Alcohol
The Disease of Alcoholism
Alcoholism
was thought
of as:
Lack of willpower
Mental problem
Moral issue
If not
shunned, the
alcoholic was
treated in:
Asylum (nervous
breakdown)
Detox (seizure)
Jail (sleep it off)
A Change in the way Individuals view
Alcoholism :
In 1956 alcoholism was classified
as an illness by the American
Medical Association (AMA).
American Medical Association Statement:
“Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease
with genetic, psychosocial and
environmental factors influencing its
development and manifestations” -1983
Alcoholism
The Disease is
often progressive
and FATAL
DENIAL
Denial is characterized by continuous
or periodic:
Impaired control over drinking
Preoccupation with the substance
Use of alcohol despite adverse
consequences
Distortions in thinking — most
notably: DENIAL
SYMPTOMS:
• Appear in physical,
active and
emotional
categories
• Vary from person to
person
SYMPTOMS:
Physical
• Compulsion
• Motor control
• Hand/eye
• Stagger
• Speech
• Breath
• Blackouts
• DENIAL
Active
• Irresponsible
• Absenteeism
• Tardiness
• Living problems:
• Job
• Social
• Legal
• Financial
• Medical
• Dishonesty
• Broken promises
• Blaming
• DENIAL
Emotional
• Compulsion
• Low esteem
• Grandiosity
• Guilt
• Shame
• Remorse
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Self-pity
• Rage
• Ingratitude
• Paranoia
• DENIAL
True or False
It takes 90 seconds
for alcohol to affect
the brain?
Jellinek Curve:
widely used to
diagnose substance
use disorder.
ALCOHOL IN THE BODY
BAC Chart for Men and Woman
BAC Chart
for Men
BAC Chart
for Women
BAC LEVELS AND EFFECTS:
The effects of alcohol intoxication are
greatly influenced by individual variations
among users. Some users may become
intoxicated at a much lower Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC) level than is shown.
0.02-0.03 BAC
No loss of coordination, slight
euphoria and loss of shyness.
Depressant effects are not
apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe
a little lightheaded.
0.02-0.03 BAC:
0.04-0.06 BAC
Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria.
Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior
may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad
emotions are worse).
0.04-0.06 BAC:
0.07-0.09 BAC
Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision,
reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment
and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason
and memory are impaired, .08 is legally impaired
and it is illegal to drive at this level. You will
probably believe that you are functioning better
than you really are.
0.07-0.09 BAC:
0.10-0.125 BAC
Significant impairment of motor
coordination and loss of good
judgment. Speech may be slurred;
balance, vision, reaction time and
hearing will be impaired. Euphoria.
0.10-0.125 BAC:
0.13-0.15 BAC
Gross motor impairment and lack of physical
control. Blurred vision and major loss of
balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria
(anxiety, restlessness) is beginning to
appear. Judgment and perception are
severely impaired.
0.13-0.15 BAC:
0.16-0.19 BAC
Dysphoria predominates,
nausea may appear. The
drinker has the appearance of
a “sloppy drunk.“
0.16-0.19 BAC:
0.20 BAC
Feeling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented.
May need help to stand or walk. If you injure
yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people
experience nausea and vomiting at this level. The
gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do
vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may
not remember what has happened.
0.20 BAC:
0.25 BAC
All mental, physical and sensory functions
are severely impaired. Increased risk of
asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of
seriously injuring yourself by falls or other
accidents.
0.25 BAC:
0.30 BAC
STUPOR. You have little
comprehension of where you
are. You may pass out suddenly
and be difficult to awaken.
0.30 BAC:
0.35 BAC:
Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical
anesthesia.
0.35 BAC:
0.40 BAC and up:
Onset of coma, and possible death due to
respiratory arrest.
0.40 BAC and up:
Alcohol Withdrawal –
Delirium Tremens – DTS
Alcohol Withdrawal is
the physical symptoms
associated with
prolonged heavy use of
alcohol. Withdrawal
symptoms present when
alcohol intake has
stopped.
Alcohol Withdrawal
The abstinence
syndrome that develops
is medically more
severe and more likely
to cause death than
withdrawal from
narcotic drugs.
Stages of Withdrawal
Stages 1 – Stage 4
Stage 1:
Tremors, excessively rapid
heartbeat, hypertension, heavy
sweating, loss of appetite and
insomnia
Stage 2:
Individuals can experience
auditory and/or visual
hallucinations
Stage 3:
Delusions,
disorientation, deliriumsometimes intermittent
in nature and usually
followed by amnesia.
Stage 4:
Seizure activity
“Delirium Tremens”
The old term
“delirium
tremens” is used
to refer to severe
cases that include
at least Stage 3
Congeners
These are natural
products of the
fermentation and
preparation process –
some of which are quite
toxic
CONGENERS DEFINITION:
Congeners make the
various alcoholic
beverages different in
smell, taste, color and
possibly hangover
potential.
CONGENER
con·ge·ner /känjənər
,kənˈjēnər/noun
- a minor chemical
constituent, especially one
that gives a distinctive
character to a wine or liquor
or is responsible for some of
its physiological effects
Congener Level:
Wine: 0.04% Liquor: 0.1% Beer: 0.01%
A standard drink is 12 grams of pure ethanol.
• This equals:
• 12 ounces of beer
• 12 ounces of wine cooler
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (whiskey,
vodka, rum, etc.)
HANGOVERS
are NO fun
Upset stomach, fatigue,
headache, thirst, depression,
anxiety AND general malaise.
Nausea and Upset Stomach
The nausea and upset stomach
typically experienced can most
likely be attributed to the fact
that alcohol is a gastric irritant.
Alcohol and Blood Sugar Levels
One of the effects of alcohol intake is to
increase the blood sugar level for about one
hour after ingestion.
Feeling of Fatigue
This may be followed
several hours later by
a low blood sugar
level and an
increased feeling of
fatigue.
If you or someone you know is suffering from
substance use or mental health issues, reach
out to someone for assistance.
Sources – June 2016
• http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/breaking-myths-aboutalcoholism
• http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html
• Video Resource
• The Truth About Drugs documentary is the cornerstone of the Foundation
for a Drug-Free World Campaign, sponsored by the Church of Scientology.
This documentary is the real story of what drugs are and what they do to
one’s body and mind—told by people who’ve been there, done them and
survived to tell about it.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqXsOE_O4c
- a minor chemical
constituent, especially one
that gives a distinctive
character to a wine or liquor
or is responsible for some of
its physiological effects
Congener Level:
Wine: 0.04% Liquor: 0.1% Beer: 0.01%
A standard drink is 12 grams of pure ethanol.
• This equals:
• 12 ounces of beer
• 12 ounces of wine cooler
• 5 ounces of wine
• 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (whiskey,
vodka, rum, etc.)
HANGOVERS
are NO fun
Upset stomach, fatigue,
headache, thirst, depression,
anxiety AND general malaise.
Nausea and Upset Stomach
The nausea and upset stomach
typically experienced can most
likely be attributed to the fact
that alcohol is a gastric irritant.
Alcohol and Blood Sugar Levels
One of the effects of alcohol intake is to
increase the blood sugar level for about one
hour after ingestion.
Feeling of Fatigue
This may be followed
several hours later by
a low blood sugar
level and an
increased feeling of
fatigue.
If you or someone you know is suffering from
substance use or mental health issues, reach
out to someone for assistance.
Sources – June 2016
• http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/breaking-myths-aboutalcoholism
• http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html
• Video Resource
• The Truth About Drugs documentary is the cornerstone of the Foundation
for a Drug-Free World Campaign, sponsored by the Church of Scientology.
This documentary is the real story of what drugs are and what they do to
one’s body and mind—told by people who’ve been there, done them and
survived to tell about it.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqXsOE_O4c
Fahad S. Shaikh
Hampton, NH
