
2. Alcohol is a depressant (slows you & your body down).
3. Alcohol is broken down by the liver at a set rate, which cannot be changed (drinking coffee or having a cold shower will not help you sober up).
4. Alcohol is an anesthetic (numbs you so you can’t feel pain).
5. Alcohol passes more slowly into the bloodstream if there is food in the stomach.
6. Very small amounts of alcohol are excreted via lungs, sweat and urine (2 to 5%).
7. Alcohol relaxes you and makes you less able to make responsible decisions.
8. Alcohol may cause mood swings.
9. Alcohol affects peoples judgments and inhibitions. People who are under the influence of alcohol may do things they would not normally do.
10. Alcoholic equivalent drinks: 1 beer (341 ml) = 1 glass of wine (142 ml) = 1 shot of liquor (43 ml). All contain the same amount of ethyl alcohol. Most mixed drinks that are served at parties contain more alcohol per drink.
11. Alcohol is likely to make you less cautious.
12. Alcohol impairs your judgment.
13. Alcohol affects vision by decreasing:
    • peripheral (side) vision
    • frontal vision and focusing
    • ability to recover from glare
    • number and speed of scans (look around less)
    • depth perception
    • colour sensitivity.
14. Alcohol decreases ability to react appropriately. Reactions may be exaggerated.
15. Alcohol may make you less patient.
16. Alcohol impairs muscle coordination.