Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol affects every cell in the body. The

moment you swallow the alcohol begins
acting on the body. From the stomach and
the intestines, it moves rapidly into the
bloodstream. From the blood, it enters every
cell. Within minutes ethanol is affecting the
brain, muscles, nerves, glands and small
blood vessels of the skin. It also passes
through the liver. The liver can handle 1
drink per hour.
The organ and how alcohol impairs it:
Liver- If a person drinks more than 1 drink
per hour, the excess overflows into the
bloodstream.
Lungs- The lungs excrete a little ethanol
from the bloodstream as a gas exhaled in the
breath.
Blood vessels- Alcohol relaxes these nerves,
and the blood vessels of the skin widen.
Nerves and Brain- Alcohol depresses the
action of the nervous system that usually
sets limits on behavior.
The after effects of someone who drinks too
much include headache, pain, and nausea.
Excessive drinking can cause long-term
damage to the heart, pancreas, liver, and
brain. Cirrhosis is liver disease that causes
high blood pressure and also weakens the
bodys defenses against infection. High
blood pressure can increase the risk of heart
attacks or strokes.

Teen Health

The legal drinking age in the United States is

21.
Why do teens drink?
Curiosity
To feel good, reduce stress, and relax
To fit in
To feel older
From a young age kids experience their
parents socially drinking and then believe that
its harmless.
Why shouldnt I drink?

Its illegal
Possibility of getting addicted
Problems in school
Doing things you wouldnt normally
do

Avoid drinking by avoiding places alcohol

could be. Dont let you friends get behind the
wheel drunk but dont get into a car with a
drunk driver either. To get help for yourself
or for someone else talk to a trusted adult or
school counselor. Places like Alateen, AA,
and Al anon can help.

ALCOHOL
101

Alcohol for Dummies

Alcohol related
crashes of 2014
In Pennsylvania there were
10,550 alcohol related crashes
in 2014.
In 2014 333 people died in
alcohol related crashes.
On an average day:
29 alcohol-related traffic
crashes occurred.
0.9 people were killed in
alcohol-related traffic crashed.

This Brochure
includes:
Alcohol related
crashes of 2014
Underage Drinking
Effects of Alcohol
Teen health

20 people were injured in

alcohol-related traffic crashes.
The total number of crashes of
all age group for males is 7,592.
The total number of crashes of
all age group for females is
2,666.
13% of the driver deaths in 1620 age groups were drinking
drivers.

You cannot legally drink or purchase

alcoholic beverages in Pennsylvania
until you are 21. If you are caught
buying, drinking, possessing, or
transporting beer, wine, or liquor,
you can be arrested. If convicted of
underage drinking you can be fines
up to $300, jailed up to 90 days or
both. In addition, you will have a
criminal record and lose you license
for 90 days. If you are caught driving
under the influence of alcohol, it is a
misdemeanor of the second degree,
with a maximum penalty of up to
5,000 and up to 2 years in jail. If you
are tried and convicted, you must pay
a minimum of $300 and spend at
least 48 hours in jail and pay other
legal fees. In addition, you will lose
you license for at least 3 months,
possibly up to a year. Under
Pennsylvanias zero tolerance law,
persons under 21 can be arrested and
charged with a DUI even if their
blood alcohol is .020.