Alcohol As A Drug
Alcohol use definitions
Term
Definition
Current use
At least one drink in the past 30 days (includes
binge and heavy use).
Binge use
Five or more drinks on the same occasion at least
once in the past 30 days. A pattern of drinking
that brings bloo d alcohol concentration to 0.08
gm% or above. For the typical adult, this pattern
corresponds to consuming five or more drinks
(male), or four or more drinks (female), in about
two hours.
Heavy use
Five or more drinks on the same occasion on at
least f ive different days in the past 30 days.
Drink
A 12-ounce can or bottle of beer or wine cooler, a
5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 -ounces of 80 proof
(40% alcohol) distilled spirits.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2003b;
Abuse and Alcoholism, 2005.
National Institute on Alcohol
Alcohol Ingested and Blood Alcohol Levels (BAL)
Table 3. Blood alcohol level (gm%) estimations for men and women.
BAL for Men
Body Weight (lb)
Drinks
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
1
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
2
0.08
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
3
0.11
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
0. 06
0.05
0.05
4
5
0.15
0.19
0.12
0.16
0.11
0.13
0.09
0.12
0.08
0.11
0.08
0.09
0.07
0.09
0.06
0.08
6
0.23
0.19
0.16
0.14
0.13
0.11
0.10
0.09
7
0.26
0.22
0.19
0.16
0.15
0.13
0.12
0.11
8
9
0.30
0.38
0.25
0.31
0.21
0.27
0.19
0.23
0.17
0.21
0.15
0.19
0.14
0.17
0.13
0.16
200
220
240
BAL for Women
Body Weight (lb)
160
180
Drinks
100
120
140
1
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
2
3
0.09
0.14
0.08
0.11
0.07
0.10
0.06
0.09
0.05
0.08
0.05
0.07
0.04
0.06
0.04
0.06
4
0.18
0.15
0.13
0.11
0.10
0.09
0.08
0.08
5
0.23
0.19
0.16
0.14
0.13
0.11
0.10
0.09
6
7
0.27
0.32
0.23
0.27
0.19
0.23
0.17
0.20
0.15
0.18
0.14
0.16
0.12
0.14
0.11
0.13
8
0.36
0.30
0.26
0.23
0.20
0.18
0.17
0.15
9
0.41
0.34
0.29
0.26
0.23
0.20
0.19
0.17
10
0.45
0.38
0.32
0.28
0.25
0.23
0.21
0.19
Subtract 0.01% gm% for each 40 min of drinking.
1 drink = 1.25 ounce 80 Proof liquor, 12 ounce beer, or 5 ounce wine.
[http://www.alcohol.vt.edu/Students/alcoholEffects/estimatingBAC/]
Behavioral Effects of Ethanol
Maintenance of Drinking
• Opponent Process
• Drinking for mood control can backfire
Alcohol Addiction
•  Tolerance
–  Individuals drink large amounts of alcohol (12-20 drinks per day)
–  Blood alcohol levels far beyond the legal limit
–  Delirium tremens: hallucinations, high fever
•  Withdrawal
–  Tremor, sympathetic activation, hyperthermia
–  Anxiety, dysphoria
–  Delirium tremens: hallucinations, high fever
•  Substance taken in larger amounts than intended
–  Loss of control over intake
•  Persistent desire or unsuccessful attempt to cut down
–  Repeated relapses to excessive drinking
•  Neglect of activities
–  Impairment in social, occupational and recreational functioning
–  Late for work, absentism
•  Time spent
–  Filling work and home with sources of alcohol so to never be without
•  Continued use despite problems
–  Loss of job
–  Loss of spouse
–  Medical illnesses: Pancreatitis, liver failure