Information on Alcohol (Alcohol and the Brain) What is it?

• Alcohol is a depressant and it is the most commonly used and abused drug in the United States.
• Alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol, which is formed by the reaction of yeast cells on the carbohydrates of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Street Names: Booze, shots, wine coolers, jello-shots, cider-jack, mixed-drinks, juice, hooch, brew Types of Alcohol Beer, wine, liquor, liqueurs How is it taken? Alcohol is consumed by drinking. The alcohol enters the stomach, where it is directly absorbed into the bloodstream, and moves throughout the whole body affecting every tissue. Approximately 30 seconds after ingestion, alcohol has already traveled through the blood stream and reached the brain. Short-term effects: The short-term effects of alcohol are varied.  People might experience the following after light to moderate drinking:

• Loss of inhibitions
• Relaxation
• Loss of judgment
• A buzz feeling
• Loss of coordination
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Increased aggression (may lead to interpersonal problems)

When moderate to large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a relatively short period of time, the effects are not always pleasurable, and may include:

• Decreased heart rate
• Slower respiration
• Loss of taste and smell
• Inability to feel pain
• Short-attention span
• Memory problems
• Sleep interference
• Sexual dysfunction (loss of sensation, temporary impotence)
• Vision problems (light sensitivity, color impairment, blurred vision)

Long Term Effects of Alcohol:

• Alcoholism
• Poor nutrition
• Brain damage
• Liver damage
• Damage of all internal organs
• Confusion
• Poor relationships
• Loss of job or property
• Depression
• Anxiety

Tolerance: Tolerance to alcohol develops very easily. On a basic level, tolerance to alcohol means that a person can drink alcoholic beverages in great quantities without feeling the effects of the alcohol. Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol, and an alcoholic can drink large amounts of alcohol without exhibiting any of the signs of intoxication- this is directly related to their high tolerance. Withdrawal: Withdrawal from alcohol is a very complicated process and it can include irritability, depression, tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and convulsions. There are many programs available to help alcohol dependent people (see our page on resources).  Alcohol Content Chart (The percent of alcohol in a drink)

• Light beer           4%
• Regular beer       6% (May vary)
• Wine cooler        6%
• Dark beer           8%
• Wines                12-20%
• Amaretto            28%
• Kahlua               28%
• Tequila               40%
• Cognac              40%
• Drambui             40%
• Bourbon             43%
• Whiskey             43%
• Scotch                43%
• Vodka                43%
• Rum                   43%
• Gin                     43%
• Brandy                43%
• Everclear            95%

 What does "proof" mean? The "proof" of alcohol is the percentage of alcohol found in a beverage multiplied by 2.  100% alcohol would be 200 proof and vodka (approx. 43% alcohol) would be 86 Proof. Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.) Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.) refers to the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream. The higher your B.A.C. is, the less control you have over your own body. Many things affect B.A.C., including height, weight, tolerance, gender, and presence of food/non-alcoholic drinks in the stomach. What happens at the various levels of B.A.C.?  

• .02-.04 1 ? 2 drinks, people begin to feel relaxed, happy, lowered inhibitions
• .04-.08 Impairment begins, poor coordination, reflexes, and muscle control, loss of self-control, and driving capability
• .08-.10 Legally drunk in almost all states and the District of Columbia
• .10-.15 Loss of balance, impaired movement, and slightly slurred speech
• .15-.25 Slurred speech, staggering, confusion, loss of perception (color and depth), vision problems, double vision
• .25-.40 Most people are in a state of stupor and barely conscious, some may die
• .40-.50+ Most people are unconscious, the respiratory system shuts off, and death is likely

Gender Differences Generally, women will feel the effects, or get drunker than men of the same size even when they drink the same amount.  Men can drink more before becoming intoxicated because of a stomach enzyme that is more prevalent in men than in women. As a result, women are less able to digest or breakdown the alcohol before it enters the bloodstream.  Therefore, women must be careful not to drink themselves to a disadvantage. Alcohol Poisoning Alcohol poisoning (also known as acute alcohol intoxication) occurs when the amount of alcohol circulating in the bloodstream is so high that the body considers it a poison. As alcohol is a depressant, as it circulates throughout the major internal organs (heart, lungs, brain, etc?), it slows down the heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. When a large amount reaches the brain, the brain will automatically shutdown, and will render a person in a state of unconsciousness. There is little difference between the amount of alcohol necessary to make someone unconscious, and the amount necessary to kill them. Should the body of an unconscious person continue to metabolize the alcohol in the stomach, they run the risk of irreversible brain damage, or death. So what are the signs of Alcohol Poisoning/Acute Alcohol Intoxication? If someone exhibits even one of these signs, they may need medical assistance:

• Unconsciousness/semi-consciousness
• Less than 8-9 breaths per minute
• Bluish skin, cold or clammy skin
• A strong odor of alcohol (from mouth or clothing)
• Vomiting

If you are with someone who is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, call for emergency medical assistance (4-6111 on-campus or 911). Never leave the person, unless you need to call for help or to get assistance. While waiting for medical help, here are a few things you can do to help the intoxicated person:  

•  Try to wake the person by calling out their name and lightly pinching their skin
•  Turn the person on his/her side to prevent choking and suffocation by their vomit
•  Monitor their breathing, count how many breaths per minute are taken
•  Monitor the skin color and body temperature

To prevent alcohol poisoning and intoxication, there are several steps that you can follow:

• Do not play drinking games
• Do not drink out of a bong
• Do eat food before drinking
• Do drink slowly (sip don?t chug)
• Do space your drinks (no more than one drink per hour)
• Do substitute soda, juice, or water while drinking
• Do set a limit, and STICK TO IT!

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Is there a chance you could be pregnant? Pregnant women who drink alcohol run the risk of giving birth to a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. During pregnancy, the mother performs many of the life functions for her baby- including breathing, eating, and drinking. When alcohol is consumed, it passes through the placenta, and directly into the baby's bloodstream. Even a small amount of alcohol can result in physical and mental retardation, and permanent physical abnormalities. The Dreaded Hangover A hangover is the body withdrawing from the effects of alcohol and experiencing dehydration.  After a big night of drinking, do you or your friends suffer any of these symptoms? If you do, then you are probably experiencing a hangover.

• Thirst
• Headache
• Body ache
• Fatigue
• Heartburn
• Blurred vision
• Stomach-ache
• Frequent urination

The big question is "How do I cure a hangover"? Some will try drinking coffee, others will take a Tylenol or Alka-Seltzer, some will try herbal tea, and others will try organic hangover medicines. What do all of these ?cures? have in common? They DON?T work! There is only one cure for a hangover, and that is time- time to let the effects wear off (usually 3 ? 6 hours). The only way to prevent a hangover is sobriety. College Drinking Did you know...?

• College students spend about $6 billion each year on alcohol
• The average male student spends over $300 each year on alcohol
• The average female student spends over $150 each year on alcohol
• Around 3% of current college students will die of an alcohol-related death in the future
• 35% of college failures can be attributed to alcohol
• Alcohol factors in to 85% of campus rapes
• Over half of all on-campus crime is associated with alcohol
• One in three suicides by college students is done under the influence of alcohol
• One in three college students do not drink at all
• Most college students drink responsibly

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Sources: 1.  Do It Now Foundation 2.  Drug Free Resource Net http://www.drugfreeamerica.org 3.  Harvard School of Public Health ? College Alcohol Survey 4.  National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information 5.  National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 6.  National Institute on Drug Abuse 7.  National Institutes of Health 8.  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 9.  Nebraska Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse 10.  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 11.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 12.  Washington Post, "Why Women Get Drunk Faster Than Men"   16 January 1990 13. Wisconsin Clearinghouse