The Disease of Alcoholism

Module 3

ALLIED TRADES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Preventative Education: Substance Use Disorder

Alcoholism was thought

of as:

Lack of willpower

Mental problem

Moral issue

If not shunned, the alcoholic was

treated in:

Asylum (nervous breakdown)

Detox (seizure)

Jail (sleep it off)

A Change in the way Individuals view Alcoholism :

In 1956 alcoholism was classified as an illness by the AMA

(American Medical Association).

American Medical Association Statement:

“Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and

environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations” -1983

Alcoholism

The Disease is often progressive

and FATAL

DENIAL

Denial is characterized by continuous or periodic:

Impaired control over drinking

Preoccupation with the drug

Use of alcohol despite adverse consequences

Distortions in thinking --- most notably: DENIAL

SYMPTOMS:

• Appear in physical, active and emotional categories

• Vary from person to person

SYMPTOMS:

Physical• Compulsion

• Motor control

• Hand/eye

• Stagger

• Speech

• Breath

• Blackouts

• DENIAL

Active• Irresponsible

• Absenteeism

• Tardiness

• Living problems:

• Job

• Social

• Legal

• Financial

• Medical

• Dishonesty

• Broken promises

• Blaming

• DENIAL

Emotional• Compulsion

• Low esteem

• Grandiosity

• Guilt

• Shame

• Remorse

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Self-pity

• Rage

• Ingratitude

• Paranoia

• DENIAL

DID YOU KNOW:

It takes 90 seconds for alcohol to affect

the brain.

Jellinek Curve: widely used to

diagnose substance use disorder.

ALCOHOL IN THE BODYBAC Chart for Men and Woman

BAC Chart for Men

BAC Chart for Women

BAC LEVELS AND EFFECTS:

The effects of alcohol intoxication are greatly influenced by individual variations

among users. Some users may become intoxicated at a much lower Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level than is shown.

0.02-0.03 BAC

No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not

apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded.

0.02-0.03 BAC:

0.04-0.06 BAC

Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad

emotions are worse).

0.04-0.06 BAC:

0.07-0.09 BAC

Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment

and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired, .08 is legally impaired

and it is illegal to drive at this level. You will probably believe that you are functioning better

than you really are.

0.07-0.09 BAC:

0.10-0.125 BAC

Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good

judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria.

0.10-0.125 BAC:

0.13-0.15 BAC

Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of

balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria (anxiety, restlessness) is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are

severely impaired.

0.13-0.15 BAC:

0.16-0.19 BAC

Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The

drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk.“

0.16-0.19 BAC:

0.20 BAC

Feeling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand or walk. If you injure

yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people experience nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may

not remember what has happened.

0.20 BAC:

0.25 BAC

All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of

asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falls or other

accidents.

0.25 BAC:

0.30 BAC

STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you

are. You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.

0.30 BAC:

0.35 BAC:

Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.

0.35 BAC:

0.40 BAC and up:

Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory arrest.

0.40 BAC and up:

Alcohol Withdrawal -Delirium Tremens - DTS

Alcohol Withdrawal is the physical dependence associated with prolonged heavy use of alcohol is revealed when alcohol intake has stopped.

Alcohol Withdrawal

The abstinence syndrome that develops is medically more severe and more likely to cause death than withdrawal from narcotic drugs.

Stages of WithdrawalStages 1 – Stage 4

Stage 1:

Tremors, excessively rapid heartbeat, hypertension, heavy

sweating, loss of appetite and insomnia

Stage 2:

Hallucinations / auditory, visual, tactile or a combination of

these AND rarely olfactory signs

Stage 3:

Delusions, disorientation, delirium-sometimes intermittent in nature and usually followed by amnesia.

Stage 4:

Seizure activity

“Delirium Tremens”

The old term “delirium tremens” is used to refer to severe cases that include at least Stage 3

HANGOVERS are NO fun

Upset stomach, fatigue,

headache, thirst, depression,

anxiety AND general malaise.

Congeners

These are natural products of the fermentation and preparation process -some of which are quite toxic

CONGENERS DEFINITION:

Congeners make the various alcoholic

beverages different in smell, taste, color and

possibly hangover potential.

CONGENER

con·ge·ner /känjənər,kənˈjēnər/noun

- a minor chemical constituent, especially one

that gives a distinctive character to a wine or liquor or is responsible for some of

its physiological effects

Congener Level:

Wine: 0.04% Liquor: 0.1% Beer: 0.01%

A standard drink is 12 grams of pure ethanol.

• This equals:• 12 ounces of beer

• 12 ounces of wine cooler

• 5 ounces of wine

• 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (whiskey, vodka, rum, etc.)

Effects of Alcoholism

Nausea and Upset Stomach

The nausea and upset stomach typically experienced can most likely be attributed to the fact that alcohol is a gastric irritant.

Alcohol and Blood Sugar Levels

One of the effects of alcohol intake is to increase the blood sugar level for about one

hour after ingestion.

Feeling of Fatigue

This may be followed several hours later by a low blood sugar level and an increased feeling of fatigue.

If you or someone you know is suffering from

substance use or mental health issues, reach out

to someone for assistance.

-Your EAP can help-

www.alliedtrades-online.com

Sources – June 2016

• http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/breaking-myths-about-alcoholism

• http://www.brad21.org/bac_charts.html

• Video Resource

• The Truth About Drugs documentary is the cornerstone of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Campaign, sponsored by the Church of Scientology. This documentary is the real story of what drugs are and what they do to one's body and mind—told by people who've been there, done them and survived to tell about it.

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqXsOE_O4c