Types Alcohol

Over 100 different types Ethanol Methanol Ethyl Alcohol Ethanol

1

= = =

C2 H5 OH

Isopropyl

CH3 OH (Ch3)2 CH2 OH

Background
H H H
Fermentation to make alcohol dates back to 4200 BC Second most used drug in the world (caffeine #1) Luxembourg tops list for legal purchase and consumption (12.6 liters/person) Latvia tops list for legal, illegal, and homemade purchase and consumption (16-20 liters/person) Whites have highest alcohol consumption rates Americans consumed twice as much alcohol in 1830 as they do now.
3

c
H

H OH

College and University Use

Students drink 4 billion cans of beer yearly 360,000 of 12 million undergraduates will die from alcohol-related causes while in school. Nearly of college students are binge drinkers Average student spends $900 per year on alcohol (books $450/year)
5

Other Social Problems Associated with Alcohol Consumption

Correlated with crime in general Domestic violence Rape DWI Economic costs are huge
>82 Billion in lost productivity 18.8 billion for alcohol problems 9.9 billion for other drug problems

Economic burden of alcohol and drug problems falls on the population that do not abuse alcohol or drugs.
6

Other Comments
Can have therapeutic effects when consumed in moderation (1 drink per day). Does not depend on the beverage Causes body damage when consumed in greater amounts. Minimum age drinking laws have mixed effects. Most laws related to drinking and driving have minimal impacts at changing behavior. Get short term reductions and the behavior goes back to normal. (Ross studies)
7

Ethanol

Background Information
Is a simple molecule Is classified as a CNS depressant Contains no vitamins, minerals etc Only contains 210 calories/oz Requires no digestion Once in the system it stays until metabolized Makes it unique

Distribution
After absorption goes evenly throughout the body Easily crosses the blood-brain barrier Also crosses the placenta and enters the blood stream of a developing fetus. Essentially goes to all cells Impacts all cells
9 10

Behavioral Effects
01 .01-02 .03 .05 Decreased Inhibitions Vision Changes Changes in inhibition Buzz Beginning to decrease motor coordination .08 - .10 Decreased motor coordination, legal limit .15 - .20 Severe loss of judgment and muscle coordination .30 Passing out, coma .40 - .5 Death

Factors that Influence BACs

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
11

Concentration that is ingested Proof of the beverage Speed of consumption Carbon Dioxide Sex of the individual Tolerance Altitude Circadian Variation Ascending vs. Descending BACs Fructose RO-15-4513 and others
12

Concentration that is Consumed

Generally, the greater the concentration, the faster it enters the bloodstream.
On the rocks is better tha n not on the r ocks

Proof of the Beverage

Amount of alcohol/volume of water
100% Ethanol / 0% Water = 200 Proof
Only e xists in airless environments Usually 190 Proof is as good as you can get

If concentration becomes to great, can decrease bloodstream entry

Can shut down the system

50% Ethanol / 50% Water = 100 Proof 40% Ethanol / 60% Water = 80 Proof

Is not the same as concentration The greater the proof, the faster the entry into the blood stream To high (>100 proof), it can inhibit entry until the concentration is reduced.
13 14

Speed of Consumption
The faster you drink, the faster the BAC rises

Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide makes ethanol cross the mucosal membranes faster than straight ethanol Makes you drunk faster Scotch and Soda gets you faster than Scotch and water.

15

16

Reasons Sex of the Individual

If a male and female are the same body weight, the female will get drunk faster than the male
Women have less alcohol dehydrogenase than men. Metabolizes alcohol slower Men have more muscle to fat than women. More muscle = more blood in solution dilutes the ethanol and lowers the BAC. Women have more body fat than men. Fat contains little blood in solution. Less solution the higher the BAC
17 18

Tolerance
The greater the tolerance, the better the person will function when under the influence. Note: BAC is still the same

Altitude
The greater the altitude, the faster the ethanol crosses the mucosal membranes. Get drunk faster

19

20

Circadian Variation
Circadian Rhythms will influence how drunk you will get

Ascending vs. Descending BACs

You are drunker on the ascending side of the BAC curve than at the same level on the Descending side of the BAC curve.

21

22

Why
B A C

Neurons have adapted somewhat Beginning Tolerance

Time
23 24

Fructose
Increases the metabolism of the liver Slightly decreases the BAC

RO-15-4513 and others

Block the effects of alcohol on receptor binding sites. Have the same BAC but no behavioral effects.

25

26

Effects of Ethanol on Body Structures

27

28

Mouth
Trace amounts absorbed here Causes
Irritation lesions ulcers oral cancer

Esophagus
Is a tube surrounded by muscles and blood vessels Has a mucosal lining Causes
Damage to mucosal lining Esophageal ulcers Esophageal Cancer Esophageal Varices
29 30

Stomach
15-20% absorbed here Stimulates production of HCL Irritates and damages mucosal lining Changes the electrical properties of the stomach lining Gastritis Ulcers Achlorhydria
31

Pyloric Valve

Spasms in the presence of large amounts of ethanol

32

Intestinal Wall

Small Intestine
Microvilli

Blood Vessel
V I L L I

Majority of Ethanol absorbed here Damages Mucosal Cells, Villi, and Microvilli Decreases absorption of nutrients and vitamins Increases Triglyceral and Cholesterol production
33

Food

Intestine Passage
34

Intestinal Wall
Blood Vessel Microvilli
V I L L I

Pancreas
Increased concentration of Pancreatic enzymes Decreased volume of enzyme secretion Pancreatitis Decreased insulin production Secondary Diabetes
35

Alcohol

Food

Intestine Passage
36

ion at m m fla In
Tubes Narrow

Pancreatic Duct
37

Pancreatic Duct
38

Gall Bladder
Decreased amounts of Bile Secretion

Large Intestine
Decreased water and vitamin absorption Diarrhea

39

40

RBC

Effects on Blood Cells

Decreased Production Anemia

41

42

WBC
Decreased production Decreased response time Get more infections Increased risk for STDs/HIV

Platelets
Decreased production Decreased clotting time More bumps and bruises

43

44

Neurons
Alters neuronal membrane (Lipid Bilayer) Decreases amounts of Na that enters the axon Decreased height of the action potential Alters Ca influx - Decreases the amount of NT that is released Decreases transmission speed Increases tolerance Demyelination

Nervous System

45

46

More
Inhibits the function of NMDA subtype Glutamate Receptor
Decreases the responsiveness of NMDA receptors to glutamate

Brain Structures
of

Binds on BZ subunit of GABA receptor

Inhibits other neurons by increasing Cl into post synaptic element

May impact Serotonin receptors (5HT2, 5HT3) located in Dopamine Post Synaptic Elements in Nucleus Accumbens
47 48

Alters newer evolutionary structures first, then older structures Damages Frontal, Temporal lobes, hippocampus, etc Decreases the numbers of dendrites and axons Increases Ventricle Size Decreases blood flow

Related Brain Damage

Blackouts Sleep Changes Wernicke-Korsakoffs Syndrome Other Psychological and Psychiatric problems

49

50

Wernicke-Korsakoffs Syndrome
Due to a lack of B vitamins Results from damage to cortex peripheral nerve cells Key symptom is confabulation
Get holes in memory so you fill them in.

Visual System
Decreased accommodation time Decreases tracking ability Double vision Decreased recovery time

Usually STM is the most affected Poor Prognosis

51 52

Endocrine Effects
Inhibits Vasopressin release Decreases thyroid hormones, progesterone, testosterone, Luteinizing hormone, and others

Males
Damages or kills Leydig Cells Increases feminine characteristics Decreased sexual drive, reproductive failure, impotence

53

54

Females
Early Menopause Premenstrual discomfort Increased menstrual Flows Infertility

Muscle Tissue

55

56

Skeletal Muscle
Disrupts internal structure of the muscle Cramps, pain, weakness = Alcoholic Myopathy

Cardiac
Increased Weight of the heart Dilation of heart chambers Scar tissue Cardiomyopathy

57

58

Removal of Ethanol

Methods
Trace amounts through respiration and sweat. Some through fecal material Most is metabolized by the liver via two systems

59

60

10

Alcohol Dehydrogenase System (ADH)

Substance Ethanol Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid CO2 + H20 Respiration Urination
61

Microsomal Ethanol Oxidase System (MEOS)

Substance Ethanol Acetaldehyde Acetic Acid CO2 + H20 Respiration Urination
62

Degrading Enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

Degrading Enzyme MEOS Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

Ethanol Effects on the Liver

Fatty Liver Cirrhosis Portal Hypertension Decreased vitamin production Decreased hormones and other products important for body functioning
63

Other Issues

64

Genetic Differences
Decreased ADH metabolic Rates for Europeans Increased ALDH metabolic rate for Europeans

FAS
Increased numbers of spontaneous abortions Endocrine Changes BAC

65

66

11

Drugs
Additive effects Benzodiazepines Synergistic effects Barbiturates Decreased effectiveness Antibiotics
67

Conclusion
Most damaging drug there is Influence every system Causes major social/economic problems Highly correlated with aggression

68

12