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ALCOHOLICAN
An atomican's look at alcohol
The 5 stages of inebriation
Generally humans consume alcohol to achieve a state of inebriation; that is, a state at which the activities of the excitatory nerve pathways in the brain are depressed and the activities of inhibitory nerve pathways are increased. This serves to dull senses, lower inhibitions, decrease memory and can lead to sickness and even death.
As the level of alcohol in the system (BAC) increases, more of the pathways in the brain are affected. Beggining in the higher brain (Cerebral Cortex responsible for cognitive and sensory functions) and working it's way to the lower brain (Brain Stem resposible for automatic functions). The alcohol continues to increasingly effect the higher systems, while taking over the lower, leading to the alcohol having an exponential effect on the person as BAC increases.
Alcoholism
Alcohlism is a disease whereby the sufferer becomes preoccupied with the consumtion of alcohol to the point it effects all areas of their life.
Alcoholism will gradually destroy one's life; breaking down family relationships, crippling the sufferer financially and usually leading to physical or mental illness and often death.
- The abuse of alcohol has shown to increase the risk of:
- Cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus
- Dimentia
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome increasing the chance of physical and mental birth defects in unborn children
- Glouty Arthritis
- Heart Disease
- Hyperglycermia (an increase in blood suger)
- Hypoglycemia (a decrease in blood sugar)
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Malnutrition
- Mental Disease
- Nervous Disorders
- Obesity
- Psychological disturbances (source)
Alcoholism is a debilitating disease, both for the sufferer and those close to them, and it is seemingly on the increase in our society (ref).
There is plenty of help out there for sufferers. The Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) keeps a list of all the drug and alcohol treatment services in Australia.
However, the treatment of alcoholism requires an admission of the problem and a tremendous determination to solve the problem on the part of the sufferer, meaning most will remain afflicted throughout their life.
- Stage 1: Tipsy (Cerebral Cortex)
- The cerebral cortex is responsible for most of the functions we associate with being human. Thought and consciousness are made possible in this area. It is also resposible for initiating and controlling many of the function in lower regions of the brain, and taking and processing information from the senses.
As alcohol influences this area of the brain:- the behavioural inhibitor senses are depressed and the person becomes more talkative, confident and daring
- the person has trouble hearing and seeing as the signals from the senses are depressed
- the person exhibits poor judgement and unclear thoughts as the thought process is inhibitted
- Stage 2: Drunk (Limbic System)
- By the limbic system I am referring to the amygdala, hippocampus and septal area that control most emotions and memory.
Strange, but it would seem that these functions are the next to go :P
- Stage 3: Pissed (Cerebellum)
- The cerebellum (or Little Brain) controls our fine motor skills and keeps us co-ordinated.
The cerebellum is like a co-processor that influences nerve signals from the brain to the muscles, fine tuning them to keep movement smooth and accurate. It is also responsible for the fine muscle movements that keep us balanced.
When alcohol influences the cerebellum the person becomes clumsy and finds it hard to maintain balance.
This stage is also called Falling down drunk.
- Stage 4: Blotto (Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland)
- The hypothalamus and pituitary gland control hormone levels in the body.
Through these they control growth, mood and sexual arousal.
Alcohol's most obvious effect on hypothalamus and pituitary is to depress the nerve centres that control sexual arousal and performance
This leads to the rather ironic situation of increased sexual arousal, but decreased performance.
Alcohol also influences the areas of the hypothalamus and pituitary that control urine excretion, depresses the areas that control the release of anti-diretic hormone (ADH) that increases the ability of the kidney to absorb water.
When the levels of ADH drop, the kidney's are not able to retain as much water. Hence, the beer piss.
- Stage 5: Paraletic (Brain Stem)
- The brain stem controls the automated systems of the body.
Sleeping, breathing, digestion, circulation and all the bodily functions that regularly happen with seemingly no intervention.
It's when alcohol begins to influence the brain stem that things become dangerous.
Generally alcohol will depress the areas of the brain stem that control sleep first, making the person unconcious and unable to further increase their BAC.
However if enough alcohol has been consumed to depress the circulatory system significantly, the heart may stop.
Also, alcohol tends to irritate the stomach lining and increase the blood flow to the organs (including the stomach). This leads to vomiting, which can be potentially fatal if the person is unconcious.
Just ask Bon Scott :P
