Alcohol

Straight Facts: Serious Dangers

Booze... Bubbly... Fire water... Barley Pop... even Joy Juice...

People have a lot of wacky names for alcohol. And there's dozens more for alcohol poisoning; that is, for being drunk. That's a lot of creative energy wasted on the substance that kills more people than all illegal drugs combined. If you still think it's funny or innocent, think again. Alcohol is a powerful, addictive drug, and it kills. Alcohol routinely gives people headaches and makes them sick to their stomachs, but a little vomit is the least of their worries. Alcohol can cause big-time trouble with parents, school, work, and the law. Teenagers who drink have lower grades in school, may lose their jobs, and can be arrested for purchasing, possessing, or drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol pickles people's brains, so they make bad choices. People who drink are more likely to have unsafe, unprotected sex, and to become pregnant or to get sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Not to mention that when people drink they more frequently get into fights and commit other crimes.

Alcohol causes problems; it doesn't solve them. Make the healthy choice not to drink.

Alcohol is the most damaging and deadly of any drug out there besides nicotine, the drug in tobacco. Because alcohol is a legal drug for people over 21, the messages about alcohol can be confusing. Alcohol advertising plays a large part in this confusion. In fact, studies have shown that when the amount of alcohol advertising in an area is decreased, the rate of car crashes in the area also decreases! The way different alcoholic beverages are shown in advertising can add to the confusion, too. Almost 25% of sixth graders surveyed were not aware that wine coolers could get a person drunk!

Do you know what percentage of all drinkers become alcoholics? What effects does alcohol have on young people, but not on older people? Do more males or more females become alcoholics, and which sex experiences more health damage from alcohol? How does alcohol work in the brain. What does it do to the body? How can you tell if someone is really drunk? How can a drunk person sober up?

Take some time and check out this site on alcohol. It's packed full of information and images that can help you make informed, healthy decisions. When you're finished surfing, you can see how much you've learned by taking our interactive quiz. You might be surprised at how well you do.

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