BRAIN & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
IMPAIRED BEHAVIOR, JUDGMENT, MEMORY, CONCENTRATION, & COORDINATION
Drinker experiences mild euphoria and loss of inhibition as alcohol impairs regions of the brain controlling behavior and emotion. Alcohol impairs judgment, memory, concentration, and coordination; as well as inducing extreme mood swings and emotional outburst.

BRAIN DAMAGE & AFFECT
Alcohol acts as a sedative on the Central Nervous System, depressing the nerve cells in brain, dulling, altering, and damaging their ability to respond. Large doses cause sleep, anesthesia, respiratory failure, coma, and death.

BRAIN DISORDERS & ADDICTION
Long term drinking may result in permanent brain damage, serious mental disorders and addiction to alcohol.

OTHER AFFECTS ON CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

• Impaired visual ability
• Unclear hearing
• Dulled smell & taste
• Loss of pain perception
• Altered sense of time & space
• Impaired fine motor skills
• Slows reactions
• Impaired sexual performance

EYES
Distorted vision and ability to adjust to lights. Pinpoint pupils and red eyes.

EARS
Diminishes ability to distinguish between sounds and perceive their direction.

MOUTH
Slurred speech. Dulls taste and smell, reducing desire to eat.

THROAT
Irritation and damage of esophagus, induces severe vomiting, hemorrhaging, pain, and difficult swallowing. Cancer.

LUNGS
High amounts of alcohol may cause breathing to stop; then death.
Lowered resistance to infection.

HEART
Weakness the heart muscle and ability to pump (Cardiomyopathy).
Heart enlargement, abnormal heart signs, and irregular heart beat.
Increases blood pressure, risk of heart attack, and strokes. Inhibits production of white and red blood cells.

MUSCLES
Muscles become weaker and atrophy, pain, spasms, and tenderness.

STOMACH
Irritation of stomach lining, peptic ulcers, inflammation, bleeding lesions, and cancer.

PANCREAS
Significant risk of pancreatis, a chronic inflammation of pancreas.

LIVER
Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation & destruction of liver cells). Impairs the liver’s ability to remove yellow pigment and skin appears yellow (Jaundice).
Liver damage causes fluid to build in extremities (Edema).
Decreases production of blood-clotting factors; may cause uncontrolled bleeding.
Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure, coma, and death.

INTESTINES
Irritation of the lining of the intestinal tract and colon. Chronic drinking may result in inflammation, ulcers, and cancer of intestines and colon.
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, and loss of appetite are common.
Alcohol impairs small intestine’s ability to process nutrients and vitamins.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
MALES & FEMALES
Sexual functioning can be impaired and deteriorate, resulting in impotence and infertility, sometimes irreversible. Females also have high risk of developing breast cancer.

PREGNANCY & UNBORN BABIES
Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases chance of delivering a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders, and retarded growth and development.

BONES
Alcohol interferes with body’s ability to absorb calcium resulting in bones being weak, soft brittle, and thinner (Osteoporosis).