Alcohol and drugs Flashcards
Alcohol causes an estimated __________ hospitalisations each year across Australia
150 000 hospitalisations
What can alcohol overdose lead to?
Poisoning or unconsciousness, and potentially asphyxiation through ingestion of vomit
Alcohol is the major contributing factor in __________
Boating, swimming and car accidents
Alcohol is the leading cause of drug-related deaths in people under the age of __________
30
What are some long-term negative impacts that excessive alcohol consumption is linked to?
Heart disease, liver disease, pancreatic disease, stroke, and cancer of other organs
Alcohol is widely used and considered as a __________ drug
‘socially accepted’; 85% of Australians regularly drink alcohol but less than 2% use illicit drugs
How has the issue of alcohol consumption improved for young people?
- Young people choose to drink less & start later
- More 12-17 year-olds abstain from alcohol
- Fewer 18-24 year-olds drink 5+ standard drinks in single occasions
What is binge drinking?
Excessive drinking undertaken in one session
How is binge drinking defined (quantitatively/number of drinks) in Australia?
Drinking more than 4 standard drinks at any one time
What are short term effects of alcohol?
By amount of alcohol consumed:
- Elevated mood, relaxation, poor concentration, slow reflexes
- Decreased inhibitions, more confidence, less coordination, slurred speech, intense moods
- Confusion, blurred vision, poor muscle control
- Nausea, vomiting, passing out
- Coma or death
What parts of the body can alcohol negatively impact in the long term?
Skin, lungs, pancreas, intestines, sexual organs, blood, brain, heart, stomach, nervous system, liver, and muscles
Smoking is the leading cause of __________ in Australia
preventable death
Smoking kills more Australians every year than __________
road accidents, alcohol and other drugs combined
What are some government initiatives that aim to reduce the number of people who smoke?
Banning smoking in public places, graphic anti-smoking advertisements, warning labels on cigarette packs, plain tobacco packaging, and passing legislation that prevents advertising of cigarettes
What are immediate effects of smoking?
Increased blood pressure and heart rate, dizziness, over-stimulation of brain and nervous system, reduced blood flow to extremities, poor sense of taste and smell
What drug causes the most illness and death when used?
Tobacco; up to 40 Australians die every day from smoking-related diseases compared to 10 from alcohol-related diseases and less than 4 from road crashes
What parts of the body can smoking have negative long-term impacts on?
Brain, ears, face (mouth, nose and eyes), throat, lungs, arms and hands, legs and feet, muscles and bones, heart and blood, skin, back, stomach and bowel, sexual organs, immune system
What is an illicit drug?
A drug that has been banned by law; illegal to sell or take without prescription from a doctor
What are some common illicit drugs?
Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy
What are long-term effects of alcohol on the heart?
High blood pressure, irregular pulse, enlarged heart
What are long-term effects of alcohol on the liver?
Severe swelling & pain, hepatitis
What are long-term effects of alcohol on the pancreas?
Painful inflammation
What are long-term effects of smoking on the heart?
Heart disease, blockages in blood supply leading to heart attack
What are long-term effects of smoking on the lungs?
Shortness of breaths, coughing, cancer, asthma
