MPRC Alcohol Fact Sheet

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Name: Alcohol

Slang/Street Names: Booze, Liquor, Sauce, Brew, Cold One, WOP, Juice

Statistics: In 2010, 31.3% of 9^th graders and 55.3% of 12^th graders report using alcohol one or more times in the previous year in Minnesota.[1]

In 2010, the proportions of 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th graders who admitted drinking an alcoholic beverage in just the 30-day period prior to the survey were 14%, 29% and 41%, respectively. [2]

How it is ingested: Alcohol is consumed orally by drinking. 

Signs and Symptoms: Behaviors that might indicate the use of alcohol include:

• Poor judgment
• Slow reaction time
• Loss of balance
• Slurred speech
• Inability to stay awake
• Nausea or vomiting
• Smell of alcohol on breath

More about Alcohol:  Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes; however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed.[3]

More information:

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

The National Institute on Drug Abuse Alcohol Page

The Minnesota Department of Health Alcohol Page

[1] Anfinson, A. (2011).  Youth today: what the Minnesota Student Survey can tell us about student alcohol and drug use.  Prevention with Impact, 29(2).

[2] Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2011). Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2010. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan.

[3] http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm