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Your Body On... Alcohol
You might think just one drink can’t hurt, but even a little bit of alcohol can do a whole lot of harm.
The good news? You landed that invite to your classmate’s holiday party. The bad news? It went from chill to “chug!” in a matter of minutes . . . and now someone is offering you a drink. Before you accept, think about the ways alcohol affects your mind, body, and mood. (Spoiler alert: None of them are good.) Just a few examples: Alcohol slows reaction times, impairs your ability to make good decisions, and increases your chances of throwing up on your shoes by one zillion percent. And you should already know that drinking and driving, or taking a ride from someone who’s been drinking, are things you should never do. Read on to find out why even one drink is one drink too many:
Eyes
Alcohol affects your optic nerves, which can give you double vision or make things look blurry. If you can’t see clearly, you’re more prone to falls, and could get seriously hurt.
Brain
Alcohol slows the signals between your brain and your reflexes, making it hard for you to react quickly, which is why it’s never safe to drive if you’ve been drinking. It also affects your ability to control your impulses, which can cause you to make bad decisions and put yourself in danger.
Stomach
Alcohol makes your stomach produce excess acid. When you get too much acid in your stomach, your body tries to get rid of it by throwing up. Not only does this feel terrible, it’s also very dangerous, because you can suffocate if vomit gets trapped in your airway, especially if you’re unconscious.
Heart and Lungs
Alcohol initially causes your heart rate to rise before plummeting to potentially dangerous low levels. If your heart rate drops too low, you can become unconscious and even die.
Liver
Your liver breaks down the alcohol in your bloodstream. Too much alcohol in your blood can overwhelm your liver and cause alcohol poisoning, a dangerous condition that can result in death.
Three things to consider before consuming:
TRUE OR FALSE: Drinking coffee will make you sober.
True
False
False! It’s a myth that you can get sober fast. Alcohol from one drink can stay in your body for three hours.
TRUE OR FALSE: Drinking and driving is never safe.
True! For a safe ride, check out the National Association of Safe Ride Programs: www.nasrp.org.
TRUE OR FALSE: You should put a drunk person to bed.
False! It’s not true that a drunk person should sleep it off. Call 911 if you see slowed breathing, vomiting, or confusion.
Appoint a Safety Superhero
If you’re around alcohol, the most important thing is getting home safely. Ask a parent or trusted adult to agree to pick you up, no questions asked. In return, promise to call them instead of drinking and driving or riding with a driver who’s been drinking.
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