Alcohol has been consumed by humans for at least 8000 years, originally for calories and hydration. In low to moderate amounts, alcohol relieves anxiety but higher amounts slow thinking and impair coordination. Alcoholism is a disease characterized by physical or psychological dependence on alcohol. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects the central nervous system and every organ, including the brain. The liver metabolizes most alcohol through alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde and acetate, but higher concentrations can cause intoxication, stupor, coma and even death.

2.  Primarily in the form of ethyl alcohol
(ethanol), has occupied an important
place in the history of humankind for
at least 8000 years.
 They provided important calories and
nutrients and served as a main source
of daily liquid intake
 Alcohol in low to moderate amounts
relieves anxiety and fosters a feeling
of well-being or even euphoria

3.  Alcohol slows down the mind and body
leaving the person unable to think or
react, and make decisions he normally
would.
 Absorbed into the blood stream very
quickly (within 5-10 minutes)
 Passes from stomach directly into blood
stream.
 Affects every organ including the brain.

5.  Disease in which a person has physical or
psychological dependence on drinks that contain
alcohol.
 Characterized as an impaired ability to study,
work, or socialize normally.

6.  Alcohol is a central nervous system
depressant.
 When ingested, alcohol passes from the
stomach into the small intestine, where it
is rapidly absorbed into the blood and
distributed throughout the body and it
can affect the central nervous system
even in small concentrations.

7.  As blood alcohol concentration
increases, a person's response to stimuli
decreases markedly, speech becomes
slurred, and he or she becomes
unsteady and has trouble walking.
 With very high concentrations - greater
than 0.35 grams/100 milliliters of blood a
person can become comatose and die.

8. Stages of alcohol intoxication
BAC Stage Clinical symptoms
(g/100 ml of blood)
0.01 - 0.05 Subclinical Behavior nearly normal by ordinary observation
Mild euphoria, sociability, talkitiveness
0.03 - 0.12 Euphoria Increased self-confidence; decreased inhibitions
Emotional instability; loss of critical
0.09 - 0.25 Excitement judgment impairment of perception,
memory and comprehension
Disorientation, mental confusion; dizziness
Exaggerated emotional states
0.18 - 0.30 Confusion Disturbances of vision and of perception
of color, form
Markedly decreased response to stimuli;
0.25 - 0.40 Stupor inability to stand or walk Vomiting;
incontinence

9. Complete
unconsciousness
Depressed or
abolished reflexes
Subnormal body
temperature
0.35 - 0.50 Coma Incontinence
Impairment of
circulation and
respiration
Possible death
Death from
0.45 + Death
respiratory arrest

11.  The primary pathway for alcohol
metabolism involves alcohol
dehydrogenase (ADH), a cytosolic enzyme
that catalyzes the conversion of alcohol to
acetaldehyde. It uses NADH as a cofactor
in metabolism of ethanol.
 Acetaldehyde, formed in the liver, is
catalyzed by mitochondrial NAD-
dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase. The
product is acetate.

12.  Oxidation of acetaldehyde is inhibited
by disulfiram, a drug that has been used
to deter drinking by alcohol-dependent
patients undergoing treatment
 When ethanol is consumed in the
presence of disulfiram, acetaldehyde
accumulates and causes an unpleasant
reaction of facial flushing, nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, and headache.

13.  Alcohol has a high affinity for water and
is therefore found in body tissues and
fluids inasmuch as they contain water.
 Absorbed alcohol is rapidly carried
throughout the body in the blood and
once absorption of alcohol is complete
an equilibrium occurs such that blood at
all points in the system contains
approximately the same concentration
of alcohol.

14.  The liver is responsible for the
elimination - through metabolism -
of 95% of ingested alcohol from
the body.
 The remainder of the alcohol is
eliminated through excretion of
alcohol in breath, urine, sweat,
feces, milk and saliva.