Alcoholisadrugandyoucanbecomeaddictedtoit.Alcoholchangesthewayyourmindandyourbodywork.Evenonebeercanslowyourreactionsandconfuseyourthinking.Thismeansanythingthatrequiresconcentrationandcoordination--likedriving--isdangerouswhenyou'vehadadrink.

　　Alcoholalsochangesthewayyouact.Itcanmakeyouletgoofthefeelingsthatkeepyoufromdoingthingsyouknowareriskyordangerous.Thiscanleadyoutomakebaddecisions--likehavingunsafesexordrivingwhenyouknowyoushouldn't.Youmightthinkthatitwon'thappentoyou,buteveryoneknowssomeonewhohassaidthatandthenendeduphurt.

　　Alcoholcanruinyourhealth.Themoreyoudrink,themoredamageisdone.Youcangetalcoholpoisoningifyoudrinktoomuch.Asthelevelofalcoholinyourbloodrises,thechemicalsinyourbodycancausevomitingorseizures,oryoumaypassout.

　　Cirrhosisoftheliverisoneofthemostwell-knowneffectsofalcoholabuse.Cirrhosisstopstheliverfrombeingabletocleanthetoxins(poisons)outofyourbody.Alcoholcanalsocausestomachulcersthatleadtointernalbleeding.

　　Televisionandradiomakeitseemeasytoavoidalcohol,butthismaynotbethecaseforyou.Youmaybefacingpressurefromyourfriendswhodrink,youmaybestressedout,oryoumaythinkthatdrinkingwillmakeyoupopular.Whateveryourreasons,rememberthatalcoholcanharmyourbody.Ifyoufeeluncomfortableinasituationandneedhelpsayingno,getthesupportyouneed.Talktoyourfamilydoctororanotheradultyoutrust.

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