Cha. 4: An Introduction to Alcohol

Question 1

Alcohol is a _____ depressant.

Answer 1

CNS

Question 2

Define confabulation.

Answer 2

When memory loss occurs, the patient attempts to fill in the blank spots with items that aren’t true (the patient knows there is memory loss)

Question 3

Define ataxia.

Answer 3

Staggering, lack of coordinated muscle movements

Question 4

Define palsy.

Answer 4

Shaking or paralysis

Question 5

What occurs during detox for alcoholics?

Answer 5

Goal is to physically stabilize patient

• No therapy in detox
• Will receive anxiolytic (valium, anti-depressant)
• Vitamins, good diet

Question 6

Although inpatient-detox takes about _____ days, but literature is saying that isn’t possible if they’ve been a very heavy user, and should be about _____.

Answer 6

10 days; 2 weeks

Question 7

Among those who use and abuse alcohol, the largest amount of alcohol is consumed by a _____ number of people.

Answer 7

Fairly small

Question 8

Alcohol is primarily absorbed by the _____

Answer 8

Intestinal walls

* Can cause the stomach to produce mucus; which is what causes a person to throw up

Question 9

Alcohol increases the amount of _____ in the system

Answer 9

GABA (a neurochemical transmitter)

Question 10

Gaba has an _____ relationship with anxiety

Answer 10

Inverse

Question 11

Define acute confusional state.

Answer 11

The proper name for being drunk.

Question 12

How long does it take your body to biotransform alcohol?

Answer 12

Generally: 1 ounce of pure alcohol per hour, irrespective of how much you drink

Question 13

As you drink increasingly more alcohol in a short period of time, your blood alcohol level _____.

Answer 13

Increases

Question 14

External factors that affect biotransformation:

Answer 14

Medication
Food (slows down absorption)
Gender (ladies get drunker more quickly)

Question 15

What is the legal blood alcohol level to drive?

Answer 15

<.08

Question 16

Most people are considered impaired at _____ BAL.

Answer 16

.05

Question 17

What can be done to dilute BAL or make it go away more quickly?

Answer 17

Nothing

Question 18

Even if a person tolerates alcohol well, they still have an _____ BAL after consuming alcohol.

Answer 18

Increased

Question 19

Define alcohol flush syndrome.

Answer 19

Some groups that seem to have a negative reaction to drinking (nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations)
* Asians and Asian-heritage, Native-Americans are more susceptible

Question 20

_____ have an effect on the reasons behind alcohol consumption.

Answer 20

Personal expectations (subjective interpretation).

Question 21

The ability to drink without having a hangover is a sign of a _____ risk of alcohol dependency.

Answer 21

Serious

Question 22

Define binge-drinking.

Answer 22

More than approximately 5 drinks in one hour. Some evidence shows that binge-drinking regularly for a short period of time can cause permanent damage.

Question 23

Most people pass out at a BAL of _____.

Answer 23

.25-.3

Question 24

A lethal amount of alcohol occurs around a BAL of _____.

Answer 24

.35-.4
* Most people pass out prior to this, but in some cases, tolerance has built to the point where they can stay awake and continue drinking until they die.