EXAM 3 Drugs & Behavior

Chapter 9: Alcohol

Types of Alcohol

  • Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

  • Methyl alcohol (wood alcohol)

  • Ethanol (beverage alcohol)

Classes of Alcohol

  • Beer, Wine, Spirits

    • Hard seltzers are considered beer.

    • Beer and wine rely on fermentation.

Alcohol Production

Fermentation

  • Yeast metabolizes dissolved sugar.

  • Produces ethanol and carbon dioxide.

  • Limit of ~15% alcohol content; higher can kill yeast.

  • Type of sugar determines type of alcohol.

Distillation

  • Used to produce spirits from fermented beverages:

    • Fermenting grape juice produces wine.

    • Fermenting grain produces beer.

    • Fermenting rice produces sake.

    • Distilled wine or beer produces brandy.

  • Ethanol has a lower boiling point than water, allowing collection of vapors.

Alcohol Measurement

  • US system: By volume (e.g., 50% ethanol in a 16 oz beverage = 8 oz of alcohol).

  • Proof system: Proof number is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume.

  • British system: By weight.

Standard Alcoholic Drinks

  • 5 oz glass of wine.

  • 12 oz can of beer (e.g., Bud Light).

  • 1.5 oz shot of liquor (80 proof).

  • 12 oz bottle of wine cooler (can be substituted with seltzer).

  • All contain roughly equivalent amounts of alcohol.

History of Alcohol Use

  • Fermented beverages since ancient times.

  • Distilled beverages in China (1000 BC) and Western Europe (800 AD).

  • Linked to both social occasions and problem drinking (higher addiction rates among users).

Alcohol in America

  • Taverns were community centers in colonial America.

  • Heavy drinking led to negative social consequences (7 gallons of pure alcohol per person by 1830).

  • Rise of saloons in the West which served more liquor than beer.

The Temperance Movement

  • Triggered by concerns over saloon behavior and domestic violence.

  • Supported by industry leaders and culminated in Prohibition (1919-1933).

  • Consumed alcohol per capita dropped significantly.

Current Patterns

  • Current U.S. per capita consumption is about 2.5 gallons of pure alcohol per year.

  • Heavy drinking: 7% of Americans report heavy drinking; higher rates among men and young adults.

Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking

Definitions of Binge Drinking

  • 5+ drinks in a row for men; 4+ for women.

Women's Alcohol Metabolism

  • Women metabolize alcohol differently, often leading to higher blood alcohol levels than men from the same amount of intake due to biological differences.

Pharmacology of Alcohol

Mechanism of Action

  • Alcohol acts as an agonist on GABAA receptors and enhances serotonin and dopamine transmission.

Pharmacokinetics

  • Absorption occurs mainly in the small intestine; food slows absorption.

  • Peak plasma concentration usually occurs within 30-90 minutes after consumption.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

  • Measured by breathalyzers and blood tests, with legal limit set at .08% in the U.S.

  • Metabolism is primarily in the liver, at a rate of 0.35 oz/hour.

Tolerance and Dependence

  • Chronic use may lead to protracted tolerance, affecting metabolic processes.

  • Withdrawal symptoms can arise and manifest within hours to days after cessation.

Health Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Benefits of Low-Dose Consumption

  • May lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.

  • High-density lipoproteins are increased with moderate consumption.

Acute Effects of Alcohol

  • Includes intoxication, decreased psychomotor performance, impaired driving, and risk of aggression.

Long-Term Effects

  • Chronic heavy drinking leads to liver disease, mental health issues, and dependency.

Treatment and Recovery

  • Approaches include Alcoholics Anonymous, pharmacological treatment options like Disulfiram and Naltrexone, and behavioral therapies.

Summary

  • Alcohol consumption patterns, history, effects on health and society, mechanisms of action, and management of alcohol-related disorders are critical topics in understanding alcohol's role in society.