According to the World Health Organization, intoxication is "condition that follows the administration of a psychoactive substance and results in disturbances in the level of consciousness, cognition, perception, judgement, affect, or behaviour, or other psychophysiological functions and responses." In many cases on college campuses, that psychoactive substance is usually ethanol, EtOH, or what some would generically call alcohol. Alcohol may seem like a "social lubricant," or that it makes you feel more peppy, but in fact, it can be a dangerous central nervous system depressant. Alcohol slows brain activity down and anyone who has had a few drinks can tell you that. While one or two drinks makes most people feel relaxed, more alcohol may cause feelings of anxiety, depression, and often aggression. Alcohol’s first effect as it reaches the outer brain is to distort your judgement and lower you inhibition, while producing euphoria (a sense of pleasure). As you consume more alcohol, and it reaches the cerebellum, your coordination and perception are affected, and you can have memory blackouts. As the alcohol reaches your mid-brain, reflexes diminish, you experience confusion, stupor, and may lapse into a coma. Once the alcohol finally reaches the medulla, or inner core of the brain, your heart rate drops and breathing ceases, resulting in death. Research suggests that continued alcohol use can cause depression. Alcohol robs brain cells of water and glucose, the brain’s food, contributing to a hangover the next day. Acute intoxication is a dangerous and complicated state that can lead to trauma, asphyxiation, delirium, coma, and convulsions, depending on the substance. Alcohol is a toxic and dangerous drug when used irresponsibly, and every year there are tragic stories of students on college campuses whose lives are cut short from tragic accidents. Know the warning signs of acute intoxication, understand what alcohol does to you when you drink, and learn to take control and be safe! Be responsible for yourself and watch out for your friends. We're not saying don't go drinking...we just want you to be safe and make smart decisions when you choose to do so.
For more inforation about alcohol facts, figures and information, we recommend the CDC's website on alcohol information.
 Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) or Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol present in your blood as you drink. It's calculated by determining how many milligrams of alcohol are present in 100 milliliters of blood. But you don't need a Breathalyzer, a calculator, or a measurement conversion chart to figure out what BAL you had last night. Use the Table of Blood Alcohol Levels below. This is a generalized chart based on a female who is metabolizing (or breaking down) one drink an hour. Note that women usually have a higher BAL/BAC due to differences in the way that women absorb and metabolize alcohol, so numbers for men may be slighly lower. This chart is not inteneded to diagnose or provide an accurate account of a BAC, it is merely for educational purposes.  Remember, while this chart is a good general guideline, every individual reacts differently to alcohol. The chart doesn't take into account your individual body composition, your use of medication, your mood changes, or your personal metabolism rate. Therefore, your blood alcohol level may in fact be slightly higher or slightly lower than the chart indicates for the number of drinks you consume. Just keep in mind that your body processes alcohol at a constant rate of .5 oz. per hour, regardless of how many ounces you consume. Therefore, the faster you drink, the higher your blood alcohol level will be.
Content courtousey of Barnard Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. |
Dangers of Acute Intoxication |