I. OUTLINEa. II. OBJECTIVESa. III. METHODOLOGY AND DISCUSSIONa.
What is alcohol?Alcohol, primarily in the form of ethyl alcohol
(ethanol), is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and
liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars,
and starches. It has occupied an important place in the history of
humankind for at least 8000 years. In Western society, beer and
wine were a main staple of daily life until the 19th century. These
relatively dilute alcoholic beverages were preferred over water,
which was known to be associated with acute and chronic illness.
They provided important calories and nutrients and served as a main
source of daily liquid intake. As systems for improved sanitation
and water purification were introduced in the 1800s, beer and wine
became less important components of the human diet, and the
consumption of alcoholic beverages, including distilled
preparations with higher concentrations of alcohol, shifted toward
their present-day role, in many societies, as a socially acceptable
form of recreation.
b. AbsorptionAfter oral administration, ethanol is absorbed
rapidly into the bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine.
Peak blood levels occur about 30 minutes after ingestion of ethanol
when the stomach is empty. There is a delayed absorption with
presence of food in the stomach due to the slowing down of gastric
emptying time. Levels of alcohol effects has gender differences,
women easily experience CNS depressant effects of alcohol because
of lower total body water content.
c. DistributionThere is a rapid rise in CNS levels, which
receives larger proportion of the total blood flow. Alcohol readily
crosses biologic membrane like the blood brain barrier.
d. MetabolismAlcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes;
however, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at
a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the
body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is
directly related to the amount consumed. The typical adult can
metabolize 710 g (150220 mmol) of alcohol per hour, the equivalent
of approximately one "drink" [10 oz (300 mL) beer, 3.5 oz (105 mL)
wine, or 1 oz (30 mL) distilled 80-proof spirits].
e. ExcretionMostly it is eliminated by the liver (90%
Oxidation), Lungs and urine. Small quantities of ethanol can be
excreted in urine and lungs. It is quantified by Alcohol Breath
test, this determines how much alcohol is in your blood by
measuring the amount of alcohol in the air you breathe out
(exhale).
BLOOD ALCHOLOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) AND CLINICAL EFFECTS IN
NONTOLERANT INDIVIDUALSBAC (mg/dl)CLINICAL EFFECT
50-100Sedation, subjective high, slower reaction times
100-200Impaired motor function, slurred speech, ataxia
200-300Emesis, stupor
300-400Coma
>400Respiratory depression, death
In many prats of the United States, a blood level above 80-100
mg/dl for adults or 5-20 mg/dl for persons under 21 is sufficient
for conviction of driving while under the influence.
IV. APPENDIXa.
