The Science of Alcohol Curriculum for American Indians uses the Medicine Circle and the "new science paradigm" to study the science of alcohol through a culturally relevant holistic approach. Intended for teachers and other educational personnel involved with American Indians, this curriculum presents a framework for alcohol education that integrates physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional perspectives. The rubric of science alone will not alter the impact that alcohol and alcohol abuse have had on the lives of some American Indian students. This unit of the curriculum focuses on the digestion and metabolism of alcohol. It discusses: (1) the concept of holism; (2) the four basic processes of the alimentary canal; (3) the value of the machine model of the body; (4) physical and chemical actions of digestion in the mouth; (5) peristalsis in the esophagus; (6) roles of the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas in digestion; (7) disruption of the stomach's normal functions by alcohol; (8) alcohol metabolism in the liver; (9) damage to the liver and pancreas by alcohol; (10) digestion of food compared to that of alcohol in the mouth, esophagus, and small intestines; and (11) effects of alcohol on the urinary tract. This unit contains a participant's handbook, 21 references, a glossary, 24 handouts and accompanying overhead transparencies, tips for a successful training session, and an evaluation form. (SV)