Module 10: Topic 1

Alcohol Facts: Nature of The Problem

You will learn:
A. how to explain that driving while
impaired by any substance (legal or
illegal drugs) places the driver and
others in harm’s way.
B. how to research the effects of alcohol
on vision and space management.
C. how to examine physiological and
biological factors that influence how
alcohol, marijuana and other drugs are

1. Alcohol affects the body. It is a ______ that has immediate and long-term effects on
the body.

2. Alcohol is a ____________ drug that slows the body's key functions, including
breathing, heartbeat, and ___________.

3. A drink of alcohol can be a:

 _____ can of beer
 5-ounce glass of ________
 1.5 ounces of _____ liquor (standard mixed drink).

They all contain the same _______ of alcohol. It takes over one _______ for a
standard drink of alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor) to work its way out of the
bloodstream.

4. There are different psychological and physiological effects related to alcohol.

_____________ effects relate to the emotional and _______ state of a person.
Physiological effects relate to the body and its _______.

1 © Virginia Department of Education

 5. Alcohol affects people in different ways. Things to consider are:
 _________ variations
 medication ___________
 _______ at time of consumption
 age
 gender
 experience with consumption.

6. One ___________ effect of alcohol is that the ______ works less efficiently, affecting
judgment and responses.
 ___________ is the ability to make wise decisions.
 Responses are how quickly one _______ to a decision.
7. Some of the ____________ effects on the body from consuming alcohol are the:
 ________ causes unclear thinking, ______ coordination, and slurred speech
 _____ cause blurred _______ by affecting the metabolism of glucose in the
brain
 _______ causes an _______ heartbeat and high blood pressure.
8. Drinking alcohol over a period of years can:
 _________ the liver, stomach, pancreas, or kidneys
 Widen _______ vessels, resulting in _____________
 cause systemic _________ weakness.
9. Alcohol affects the ______ by:
 working less efficiently, affecting ___________ and responses
 Impairing _________ and __________ operations
 delaying instructions that ________ muscle reaction.
10. Alcohol affects _______ by:
 depressing physical ______ and coordination of muscular control
 becoming _____ and ______ in muscular and mental reactions

2 © Virginia Department of Education

  losing more ________ of movements and __________ with higher levels of
intoxication.
11. Eye _______ is the ability of the eyes to change focus rapidly from _____ to _____
range. This is a key element in the vision process for searching and _____________.

12. Alcohol affects the eyes in several ways, including:

 eye muscle ___________ are delayed
 eye muscles are relaxed and the driver experiences difficulty ________ on
objects, especially at ______ speeds.
13. Impaired _____ vision is an effect of alcohol because it ______ the control of light
entering the eye. Pupils enlarge to allow the maximum amount of light to enter the
eyes at night.
 It takes one second for eyes to respond to the _______ of oncoming headlights.
 After exposure, it takes ____ to ______ seconds for the pupil to enlarge again.
 Add alcohol to this, and recovery ________ even further.
14. _______ Vision is another effect of alcohol.
 There are six _______ attached to each eye that direct it automatically and
separately toward a ______ point.
 When these eye muscles become relaxed because of alcohol and/or drugs,
both eyes may not be directed toward the same ______ point.
 This ____ of coordination will cause ________ vision.
15. Another impairment from alcohol is the ability to _____ distances. A driver must be
able to determine how ___ away objects are in their path of ______. Alcohol ______
the ability to judge distance accurately. This is complicated by movement of other
objects, especially when changing ______, passing another vehicle, or parking.

16. When alcohol impedes a driver’s ability to determine ______ accurately, warnings can
be missed, and dangerous situations will often arise. Colors such as ___ are used on
three types of signs: _____, yield, or prohibition of action. The inability to determine
accurately the color of a sign or traffic light not only _________ the driver, but anyone
who may come in contact with them.

17. Alcohol can cause impairment in these areas in the space __________ system (SMS):
 inability to visually ____
 problem with _______ vision
3 © Virginia Department of Education
  judgment of _________ is unreliable
 problem with _____ vision
 lack of __________ of vision
 failure to distinguish _________
 _______ time slows
 Night ______ is problematic
 ______ skills are impaired.

18. The _______ management system (SMS) is based on _____; understanding what you
have observed, deciding what the best course of action is, and executing that action. It
is also referred to as _____, Evaluate, and Execute in Time (SEEiT). Alcohol and/or
drugs _______ these courses of action.

19. There are long-term effects of alcohol abuse. Over time, it can cause even greater
damage to other body systems, resulting in permanent _____ damage and damage to
the ______ lobe of the brain.

20. Alcohol has a less _______ effect on teens than it does on adults. As a result, teens
may be more likely to drive under the influence, which can lead to car ___________.

21. Teens also show signs of reduced function in the _________, the part of the brain
critical for forming new _______. As a result, young drinkers score lower on
______________ tests than non-drinkers.

22. Teens who drink are more likely to be ______ of violent crimes and be involved in
alcohol-related traffic _______.

23. This is true in part because of the _______ judgement and coordination that results
from alcohol use.

24. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), high school students during the
past 30 days:
 ____ drank alcohol
 14% ____ drank
 5% of drivers drove ______ drinking alcohol.
 ____ rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

4 © Virginia Department of Education

 25. Enhanced _____-taking after drinking alcohol occurs when a person decides to:
 walk on the street.
 drive.
 drive at an _____ speed.
 ____ dangerously.
 flee the _______.
26. The _______ consequences of drinking alcohol are:
 Poor __________ in school.
 Social ______________ problems.
 _________.
 sleep __________.
 ________ problems.
 personal ______.
27. Problems later in life:
 _________
 _________
 _________
 _________
 _________
28. While many young people consider drinking part of partying and having a good time,
the idea of getting drunk to have a good time is considered ______ drinking.

29. _______, when mixed with ______, is a major problem with deadly consequences.
Binge drinking is a _____ behavior even without driving.

30. Many people don't think about the ______ side of drinking, being hung-over, or
throwing up.
 Hangovers, _______ concentrating, memory lapses, mood changes, and other
problems will affect your day-to-day life.
 Binge drinking carries more serious and _____-lasting risks.
5 © Virginia Department of Education
  Binge drinking destroys _____ health.
31. ________ drinkers:
 have a harder time in school and are more likely to ______ out.
 have _______ sleep patterns, leading to struggles with studying and poor
__________ performance.
 may find that _________ drift away
 may become angry or ______ while drinking.
32. Signs of alcohol _________ are:
 ________
 vomiting
 bluish or pale skin
 low body temperature
 ______ to be awakened
 Extreme _________
 slow or ________ breathing.

Module 10: Topic 2

Alcohol, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and the Law

33. Facts about ______:

6 © Virginia Department of Education

  ______ is quickly and directly absorbed into the bloodstream without being
_________.
 The __________ then carries the alcohol throughout the ________.

34. As more alcohol is consumed, the effect on many of the body’s _________ intensifies,
and thinking and reasoning abilities become blurred.

35. At this point, intoxication resulting from alcohol levels reach a _____ level in the brain.

36. Blood alcohol _____________ (BAC) is the amount of alcohol an individual consumes.
Alcohol enters a person’s bloodstream and can be measured by a _________ analysis.
The BAC level tells the _______ of alcohol in the bloodstream. Thus, indicating the
level of ___________.

37. BAC is determined by testing a person's ______, breath, _____, or saliva. Testing a
driver’s breath is the quickest, least complicated, and most frequently used test to
determine BAC. A driver with a BAC of _____ has 8/100 of 1% alcohol. This means that
there is 8/10 of a drop of alcohol for every 1,000 drops of blood in a person’s body.

38. Some factors that affect BAC level are gender, body _____, drink size, food
consumption, time spent _________.

39. Alcohol can be eliminated through breathing, sweating, and ________ (liver). _____ is
the only proven method to _______ alcohol from the system. It takes roughly ____
hour to eliminate ____ drink but on average, a person’s BAC is lowered only 0.015 per
hour.

40. The number of factors that affect BAC make it difficult to assess your own BAC or
impairment. Even ____ amounts of alcohol affect one’s _____ and the _______ to
drive.

41. Even ____ drink impairs driving. A drink is ½ ______ of alcohol. To compare different
drinks, you must know the ____ of the drink and the ________ of alcohol.

42. Alcohol impairs driving skills by:

 reducing the ability to _____ and evaluate with a BAC as low as ___
 producing more aggressive behavior and ______ decision-making
 Affecting _________ first, but also affecting _______ actions
 preventing the driver from driving a vehicle in a ________ line
7 © Virginia Department of Education
 43. Some _______ signs of a drinking driver are:

 Straddling the ______ lane or lane marker

 striking, or almost striking, and object
 _______ on the road
 driving on the ________
 Slowing the _____ of the car
 making ______ or abrupt turns.
 _________ for no apparent reason
 Following too _______
 _______ into other lanes or off the road
 Driving into _______ traffic or crossing traffic
 driving at night with _________ off
 ______ to dim high beam headlights.
44. Driving while drinking leads to trouble with the law.

 Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a _______ offense.

 Nationally, there are approximately 1.5 ______ arrests each year for DUI.
 _______ states, including Virginia, consider drivers over 21 to be intoxicated if
their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is __ or higher.

45. The law shows ____ tolerance for underage drinking. An underage drinker (under 21)
with a BAC of at least 0.02 percent, but less than 0.08 percent, can
 be fined up to _______
 have a driver’s license ______ for six months
 face a possible _____ term for driving while intoxicated.

46. The laws can affect you if you knowingly allow someone whose license has been
revoked or suspended for an alcohol-related offense to drive your car, you can be
_________ with a misdemeanor. If you are 18 to 20 years old and buy, possess, or
drink alcohol, you can be fined as much as $2,500, ____ your driver’s license for as
long as _____ year, and possibly go to jail.
8 © Virginia Department of Education
 47. How the law applies to drivers in Virginia:
 You have agreed to take a _______ test upon request when you operate a
motor vehicle on Virginia’s public roads, under ______ consent laws
 you are required to take the test.
 If you ________to take the test, your license will be immediately _______ for
seven days and the judge may suspend it for one year, regardless of whether
you are convicted of driving under the influence.
 If you are convicted of DUI, the suspension period for refusing the test will be
added to the DUI __________ period.

48. In Virginia, if someone is charged with a DUI ________, and has a minor (someone 17
years old or younger) in the vehicle, that person is subject to an extra ___ days in jail
and additional fines between _____ and _____ (court cost).

49. If you _________ or sell alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21, you are
subject to a fine up to _______; ________ months in jail; suspension of your driver’s
license for up to ___ year.

50. It is a ________ for anyone under the age of 21 to use or attempt to use altered,
fictitious, or simulated documents to establish a _____ age in an attempt to consume
or purchase alcoholic beverages.

51. If any person is __________ in public, whether such intoxication results from
________, narcotic drug or drug of whatever nature, that person shall be deemed
guilty of a _______ misdemeanor.

52. Involuntary __________ or aggravated involuntary manslaughter is when one person

kills another while driving under the __________. The circumstances determine the
charge. These convictions can carry a
 sentence of up to ____ years in prison.
 License ________ for an indefinite time period.
 ______ charge, which means your vehicle is subject to ________ and forfeiture.
53. You may be charged with drinking while operating a motor vehicle if:

9 © Virginia Department of Education

  law enforcement stops you and you have an open ________ of alcohol in the
passenger area.
 the ________ of the open container have been partially removed.
 You exhibit signs that you have been drinking.

54. If you are 13 to 17 years of age and charged with public _________, buying,
_________, or drinking alcohol, you can lose your driver’s license for six months or
lose the right to apply for a driver’s license until you are ___ years old.

55. The Virginia courts and DMV require anyone with a DUI conviction to have Ignition
______ Device (IID) as a part of their ________ driving privileges.

Module 10: Topic 3

Effects of Other Drugs on The Driving Task

56. _____ that have similar effects as alcohol are:

 Over-the-counter ____________
 can be ________ legally without a prescription
 may cause _______ or impair driving ability (read the label)
10 © Virginia Department of Education
 57. __________ medications require a written note from the ________ to obtain
medications; check the label as they may reduce level of _________ or ability to
perform complex tasks.

58. Illegal drugs are _______ the law and impact driving in ways similar to alcohol.

59. Some of the ________ effects drugs have on driving are changes in:
 ____________
 loss of nerve and/or ________ control
 Ability to ____ becomes unstable.
 _______ time
 ________ become insufficient.
 inability to perceive action and ______.
60. Effects of other drugs on the driving task include:

 _____________: cognition slows and risk ________ changes.

 Tracking: lane _______ becomes precarious and maintaining ______ is difficult.
61. Alcohol and marijuana are a _______ combination behind the wheel. When a driver is
under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, the crash risk _______ to ____
times that of a _____ person.

62. The effects of marijuana on someone who is driving are:

 _______ span is brief.
 mental and physical tasks are difficult to ________.
 disorientation in tasks requiring time and distance perception
 ________ displayed in some situations.
63. It is ______ to drive while under the influence of any _____ drug or any other self-
administered _______ or drug which impairs the ability to drive safely.

64. The synergistic effects of mixing alcohol and drugs are the:
 _______ reaction between two or more drugs producing a reaction are greater
than either drug alone.
 _______ resulting from combining alcohol with another drug, creating a
greater effect than just one alone.
11 © Virginia Department of Education
 Module 10: Topic 4
Resisting Negative Peer Pressure by Saying
“No”

65. The ________ factors associated with alcohol use are:

 Anxiety and __________

 worrying about growing up (e.g., school, athletics, boyfriends and/or
girlfriends, jobs, family).
66. Unfortunately, some young people turn to _______ to seek relief from such tensions,
and this often produces _______ problems.

67. The three major influences in a person’s choice to drink are ______, peers, and media.
These all relate to _____ pressure.

68. _______ is the feeling of being ______ toward making a certain choice, whether good
or bad. _____ Pressure is the influence of others of a similar age.

69. _______ Peer Pressure is when others try to exert pressure in a positive manner.
______ Peer Pressure is when others encourage inappropriate or ________ behavior.

70. The ways to handle peer pressure are:

 ____ people around you who are encouraging or influencing you to drink; do
the right thing by not drinking.
 be a positive __________ and encourage others not to drink.
71. More young people do _____ drink than do drink, so you will be in good company.

12 © Virginia Department of Education

 72. Ways to say no include:
 saying what the problem is (e.g., that's mean or that’s _______)
 saying what the _________ of drinking are
 suggesting an __________ activity
 ______ if friends insist on drinking
73. Taking action when resisting peer pressure can involve:

 finding or inventing a _______ to leave

 getting involved in a ____ activity with a new group of people
 getting help from a _______ adult such as a coach, teacher, counselor, or family
member.
74. When _______ alcohol, be truthful and assertive. Have some answers ready, such as:

 No _____, I don’t feel like it.

 ______ is not my thing.
 Why do you keep pressuring me when I’ve said no?
75. Other ways to say no include the following:

 I can’t ____, I have to help my dad with something.

 That stuff makes me _____.
 I’m supposed to meet someone in a few minutes.
 No way. I think you just want me to get in _______.
 That stuff is so bad for you. Why would you use it?
 Haven’t you heard about the kid in the news who _____ from doing that?
76. Resisting Negative Peer Pressure with these possible responses:

 I’m not into that.

 I don’t have time for ______.
 I’d be kicked off the _____.
 There’s no _____ I’m going to do drugs.
 I’ve got more to do with my _____.
77. Ways to stop someone from driving ____ include:
13 © Virginia Department of Education
  Taking ____ away
 Arranging for a ____ who has not been drinking
 calling a _____
 having them stay ________, if possible.
78. This is your responsibility and your decision; plan _____ for safety.

 Think ahead and try to _______ possible problems.

 Decide in ________ what you intend to do.
 Think of some _____ ways to handle the situation if it arises, or some good
ways to avoid the situation altogether.

14 © Virginia Department of Education