Alcohol is a psychotropic depressant of the central nervous system (CNS) that stimulates concurrent changes in several neuronal pathways, having a significant neurological influence that results in various psychological and biological modifications.[1]
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), carried out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), defines drinking to excess as having four or more alcoholic drinks for women and five or more for men on the same occasion. At least once in the previous month, that is, concurrently or within a few hours of one another.[2]
See below the alcohol consumption statistics:[3]
Numerous studies have revealed a connection between heavy drinking and impaired brain function, leading to illnesses including dementia, learning and memory deficiencies, behavioral disorders, and other cognitive damage. Chronic alcohol usage has the potential to permanently harm the brain. The damage to the brain can be repaired with medical intervention.[4]
It is important to explore some of the most typical behavioral, psychological, and physical indicators of alcohol abuse. Indications of alcohol poisoning include:
With alcohol abuse, there comes alcohol poisoning. Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
Alcohol intoxication is the outcome of short-term effects on the central nervous system, with symptoms that depend on how much alcohol is consumed, how frequently it is consumed, the individual's particular physical characteristics, and weight. After just one or two drinks, alcohol intoxication symptoms, such as slight cognitive and physical impairment, may start to show, but higher consumption can lead to alcohol overdose if too much alcohol is consumed in one sitting.[5]
Alcohol immediately impacts the brain because it alters the pathways that carry signals between cells and process information. Unfortunately, excessive, or quick drinking can have several negative mental impacts, including disorientation, poor motor coordination, and poor decision-making.5
People who consume more alcohol have a higher risk of developing harmful alcohol-related issues, especially if they do so over an extended period.5 Chronic alcohol consumption poses long-term health hazards, including issues with the heart, liver, and digestion, cancer, immune system deterioration, mood and sleep difficulties, and the emergence of other mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.[5]
An alcohol use disorder (AUD), sometimes known as having an "alcohol addiction" or "alcoholism," can develop because of prolonged alcohol misuse. An AUD is a compulsive, harmful drinking habit that continues despite adversely affecting a person's health, employment, and interpersonal connections.[5]
The percentage of alcohol in the blood is measured by the term "blood alcohol content" (BAC). A BAC of 0.08 indicates that your blood contains 0.08 percent alcohol by volume and is measured in grams per 100 mL of blood. BAC is calculated as grams per 210 liters of breath using a breathalyzer.6
A BAC of 0.05 or less makes it less likely for the person to appear drunk. Depending on the individual, decision-making and reaction time may be slightly hampered. For both men and women, one drink often results in a BAC below this limit.
Euphoria, the second stage of intoxication, happens between 0.03-0.12 BAC (or around 1-4 drinks for a female or 2-5 for a male). The person might feel more self-assured, conversational, outgoing, and subtly euphoric at this point. Additionally, inhibitions start to fade. The negative consequences of alcohol, such as decreased judgment, memory, and coordination, will also start to show up at this time, even though many of its effects may be pleasant for the drinker.
A person's motor skill reactions may also be significantly more delayed at this point than they would be sober. In the same way, awareness is reduced, the person may start having trouble processing information, and they won't spot danger as quickly.
A person enters the third stage of intoxication, commonly known as enthusiasm, when their BAC is between 0.09 and 0.25. They can start displaying emotional instability, poor judgment, and a pronounced lag in their reaction times.
A person with a BAC between 0.18 and 0.30 is in the confused stage of intoxication, characterized by emotional instability and confusion. The person's coordination is clearly compromised to the point where they may stumble when walking, struggle to stand up straight, and possibly even feel dizzy. Those who are in this level of intoxication are probably going to "blackout" or lose all recollection.
At this point, a person has very limited mobility, is likely to vomit, and may experience consciousness lapses. Here, there is a significant potential for an alcohol overdose, so quick medical attention is required. The BAC is between 0.25 and 0.49 percent.
This dose is almost lethal. The intoxicated person is straining to breathe and has fallen unconscious. Their body temperature is dangerously low, and their heart rate has also slowed. A person at this stage has a BAC between 0.35 and 0.50 percent.
When a person consumes this much alcohol, the body’s autonomic nervous system (ANS) shuts down at 0.45 BAC or above. The ANS controls physiological processes like breathing, heartbeat, circulation, digestion, etc. Many people cannot maintain basic bodily functions at this point, and it's almost guaranteed that they will experience respiratory arrest and eventually die.
A detoxification program, or medically assisted withdrawal, may be used as the first step in treatment. This typically takes 2 to 7 days and is also referred to as detox. The patient might need to take sedative drugs to stop the withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient treatment facilities or hospitals are frequently used for detoxification.
Alcohol And Brain
Following the detox phase, rehabilitation will start. This entails a variety of therapies and treatments to assist you in overcoming drinking desires and triggers. You will also pick some coping mechanisms during this phase that you can use once you leave rehab. Depending on the extent of your alcoholism and your doctor’s recommendations, the rehabilitation stage may occur in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
Alcohol use disorder cannot be "cured" by medication, but some can aid in the healing process. They can reduce the appeal of drinking to make people want to do it less:
It can require perseverance and hard work to give up and refrain from drinking. A person's ability to recover might be impacted by their daily routines and coping mechanisms.
Recovery from alcohol abuse or poisoning could take a while and require constant monitoring, therefore, it is best to seek help early. To get the best treatment visit us at Genesis Recovery today!