Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Alcohol use

Table of Contents

About 20% of teens are "problem drinkers." This means that they:

  • Get drunk
  • Have accidents related to alcohol use
  • Get into trouble with the law, family members, friends, school, or dates due to alcohol

Studies have shown that up to 6% of teens in the United States can be considered dependent or abusing alcohol. This means they have withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop or reduce their drinking, and they drink compulsively despite negative consequences.

A person's alcohol use is primarily influenced by attitudes developed during the childhood and teen years. It is impacted by:

  • Family relationships
  • Parents' attitudes and behaviors toward drinking
  • Peer influence
  • Society

There is likely a genetic (hereditary) tendency to alcohol use-related disorders.

THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream quickly. The absorption rate depends on the amount and type of food in your stomach. For example, high-carbohydrate and high-fat foods lessen the absorption rates. A carbonated alcoholic drink, like champagne, will be absorbed faster than a non-carbonated drink.

The effects of alcohol may appear within 10 minutes and peak at approximately 40 - 60 minutes. Alcohol stays in the bloodstream until it is broken down by the liver. If a person consumes alcohol at a faster rate than the liver can break it down, the blood alcohol level rises.

Each state has its own legal definition of alcohol intoxication, which is defined by blood alcohol level. The legal limit usually falls between 0.08 and 0.10 in most states. Different levels lead to different effects.

The following is a list of blood alcohol levels and associated effects, although people who drink alcohol frequently may not experience these effects until higher blood alcohol levels are reached.

  • 0.05 -- reduced inhibitions
  • 0.10 -- slurred speech
  • 0.20 -- euphoria and motor impairment
  • 0.30 -- confusion
  • 0.40 -- stupor
  • 0.50 -- coma
  • 0.60 -- respiratory paralysis and death

Alcohol depresses your breathing rate, heart rate, and the control mechanisms in your brain. The effects include:

  • Impaired short-term memory
  • Reduced attention span
  • Reduced inhibitions, which may lead to embarrassing behavior
  • Slower thought processes

HEALTH RISKS

Alcohol increases the risks of:

Review Date: 03/30/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)