the responsible use of alcohol chapter 10. the nature of alcohol cns depressant; effects vary b/c...
TRANSCRIPT
The Nature of Alcohol • CNS Depressant; effects vary b/c different body systems are affected to different degrees at different BACs– Low concentrations (0.03%-0.05% ) : light-
headedness, relaxation, release of inhibitions– High concentrations (0.1% -0.2%): motor coordination,
verbal performance and intellectual functions impaired
• Ethyl Alcohol – only alcohol that can be consumed
• Beer: 3-6% alcohol by volume• Malt Liquors (not lower than 5%): 6-8% alcohol by
volume• Table wines: 9-14% alcohol by volume• Fortified wines: 20% alcohol by volume
– Sugar and extra alcohol is added• Hard liquors: 35-50% (or more) alcohol by volume
2
•Proof Value– Two times the percentage concentration
•Ingestion– 7 calories per gram– 1 drink contains 14-17 grams, or 100-
120 calories
The Nature of Alcohol
Alcohol Absorption• 20% is rapidly absorbed from the
stomach• 75% is absorbed in the small
intestines• Remaining is absorbed along the GI
tract• Affected by many factors – Carbonation: increases absorption rate– Food in the stomach: slows rate– Increased alcohol concentration: slows
rate (irritates mucous membranes)4
Alcohol Intake and Blood Alcohol Concentration
•Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)– A measure of intoxication, determined by amount of
alcohol consumed in a given amount of time and by:• Body Weight: smaller people develop higher BAC• Percentage of body fat: higher % body fat, higher BAC
(alcohol stays in bloodstream, less in fat)• Sex: women metabolize less alcohol in stomach, more
released into bloodstream and women tend to have higher % body fat
• Balance of alcohol absorbed and rate of metabolism• Genetic factors: chronic drinkers metabolize alcohol faster• Drinking behavior: the faster you drink, the faster BAC rises
– Can NOT be influenced by• Exercise, breathing deeply, eating, drinking coffee, taking
other drugs
•Metabolism is the same if the person is sleep or awake or asleep
5
Metabolism and Excretion
• Transported throughout the body via the bloodstream
• Easily moves through most biological membranes
• Main site for metabolism is the liver (digests about 1 drink/hour)
• 2-10% of ingested alcohol is not metabolized but excreted through skin, etc.
6
The Immediate Effects of Alcohol on Health
• Dependant on the individual• Alcohol hangover• Alcohol poisoning• Higher Concentrations– Coma usually occurs at 0.35% and
higher concentrations can be fatal
• Dangerous if using alcohol with other drugs
• Alcohol-related injuries and violence7
Drinking and Driving• In 2010– 32,885people were killed in alcohol
related accidents• Dose-response function– Describes the change in effect on an
organism caused by differing levels of doses to a chemical
– Driving with a BAC of 0.14% makes you more than 40 times more likely to be involved in a crash than with a BAC =0.0%
8
The Effects of Chronic Use• Digestive system– Alters liver function• Liver cell damage and destruction (cirrhosis)• Cirrhosis causes drinker to lose capacity to
tolerate alcohol– Acute Pancreatitis- inflammation of pancreas
that can be caused by heavy alcohol use
10
•Cardiovascular system•Higher doses elevates BP, and may weaken heart muscle (cardiac myopathy)
•Cancer– Mouth, throat, larynx, liver, breast,
& esophagus•Brain Damage
– Cognitive impairments– Memory loss, dementia, and
compromised problem-solving•Mortality
– Alcoholics average life expectancy is about 15 years less than non-alcoholics
The Effects of Chronic Use
The Effects of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
• Effects are dose-related – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Full-blown FAS occurs in up to 15 out of every 10,000 live births in the U.S.
• Small head, abnormal facial structures, heart defects, and other physical abnormalities
• Slowed physical and mental growth, with many mentally impaired
– Alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder (ARND)• Appear physically normal but often have learning and
behavioral disorders; more likely to develop substance abuse as adults
12
Possible Health Benefits of Alcohol
• Moderate doses may reduce the risk of HD
• Moderate drinking = one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men– Raises blood levels of HDL–May lower risk of diabetes, arterial
blockages, and Alzheimer’s• On average, light to moderate drinkers
live longer than both abstainers and heavy users
13
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
• Alcohol abuse is recurrent use that has negative consequences
• Alcohol dependence or alcoholism includes more extensive problems like tolerance and withdrawal
• Warning signs of alcohol abuse– Drinking alone– Using deliberately and repeatedly– Feeling uncomfortable on occasions when not
drinking– Escalating consumption– Getting drunk regularly– Drinking in the morning or unusual times14
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence• Binge Drinking– The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism defines as:• Pattern of alcohol use that brings a person’s BAC
up to 0.08 or above (typically four drinks for a male or three for a women) within two hours.
– National Survey on Drug Use and Health defines as:• Having five drinks in a row for a man or four in a
row for a women within two hours.– Frequent binge drinkers in college were three
to seven times more likely than non-binge drinkers to engage in unplanned or unprotected sex
15
• Health Effects– DTs (delirium tremens)– Paranoia
• Social and Psychological Effects– Can withdraw from society– Increased anxiety and depression
16
Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
Treatment Programs• No one program works for everyone– AA• 12-step program
– Employee assistance programs– Inpatient hospital rehabilitation– Pharmacological treatments• Antabuse–Inhibits the metabolic breakdown
• Naltrexone–Reduces the craving for alcohol and
decreases its pleasant effects
17
Drinking Behavior and Responsibility
• Examine your drinking behavior– CAGE screening test: Feel the need to CUT
down, ANNOYED by criticism, feel GUILTY about drinking, use alcohol as an EYE-OPENER
• Drink moderately and responsibly– Drink slowly– Space your drinks– Eat before and while drinking– Know your limits and your drinks
18