Alcohol

Alcohol kills more teens annually than all other drugs combined. It is a factor in the three leading causes of death in the 15-24 age group in the U.S.—accidents, homicides, and suicides. Binge drinking and chronic alcohol use are also associated with many health problems.

Street Names

Booze, Juice, Liquor, Sauce, Brew, Vino, Kallu, Everclear, and Wohoo Juice

Alcohol-induced sleep disturbances

One night of drinking alcohol can affect your performance in school, sports, and other activities for several days because of alcohol’s impact on the sleep cycle. Generally, the more an individual is intoxicated, the more sleep is altered negatively. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can keep you from getting a full night of rest. Effects of alcohol-induced sleep disturbances include:

• Thinking process slows
• Mood swings
• Loss of focus
• Sleepiness or feeling tired
• Stunted growth

A standard drink is

One 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler,
One 5-ounce glass of wine, or
1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Short-term effects

• Slurred speech
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
• Impaired judgment
• Headaches
• Breathing difficulties
• Poor perception and coordination
• Unconsciousness
• Coma

Long-term effects

• Unintentional injury (e.g., car crashes, falls, burns, drowning)
• Intentional injury (e.g., firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence)
• Broken relationships
• High blood pressure and strokes
• Liver disease
• Brain and nerve damage
• Sexual dysfunction
• Ulcers
• Gastritis (inflammation of stomach walls)
• Malnutrition
• Death

Other Alcohol related topics