3.8 Alcohol and cannabis

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Today's lesson

Discuss what BAC (blood alcohol content) is

Name short term and long term consequences of alcohol and cannabis consumption

What do you think of when you hear the word alcohol?

BAC

• Blood alcohol content
• The level of alcohol content in the bloodstream
• Depends on body weight and how long the alcohol has been in the body
• 30 minutes to absorb alcohol in bloodstream and 60 minutes to break it down.

Long-term effect of alcohol

• Disrupts the development of the brain
• Disrupts hormone balance
• Can lead to memory loss
• Can lead to damage in liver, stomach and heart 

Binge drinking

• drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time
• BAC rises quickly above 0.8 permille
• 6 drinks in 2 hours
• Sudden high concentrations of alcohol can severly damage the brain
• may increase the likehood of having a stroke 

Cannabis

• Comes from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa 
• Active ingredient is THC
• THC is found in the female flower buds
• Can be smoked, eaten, drunk or inhaled after evaporation

Effects of cannabis

• Short- term: increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, anxiety and concentration/memory problems 
• Long-term: Addiction, insomnia, depression and concentration problems.