Health Sciences 1001A/B Lecture Notes - Blood Alcohol Content, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Ethanol
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16 Oct 2011
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Chapter 10: Alcohol Use
Required Reading:
Ch. 10, pp. 271-296
ALCOHOL
Health Canada (2004):
79.3% of Canadians reported alcohol consumption in past year
44% reported drinking weekly
Males more likely than females to report drinking in past year
Highest drinking rates among 18-24 year olds
Approx. 95% of university students consume alcoholic beverages (Addiction Research
Foundation) American stat 80% OF CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONSUME ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES
Through automobile crashes and other injuries, alcohol is the leading cause of death among
people ages 15-24
Ethyl alcohol is the common psychoactive ingredient in all alcoholic beverages
When consumed, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream from small intestine, stomach, colon
It is then distributed throughout the body’s tissues, affecting nearly every body system
Main site of alcohol metabolism = liver - transforms alcohol into energy and other products
Body can typically metabolize approx. ½ -3/4 of a drink in 1 hour (8.5 grams)
ALCOHOL
If more alcohol is consumed than is metabolized, blood alcohol concentration(BAC) will steadily
increase, as will level of intoxication (0.08 is the driving limit)
BAC depends on:
o Sex
o Weight – ‘heavier people have more AREA to diffuse alcohol’ - Laura
o Body fat
o Water content in body’s tissues
o Concentration of alcohol in beverage
o Rate of consumption
o Volume of alcohol consumed
Effects of Chronic Use of Alcohol
• Average lifespan of alcohol abusers is 10-12 years shorter than that of nonabusers
• Cirrhosis - Liver cells are destroyed and replaced with fibrous scar tissue resulting in a fatty liver
(fibrosis)
• Inflammation of pancreas causing nausea, vomiting, abnormal digestion, abdominal pain (high
blood pressure, weakening of heart muscle)
• Cardiovascular problems (high blood pressure, weakening of heart muscle)
• Related to oral cancer, cancers of the esophagus, liver, stomach, pancreas, possibly breast
cancer
Effects of Chronic Use of Alcohol
• Linked to asthma, gout (acute attack arthritis in joints), diabetes, recurrent infections,
nutritional deficiencies, nervous system diseases
• Psychiatric problems – paranoia, memory loss, memory gaps