Chapter 6

Alcohol

History of Alcohol Use

Colonial TimesPilgrims anchored at Plymouth because their supply of beer and spirits was becoming depleted

Beer and wine was a part of daily living and considered a “good creature from God”

Alcohol was probably safer to drink than water because of poor sanitation

Alcoholic beverages during colonial times were a source of nutrients

In 1640, the Dutch opened the first distillery on Staten Island

The rum trade because New England’s largest and most profitable business. Yankee traders would ship “demon rum” to Africa’s west coast to be traded for slaves

Alcohol consumption peaked in the United States during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency

Temperance MovementDr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence was one of the first people to identify alcoholism as a disease

In the early 1800 a temperance movement was started to curb the use of alcohol

In 1826 the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was started

The temperance movement remained strong until the Civil War

After the Civil War the temperance movement became strong agan

The Anti-Saloon League grew into a powerful political force with an emphasis on supporting candidates who supported controls on alcohol

ProhibitionIn the early 1900s efforts to impose a national ban on alcohol gained strength

In 1917, the U.S. Senate adopted the 18th Amendment (Volstead Act) and it went into law in 1920.

The Volstead Act prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol

There were so many criminal problems associated with prohibition that the law was repealed in 1933.

Current Alcohol Use

Most people who drink today are social drinkers and their drinking patterns do not lead to long-term health or social problems

Alcohol consumption rates vary greatly by state (1.67 gallons per capita in West Virginia to 4 gallons per capita in New Hampshire)

Abstinence, overall is increasing for men and women

The proportion of heavy drinkers in their 20s has increased slightly in recent years along with problems associated related to alcohol dependency

College students who are fraternity and sorority members have higher alcohol consumption rates than students who are not affiliated with fraternities and sororities

Gay, lesbian and bisexual college students drink more alcohol than heterosexual students

Full-time college students aged 18-21 have higher rates of binge drinking than nonstudents

Alcohol-related problems are greater where there is more access to places to drink or buy alcohol

Per capita alcohol consumption is highest in the Northeast and lowest in the West

The rate of binge drinking increases steadily from ages 12 to 21 then steadily decreases

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking typically starts around age 13 and increases during adolescence.

Students who feel that parties were “very” or “somewhat” important were far more likely to binge drink

Alcoholic Beverages

Beverage alcohol is ethyl alcohol.

Alcohol is produced through a process called fermentation (fermentation yields beverages that are about 14% alcohol)

Distillation involves boiling alcohol, collecting the vapor and the result is an increased level of alcohol – up to almost 100%

Proof is a term used to describe the percentage of alcohol in a beverage

½ the proof number = the percentage of alcohol in the beverage

Pharmacology of Alcohol

Alcohol in the body will be transformed by the liver into acetaldehyde then further broken down into acetate then water and carbon dioxide

The concentration of alcohol in the blood is referred to as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or blood alcohol level (BAL)

Blood Alcohol Concentrations and Effects

0.05% Less alert; less inhibited; slightlyimpaired judgment

0.10% Slower reaction time; impairedmuscle control; reduced visual and auditory acuity

0.20% Markedly affected psychomotorability; difficulty staying awake

0.40% State of unconsciousness or coma;half will fatally overdosewithout medical intervention

0.50% Deep coma or completeunconsciousness if not already dead

Alcohol and the Liver

The liver is the main site of metabolism of alcohol – alcohol is oxidized by the liver

Overuse of alcohol is related to fatty liver, alcohol hepatitis, and cirrhosis

Alcohol and the Gastrointestinal Tract

In moderate amounts, alcohol aids digestion by increasing gastric juice in the stomach

Alcohol can irritate the stomach leading to internal bleeding

Heavy alcohol use is implicated in acute pancreatitis

Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System

Heavy alcohol use affects the cardiovascular system adversely.

High blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias,strokes, and alcoholic heart muscle disease (AHMD) are related to heavy alcohol intake over time

Alcohol and the Immune System

Many studies show that moderate alcohol use reduces immunity.

Heavy drinkers are more prone to infections such as pneumonia

Alcohol and Cancer

Considerable research links alcohol abuse and certain forms of cancer, especially cancers of the nasopharynx, esophagus, throat and the liver

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

The leading cause of mental retardation is fetal alcohol sysndrome (FAS)

Alcohol traverses the placenta and interferes with fetal development

Alcohol-Related Issues

Underage DrinkingNearly 20% of persons aged 12-20 engage in binge drinking and 3 billion are alcohol dependent

AlcoholismDifficult term to define so it is discussed in terms of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence

Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol abuse refers to continued drinking despite recurring social, interpersonal, and legal problems

Alcohol dependence is predicated on the presence or absence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

Causes of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is multicausal and strongly related to

Genetics Psychosocial Factors Culture

Alcohol and Society

Alcohol use, misuse and abuse strongly related to:

Automobile accidentsAccidentsSuicideFamily ViolenceChildren of Alcholics

Summary

Alcohol has a very interesting history and is tied into both social forces and economics

Most people today are social drinkers Per capita alcohol consumption is

highest in the Northeast and lowest in the West

Binge drinking typically starts around age 13 and increases during adolescence

The effects of alcohol are related to the concentration of alcohol in the blood

Alcohol affects all body system

Alcohol abuse and Alcohol dependence help to distinguish between psychosocial and physical aspects of problem drinking

Alcoholism is multicausal