POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 77 continued KnowThe Risks And Effects Effects & Risks of Alcohol Alcohol is a depressant that slows the functioning of the central nervous system, including the brain. Young people are at a higher risk for negative impacts from drinking alcohol because the executive functions in the teenage brain such as decisionmaking, motivation, emotion, reward, and risktaking behaviors are not yet fully developed and will not be until their midtwenties. Young people are also vulnerable to alcoholinduced brain damage, which could contribute to poor performance at school or work. When young people overconsume alcohol, they are at risk for accidental injury, alcohol poisoning, and motor vehicle crashes. While intoxicated, they may be more vulnerable to assaults, sexual coercion and mental health issues such as depression and selfharm, because alcohol impairs judgment, reasoning and the ability to evaluate risk. Frequent or regular alcohol use has an impact on the physical health and mental well being of everyone, including youth. Longterm harms of excessive alcohol use include substance use disorders, learning and memory issues, problems with school performance, increased risk of school dropout, and increased risk for certain chronic diseases, such as liver disease, stroke, and cancer. The way alcohol effects a person depends on many factors, including:1 • your age, sex and body weight • how sensitive you are to alcohol • the type and amount of food in your stomach • how much and how often you drink • how long you’ve been drinking • the environment you’re in • how you expect the alcohol to make you feel • whether you’ve taken any other drugs (illegal, prescription, overthecounter or herbal). Short term effects and risks: Acute or short term risks are the harmful effects of drinking too much alcohol in the shortterm or on a single occasion (often referred to as binge drinking or heavy drinking). If you drink too much alcohol on a single occasion, you may experience these shortterm effects: 2 • impulsive behaviour • impaired attention, concentration and judgement • drowsiness • aggressiveness and violent behaviour • slowed reaction time • slurred speech • double or blurred vision • flushed skin • nausea and vomiting • frequent urination • impaired memory or loss of memory Severe alcohol intoxication can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can result in: • stupor (when someone is not alert or responsive, and has difficultly getting up or moving around) • coma • respiratory arrest (when someone stops breathing or has trouble breathing) • death
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