Alcohol Facts by National Draeger
Effects on the Central Nervous System
Alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulant. Many people think it is a stimulant since its first effect is to reduce tension and give a mild feeling of euphoria or well being. It affects the most recently developed part of the brain first-that part controlling a person's judgment and morals. Its last effect is on the oldest part of the brain-that part controlling a person's automatic body functions so that the individual completely loses control of himself, passes into a coma and ultimately can die if the respiratory center in the brain ceases functioning. In between, there is a progression of deterioration that affects a person's speech, vision and equilibrium.
Stages of Introduction
The stages of alcoholic influence are shown in Exhibit C-7. The BAC ranges given in the Exhibit indicate that not all people are affected the same at the same BAC. In addition, there are no precise BAC's that define each stage. One merges into another as the effects of alcohol become more severe.
Effects on Vision
Pupils of the eye generally dilate (enlarge) and reaction to light becomes sluggish. At BAC's of 0.10% people are unable to completely fuse the vision of each eye into a single image. Glare is more bothersome and distance judgment is impaired. The time to adjust from far to near vision may be increased from 0.10 to 0.20 seconds at a BAC of 0.06%.
Effects on Reaction Time and Coordination
Alcohol causes an impairment in muscular coordination; the threshold of impairment has been demonstrated to be as low as a BAC of 0.02%. Reaction time is increased. Each person appears to have a threshold BAC at which impairment begins; then small additional doses of alcohol produce large losses in coordination. Motor tasks which require coordination or complex discrimination are impaired at BAC's of 0.05%.
Effects On Other Body Organs, Systems, And Issues
Effects on Skin
Alcohol has antiseptic properties. It absorbs heat upon evaporation and, therefore, imparts a cool and soothing feeling when rubbed on fevered skin. Following absorption, alcohol enlarges the blood vessels of the skin and permits an increase in the amount of blood circulating in the skin; this accounts for the flushed face of the drinker.
Effects on Circulation
Low BAC's have very little effect on circulation except to enlarge blood vessels of the skin as discussed above. There is no evidence that alcohol improves circulation; on the contrary; it appears to impair circulation. At a BAC of 0.45% or greater, death may result from respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Effects on Kidney
Aside from the fact that alcohol is a mild diuretic, that is, it increases urine output, moderate use of alcohol does not appear to cause any kidney damage.
Effects on Liver
Alcohol causes an accumulation of fat in the liver, a condition referred to as fatty liver. It may result in an inflammation of the liver, commonly called cirrhosis. However, cirrhosis appears to be more a result of the poor diet of the alcoholic rather than a direct result of alcohol. Moderate use of alcohol does not appear to have a harmful effect on the liver of healthy, well-nourished people.
Symptoms of Alcoholic Influence
Common symptoms of alcoholic influence are:
- - Odor of alcoholic beverages on the breath
- - Swaying or unsteadiness-staggering
- - Poor muscular coordination
- - Confusion
- - Sleepiness
- - Disorderly appearance
- - Speech impairment, such as slurred, confused, thick tongue
- - Dizziness
- - Nausea
- - Unusual actions, such as very talkative
- - Visual disorders-fixed stare-glassy eyes
- - Flushed skin
The list is not all-inclusive nor does any one symptom or combination of symptoms mean that the person is intoxicated. Numerous illnesses/injuries can produce the same symptoms as alcoholic influence. Several of these are listed in Exhibit C-8 which is given at the end of this section. The trainee should, therefore, examine and question the suspect carefully in order that his possible need for medical attention will not be ignored.
It might be pointed out that a chemical test can protect both law enforcement groups and the public by providing an alert to the need for medical attention. An unusually low BAC can serve to indicate that the suspect's abnormal behavior is due to some illness or injury other than alcohol, and appropriate procedures can be undertaken to assure that the suspect receives needed medical attention. An unusually high BAC also indicates the need for medical attention in order that the danger of respiratory or cardiac arrest can be avoided.
Alcohol Combined with Other Drugs
Alcohol combined with other drugs can cause special problems. As stated previously, medical care should be obtained for any individual who has a low BAC but appears to be markedly under the influence. The effects of alcohol combined with stimulants and other depressants, are discussed below.
Stimulants
(caffeine, amphetamine, etc.) Stimulants do not counteract the depressing effect of alcohol. They are only temporarily effective with regard to the grosser aspects of drunkenness. They may be used for temporary arousal in severe intoxication, but the arousal effect is brief.
Depressants
(analgesics, antihistamines, tranquillizers, etc.) The depressant effects of alcohol and other drugs will be added together and, in some instances, the resultant effect will be greater than the expected combined effect of the two drugs. Since such depressants are used widely and indiscriminately by the public, their use with alcohol could cause a serious problem for the driver.
Narcotics
(opium, morphine, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, heroin, etc). Animal studies have indicated additive and supra-additive effects of narcotics and alcohol, human studies are understandably lacking. In examining the drunk driver suspect, the trainee should be alert to the possibility that the individual's behavior may be due to a narcotic or to a narcotic or to a combination of narcotic and alcohol.
Tolerance to Alcohol
It is well known that people react differently to liquor, that is, some are better able to "hold" their liquor than others. Different individuals at the same BAC react differently. Although it may be said that the heavy drinker has learned to compensate for the effects of liquor tolerance has been noted in the person with no previous exposure. Individuals with the same weight can attain different BAC's from the same amount of alcohol. It is the opinion of most investigators that tolerance is limited and occurs most frequently at BAC's of 0.10% or less.
The exact reasons for differences in tolerance to alcohol are unknown but the following reasons have been proposed:
- - Delayed absorption
- - Decreased penetration in the central nervous system
- - Increased elimination
- - Increased water content of the body
- - Increased tissue tolerance
- - Variation in the ability of individuals to respond to stress
