Chapter 15 Flashcards
what role does alcohol play in peoples life - both positive and negative?
positive: cultural significance, in moderation it can enhance social occasions by creating a pleasant feeling of relaxation
negative: physiological effects on the body that impair functioning in short-term and damages in the long-term
alcohol
the intoxicating ingredient in fermented or distilled beverages; a colourless, pungent liquid
- ethanol, ethyl alcohol
what happens if wood (methanol) or rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol are consumed?
- toxic
- serious illness, blindness and even death
what are the 3 common alcoholic beverages that ethanol is the psychoactive ingredient in each?
- Beer: mild intoxicant brewed from a mixture of grains (3-6% alcohol), and malt liquors contain 6-8% alcohol
- Wine: made from fermented grapes or other fruit, concentration of table wines is 9-14% alcohol
fortified wine is more potent and extra alcohol is added in the production (20% alcohol) - Hard liquor: made by distilling brewed or fermented grains or other plant products (35-50% alcohol)
** must contain 1.1% or more alcohol to be considered an alcoholic beverage
how does the process of fermentation occur to make wine?
- sugars from the fruit react with yeast to create ethanol and other by-products
one drink (standard drink)
the amount of a beverage that typically contains 13.6g of alcohol
caloric content of alcohol
- contains 7calories/gram
* * standard drink is 14-17grams so that’s about 100-120calories per drink
how is alcohol absorbed? what happens when it enters the bloodstream and what factors affect the rate of absorption?
- 20% is absorbed from the stomach
- 75% is absorbed through the upper part of small intestines
- remaining alcohol enters the bloodstream further along the gastrointestinal tract
- once alcohol is in the bloodstream it produces feelings of intoxication
- rate of absorption is affected by:
1. carbonation (increases rate)
2. artificial sweeteners (increases rate)
3. food in stomach (decreases rate) - all alcohol is eventually absorbed
where in the body is alcohol metabolized?
- mainly in the liver
- little in the stomach
metabolism
the chemical transformation of food and other substances in the body into energy and wastes
how is alcohol metabolized?
most alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, then to acetate which is then burned for energy or stored as fat
where in the body is alcohol excreted?
- excreted by the lungs, kidneys, and sweat glands (this causes a person to smell like alcohol)
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and what factors affect BAC?
- the amount of alcohol in the blood expressed as the percentage of alcohol in a decilitre of blood; used as a measure of intoxication
Factors:
1. body weight: smaller person develops a higher BAC than a larger person consuming the same amount of alcohol
2. percentage of body fat: higher percentage of body fat will develop a higher BAC
3. sex: women have a higher BAC than men - also depends on rate of alcohol absorption and rate of alcohol metabolism
immediate effects of alcohol - low and high concentrations
- BAC is a primary factor determining the effects of alcohol
- Low concentrations:
- -> felt at a BAC of 0.03-0.05%, include lightheadedness, relaxation and release of inhibitions, mild euphoria and become more social
- Higher concentrations:
- -> interference with motor coordination, verbal performance and intellectual function
- -> 0.1% = most sensory-motor functioning is reduced and become sleepy
- -> 0.2 = unable function (physically or psychologically) bc of the depressed in the CNS
- -> 0.35% = possibly fatal or coma
alcohol hangovers - symptoms? what seems to cause them? whats the best way to avoid a hangover?
- symptoms: a headache, shakiness, nausea, fatigue
- cause: combination of toxic products of alcohol breakdown, dehydration and hormonal effects
- prevention is the best way to avoid a hangover
- -> males 4-5 standard drinks
- -> females 3-4 standard drinks
- -> drinking less, slow and eating food and drinking non alcoholic beverages
alcohol poisoning - what usually happens? how do they die?
- drinking large amounts can increase your BAC into the lethal range
- alcohol either alone or in combination is responsible for many of the toxic overdosing deaths than any other drug
- die by CNS or respiratory depression or by inhaling fluid or vomit in the lungs
antisocial personality disorder
underlying psychiatric disorder that causes people to be aggressive when intoxicated
dose-response function
relationship between the amount of alcohol/drug consumed and the type and intensity of the effect