Alcohol Consumption Pattern

Alcohol Consumption Patterns Consumption patterns are influenced by cultural factors • trends in the U.S. alcohol consumption alcohol use rose through most of the 1970s and peaked in 1981 * use of illicit drugs also reached a peak about the same time * declined between the years 1981 and 1995 American Consumption per person per year * beer: 27 gallons of beer per person per year, which translates to more than I gallon of alcohol per person *0.75 gallons of alcond in the form of spirits $0.33 gallons of alcohol in the form of wine Alcohol Consumption in the U.S. regional differences in the U.S. -13 of the adult population label themselves as abstainers half the alcohol is consumed by 10% of the drinkers difference in per-capita Sales reflect differences in the degree of urbanization and some regional Cultural differences alkohol Sales are higher in population centers #ex: district of Columbia and Las vegas and Reno in Nevada gender differences males are more likely to drink than females males are more likely than females to report binge drinking within the past 30 days *drinking among college students College Students drink more among others in the same age group many campuses howe banned the sale or advertising of alcohol many fraternities have banned keg parties there is some evidence that this is helping #fewer students are binge drinking #fewer students are driving after drinking What is a Standard Drink? Standard drink has about 0.5 ounce of cuosolute alcohol and is equivalent to: 12 ounces of beer at about 4% alcohاص 4 ounces of wine at 12% alcohol I ounce of 100 proof Spirits or 1.25 ounces of 80-proof spirits Pharmacology alosorption most absorption happens in the Small intestine Some alconol is absorbed in the stomach Slower if there is food or water in the stomach faster in the presence of carbonated beverages distribution blood alcohol concentration or B.A.C. measure of the concentration of alcohol in blood, which is expressed as a percentage in terms of grams per 100 mi alcohol is distributed throughout the body fluids including blood but does not distribute much into fatty tissues thus. a 180 pound lean person will have a lower B.19.C. than a 180 pound fat person who drinks the same amount of alcohol metabolism liver metabolizes about 0.25 to 0.30 ounces of ethanol per hour a person's B.A.C. is stouble if the rate of intake equals rate of metabolism #if rate of intake exceeds rate of metabolism, B.A.C. increases Alcohol Metabolism • about 90% of alcohol is metabolized in the liver • about 2% of alcohol is excreted unchanged: in the breath through the skin in the urine primary metabolic system the enzyme alcond denydrogenase converts alcohol to acetaldehyde acetaldehyde is then converted rapidly by aldehyde dehydrogenase to acetic acid the major factor determining the rate of alcohol metabolism is the activity of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase the amount of alcohol that can be metabolized is constant at about 0.25 to 0.30 per hour regardless of the B.A.C. exercise and consumption of coffee do not speed up the rate of metabolism liver responds to Chronic intake of alcohol by increasing the activity of metabolic enzymes Contributes to tolerance among heavy users for heavy alcohol users when alcohd is present, metabolism of other drugs is slower when alcohol is not present, metabolism of other drugs is faster Mechanism of Action in general, alcohol depresses the central nervous system or CNS • exact mechanism for the CNS effect is not clear alcohol enhances the inhibitory effect of GABA at the GABA-и песертог barbiturates and benzodiazepines have similar effects at high doses, aiconol blocks the effects of glutamane at some of its receptors (NMDA) #areas of the brain that process higher order thinking/consequences * enhances alcohol's overall inhibitory actions alcohol also affects dopamine, seretonin, and acetylcholine neurons Behavioral Effects mood changes euphoria reduced anxieties reduced inhibitors effects depend on the B.A.C., which is also called blood alconal level at low blood alconal levels, Complex, clostract, and poorly learned benaviors are disrupted as blood alcohol levels increase, better learned and simpler behaviors are also affected behavioral effects are greater with a rapid increase of B.A.C. a higher B.A.C. is necessary to impair the performance of a chronic, heavy drinker than to impair a moderate drinker's performance • effects are influenced by expectations Driving Under the Influence • alcohol-related fatalities are a greater proportion of the fatalities occurring during dark hours and on the weekends risk of a fatal crash is dose-related there is a Sharp increase in fatalities as B.A.C. increases over 0.10 men are more likely than women to be involved in an alcohol-related traffic fatality 90% of the intoxicated drivers involved in fatal crashes have never been convicted of driving under the influence in the past Behavioral Effects • Sexual behavior alcohol use may enhance interest in sex but impair physiological arousal linked to risky sexual behavior • blackouts periods during alcohol use in which the drinking individual appears to function normally but later, when the individual is Sober, he or she cannot recall any events that occurred during that period authorities include it as one of the danger signs suggesting excessive alcohol use Crime and violence alcohol use is correlated with: homicide * assault, Spousal and Child abuse, and date rape * Suicide