What are the effects of alcohol?
Alcohol first affects the most complex area (the frontal lobe) of the brain. This area controls higher functions of the brain such as judgment and social inhibitions (survival skills for group functioning). These complex functions are more sensitive to alcohol than the brain stem functions of respiration or heart rate. Therefore judgment and self control are the first abilities to be suppressed by alcohol. The following chart illustrates the effects of varying blood alcohol level (BAL).
Blood ALCOHOL'S EFFECTS ON THINKING, FEELING, AND
Alcohol BEHAVIOR
Level
.02-.04 Few obvious effects; slight intensification
of existing moods; some impairment of
judgment or memory.
.05-.06 Feeling of warmth, relaxation, mild
sedation, exaggeration of emotion and
behavior; slight increase in reaction time,
impaired judgment about continued drinking;
visual and hearing acuity reduced; slight
speech impairment; minor disturbance of
balance.
.07-.09 More noticeable speech impairment and
disturbance of balance; impaired
coordination; feeling of elation or
depression; definite impairment of judgment
and memory; major increase in reaction time;
may not recognize impairment. Legally
intoxicated at .08 BAL.
.10-.13 Noticeable disturbance of balance;
uncoordinated behavior; major increase in
reaction time; increased impairment of
judgment and memory.
.14-.17 Major impairment of all physical and mental
functions; difficulty in standing, talking;
distorted perception and judgment; cannot
recognize impairment.
.20-.25 Confused or dazed; major body movements
cannot be made without assistance.
.30-.35 Minimal perception and comprehension;
general suspension of cognitive abilities.
.40 Unconscious/coma.
.41+ Deep coma/death.
EFFECTS
OF SHORT-TERM ALCOHOL ABUSE
Specific body functions and body parts can be influenced directly or indirectly by alcohol. Short-term effects include:
Sensation and Perception
* decreases in both visual and hearing acuity
* altered sensitivity to odors and taste
* reduced sensitivity to pain
* altered sense of time: time appears to pass more rapidly
* underestimation of speed of moving objects
Emotions
* decreased fear/anxiety
* increased risk-taking behaviors
* increased likelihood of aggressive humor
* reduced inhibitions
Sleep
* sleep disturbance and tiredness upon awakening
Body Organs
* increased urinary output due to the diuretic effect of alcohol on the pituitary hormones
* temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure; with higher dosages, decreased heart rate
* dilated peripheral blood vessels in arms and legs. This blood vessel expansion leads to loss of body heat, while producing a feeling of added warmth. Hyperthermia can occur in cool water as well as cold air.
* constricted arteries supplying the heart, decreasing the supply of oxygen to the cells which may contribute to arrhythmia
Motor Skills
* impaired performance, although individual susceptibility varies at Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) of 0.10% or below
* decreased balance
* interference with coordination, as in tracing a moving object
* slowed reaction time
Hangover
* temporary, acute physical and psychological distress following excessive consumption. Nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and anxiety are reminders of disrupted body functions that could not be felt while intoxicated. A hangover is the body's reaction to excessive drinking.
Sexuality
* small doses may facilitate sexual activity by overcoming excessive inhibitions. But while alcohol may provoke desire, even moderate amounts spoil the capacity to perform and respond.
* decreased levels of testosterone have been measured in young males after as few as 4-12 ounce beers
The Effects of Alcohol on Sexuality
Women Men Women & Men
SMALL DOSE increased increased release of
enjoyment of arousal control inhibitions
foreplay of premature increased
feelings of ejaculation lost aggression
warmth increased
increased desire
quality of
orgasm
MODERATE DOSE fewer or no increased time longer
orgasms needed for foreplay
decreased erection to
quality of form difficulty
orgasms maintaining
erection
uncertain
orgasm
decreased
penile rigidity
LARGE DOSE no orgasms erectile
lethargy no impotence
lubrication ejaculatory
impotence
thoughtlessness
unpleasant or
painful
ejaculation
aggressiveness
ALCOHOLISM loss of loss of sexual loss of sex
menstruation satisfaction drive
frigidity erectile
infertility impotence
decreased
testosterone
infertility
breast
development
decreased body
hair shriveled
testicles
SynergismPerhaps the most dangerous alcohol/drug interaction is related to synergism, in which the combined effect of two drugs taken together is greater than the sum of the effects of the two drugs alone. Mix alcohol, a CNS depressant, with another CNS depressant, and the pharmacologic effect on the body is multiplied or exaggerated. Sometimes the result is drowsiness and difficulty in walking, talking, driving, and thinking. Breathing and heart rate can be depressed to dangerous levels. Some combinations of alcohol with barbiturates, tranquilizers, and prescription painkillers can be fatal.
EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM ALCOHOL ABUSE
Prolonged, heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages can result in one or more serious, often life-threatening consequences.
* infectious diseases * cancer
* liver disorders and diseases * muscle disease
* nutritional deficiency * hypoglycemia
* nervous system diseases * mental disorders
* endocrine system disorders * cardiovascular diseases
* gastrointestinal system disorders * alcohol/drug interactions
and diseases
* deprivation of rapid eye movements (REM) or dreaming sleep, results in anxiety, chronic tiredness, and impaired concentration
* alcohol use may aggravate migraine sufferers' tendency to vascular headaches
What are blackouts?
Blackouts are lapses in memory during intoxication; they are not a loss of consciousness. Whether lasting a few minutes or hours, blackouts are unpredictable but usually happen when the blood alcohol level is high. A blackout usually occurs after ingestion of large amounts of alcohol and for most social drinkers, it is a learning experience. Continued drinking patterns that produce blackouts indicate a high risk for alcohol problems.
Jeanine Atkinson, M.S.