Alcohol Flashcards
Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)
Weight of alcohol in a unit volume of alcohol
BAL is more accurate than
Measuring how many drinks were consumed due to other factors
Presumptive limit in Florida
0.08, which mean u r legally impaired if your BAL reaches this number.
Four processes of consumption of alcohol and drugs
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolization
- Elimination
Alcohol absorption
Swallow, travel down esophagus and into stomach and the small intestine, straight into bloodstream
Cardiovascular system picks up alcohol in
Stomach and carries it throughout the body
Alcohol travels across
Intestinal wall and stomach wall to get into blood
Alcohol travels to the liver where
It is partially broken down. Alcohol that survives travels to the heart
Some alcohol is released through
Breath
Breathalyzer measure alcohol that is in
Lungs
How much longer does it take to digest alcohol than a standard drink
75-90 mins
6 ways alcohol is eliminated
- Lungs
- Broken down by liver
- Urine from kidneys
- Saliva
- Sweat
- Feces
0.01-.03
Reasoning and inhibitions reduced
0.04.07
Motor skills, vision, memory, hearing, and concentration affected
.12-.15
Motor skills, mental functions, and vision are severely impaired
Over .08
Greater levels of impairment: speech is slurred, balance, peripheral vision, reaction time, and hearing will be impaired
.16
Extreme crash risk, nausea accelerates, assistance walking, confusion, vomiting and black outs
.25-.35
Unconscious and alcohol poisoning
.35-.45
Death or coma
Heart damage from alcohol abuse
Hypertension- increased risk of high blood pressure
Cardiomyothapy- increased risk of heart muscle disease
Arrhythmia- increased risk for disturbed heart rhythm
Stroke
Alcohol can cause inflammation of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, which leads to
Ulcerations
Damage to the liver
Cirrhosis, which leads to liver failure, cancer, or death
Pancreatic from alcohol
Unable to diges4 food and absorb nutrients when the pancreas is swollen from chronic alcohol abuse, which leads to malnutrition, weight loss, and diabetes
Synergjstsic
The effect of the drug taken with alcohol is greater than the sum of their effects
Additive
Tye effect of drug and alcohol is the sum of the effects
Antagonistic
The effect of the drug is diminished in the presence of alcohol
Most dangerous drugs to mix with alcohol
Sedatives
Antibiotics and alcohol
Most are less effective, can cause Nashua, vomiting, headaches, or even seizures
Antidepressants and alcohol
Synergistic effect, imapirs judgement and motor skills
Antihistamines (I.e. benadryl) and alcohol
May be intensified by alcohol, increase probability of crash
Narcotics and alcohol
Sedative effect for both, imcrease risk of overdose
Tylenol and alcohol
May damage the liver, use asprin or ibuprofen instead, though may cause problems.
