Alcohol

From: Dr Nikhil BansalFrom: Dr Nikhil BansalJ.N.M.C.,WardhaJ.N.M.C.,Wardha

It is transparent, colorless, volatile with aromatic odour & burning taste. Absolute alcohol is 99% ethyl alcohol.

Ingredient of beverages:- Rum, Whisky -40-50% Portwine, Sherry -18-50% Beer -3-10%

Absorption is better if taken concentration or on empty stomach.

Concentration in blood reaches highest after about one hour.

Blood-Brain ratio of alcohol is 10/9. Blood-Urine ratio of alcohol is ¾. Blood-Breath ratio of alcohol is 1:2100 ml.

Ethyl alcohol depresses the CNS irregularly in descending order from cortex to medulla. Stage of excitement is due to removal o inhibitions. Alcohol from blood passes into alveolar air through the lungs, hence breath smells of alcohol. It causes generalized vasodilatation, is hypnotic, creates a feeling of warmth but the heat loss is more, stimulates appetite, is diuretics, diaphoretic & causes gastritis.

There are four stages:-

1)Stage of Excitement:- (blood alcohol level 0.05-0.1% i.e. 50-100 mg/100 ml 0f blood)

2)Stage of Incordination:- (0.1-0.3% i.e. 100-300 mg/100 ml of blood)

3) Stage of Narcosis:- (0.3-0.5% i.e. 300-500mg/100ml of blood)

4)Stage of Medullary Paralysis:- (+0.5% i.e. more than 500 mg/100ml of blood)

Fatal Dose:- level more than 0.7%

Fatal Period:- 12-14 hours.

Gastric lavage. Avoid emetics. Use of Ethyl alcohol in case of Methyl

alcohol poisoning. Use of Disulfiram. Symptomatic treatment.

Alcohol leads tp physical, social, moral & mental deterioration.

Physical problems may be gastritis, pancreatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis of liver, malabsorption, altered gonadal function & loss of memory. Babies born to mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy are usually mentally retarted.

Social problems may be poor inter personal relation, broken families, lack of control on children, loss of temper, scuffles, poverty etc.

Mental Syndromes are:- a) Delireum Treatment:- Is a psychotic

condition in alcoholics resulting from chronic alcoholisms due to long continued action of alcohol on brain. It may develop due to-

-Excessive alcohol consumption by habitual drinker.

- Sudden with drawl of alcohol. -Injury to chronic alcoholic. -Acute infections. -Sudden cold.

b) Korsakoff’s Psycohosis:- is a syndrome characterized by disorientation, multiple neuritis, loss of memory for recent events and hallucinations.

1) Death is rare due to ethyl alcohol. Death may occur due to methylated alcohol, aspiration, chronic consumption.

2) There are increased changes of murder, rape, vehicular accidents, drowning & Saturday night paralysis.

3) Same dose of alcohol produces different effects on different people and also on the same person at different times.

4) Barbiturates, antihistaminics, tranquilisers, insulin & opioids potentiate the action of alcohol.

5) Lead to addiction. 6)Sec. 129A, Sec 53(1) Cr.P.C. : Medical

examination of an alcoholic, if accused, can be done without consent at the request of police officer and sample of blood can be collected or chemical analysis.

Thank You