Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
What is Alcohol Use Disorder ?
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition, it can also be called alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence or alcoholism. It involves heavy or frequent alcohol consumption even when it causes issues, emotional distress or physical harm.
Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
We can say a person has Alcohol use disorder when they present with two or more of the symptoms listed below.
In the past year, have you:
Loss of Control: Difficulty limiting the amount of alcohol consumed or stopping despite a desire to do so.
Interference with Responsibilities: Drinking heavily or experiencing negative after-effects that interfere with daily life, including work or family responsibilities.
Cravings: Strong urges or preoccupation with drinking that can be difficult to resist.
Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences: Continuing to drink despite experiencing negative consequences such as relationship, health, or legal problems.
Physical Symptoms: Tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and even hallucinations as the body becomes more dependent on alcohol.
Levels of AUD
AUD can be:
Mild (the presence of two to three symptoms),
Moderate (the presence of four to five symptoms), or
Severe (the presence of six or more symptoms).
Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol intoxication is a harmful physical condition caused when you drink more alcohol than your body can handle. It is also called ethanol poisoning, or being drunk.
Symptoms of Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol intoxication can occur quickly over a short amount of time. When a person is consuming alcohol, you might notice different symptoms.
These symptoms are associated with different levels, or stages, of intoxication.
The stages of intoxication differ from person to person because they’rebased on age, sex, weight, and other factors.
But generally, the seven stages of alcohol intoxication and their symptoms include the following:
1. Sobriety or low-level intoxication
If a person has consumed one or less drinks per hour, they’re considered to be sober, or low-level intoxicated.
At this stage of intoxication, the person’s behavior will be normal with no visible signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or delayed reaction time.
Their blood alcohol content (BAC), which measures how much alcohol is in the bloodstream, will be very low at 0.01 to 0.05 percent.
2. Euphoria
If a person has generally consumed two to three drinks as a man or one to two drinks as a woman in an hour, they’ll enter the euphoric stage of intoxication.
Some symptoms include:
- an increase in chattiness and confidence
- a delayed reaction time
- decreased inhibitions
Most people call this stage of intoxication being “tipsy.” A person’s BAC at this stage might range from 0.03 to 0.12 percent.
Note that a BAC of 0.08 percent is the legal limit of intoxication in the United States. A person can be arrested for driving with a BAC above this limit
3. Excitement
At this stage, a man might have consumed three to five drinks in an hour, or two to four drinks for a woman. At this time, a person will begin to experience emotional instability and a significant loss of coordination.
Other symptoms include:
- a loss of judgment and memory
- vision problems
- loss of balance
- drowsiness
A person will appear visibly “drunk” at this stage. They’ll have a BAC of 0.09 to 0.25 percent.
4. Confusion
If a man consumes more than five drinks or a woman more than 4 drinks in an hour, they’ll enter the next stage of intoxication: confusion.
This stage of intoxication is marked by emotional outbursts and a major loss of coordination. The person may not be able to stand up, may stagger when walking, and will likely be extremely confused about what’s going on.
People in this stage of intoxication are very likely to forget things happening around or to them. They might “black out” without actually losing consciousness and may not be able to feel pain. This makes them at risk of injury.
At this stage, a person’s BAC is very high. It’ll range from 0.18 to 0.30 percent.
5. Stupor
At this stage, a person no longer responds to the things happening around or to them.
A person won’t be able to stand or walk. They may completely pass out or lose control over their bodily functions, becoming incontinent or vomiting uncontrollably.
They may also experience seizures or have blue-tinged or pale skin. Their breathing and gag reflexes will likely be impaired.
This stage can be very dangerous and even fatal if a person chokes on their vomit or becomes critically injured.
Any of these symptoms are signs that immediate medical attention is necessary. At this stage, a person’s BAC will range from 0.25 to 0.4 percent
6. Coma
This stage is extremely dangerous. A person’s breathing and blood circulation will be extremely slowed. Their motor responses and gag reflexes are nonfunctional, and their body temperature drops. A person at this stage is at risk of death.
Their BAC will measure in at 0.35 to 0.45 percent. Emergency medical attention is necessary at this point to avoid death and severe health problems.
7. Death
At a BAC of 0.45 percent or above, a person is likely to die from alcohol intoxication.
It may seem like a person has to drink a lot to get to this stage. But if a person drinks very quickly, they can get to this stage before long.
Alcohol Withdrawal
What is alcohol withdrawal (AW)?
Alcohol withdrawal is the name for the symptoms that occur when a heavy drinker suddenly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol intake. With AW, you may experience a combination of physical and emotional symptoms, from mild anxiety and fatigue to nausea. Some symptoms of AW are as severe as hallucinations and seizures. At its most extreme, AW can be life threatening.
Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- High temperature and/or chills
- Unpleasant, vivid dreams
- Tics and tremors (‘the shakes’)
- Irregular or increased heart rate
- Excessive sweating
- Shaking and shivering
- Decreased appetite
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Confusion
- Irritability and agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Intense cravings for alcohol
Severe withdrawal symptoms
The most severe symptoms of AW are called delirium tremens (DT) and are potentially life threatening.
The symptoms of delirium tremens include:
- Severe disorientation and confusion
- Extreme agitation
- Visual and/or auditory hallucinations
- Seizures (fits)
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol – Myths and Facts
| Myth | Facts |
| Alcohol isn’t as harmful as other drugs. | Alcohol increases your risk for many deadly diseases, such as cancer. Drinking too much alcohol too quickly can leads to alcohol poisoning, which can kill you. |
| I can sober up quickly by taking a cold shower or drinking coffee. | On average, it takes 2 to 3 hours for a single drink to leave the body. Nothing can speed up the process, including drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or “walking it off”. |
| Beer and wine are safer than liquor. | Alcohol is alcohol… it can cause you problems no matter how you consume it. One 12-ounce bottle of beer or a 5-ounce glass of wine (about a half a cup) has as much alcohol as a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor. Mixed drinks often contain more alcohol than beer. |
| Men and women of the same height and weight can drink the same. | Women are affected more rapidly because they tend to have a slightly higher proportion of fat to lean muscle tissue, thus concentrating alcohol a little more easily in their lower percentage of body water. They also have less of an enzyme (dehydrogenase) that metabolizes or breaks down alcohol. |
| Alcohol is a stimulant. | Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Although the initial effects of alcohol may be euphoric and seem stimulating, the cumulative effect of alcohol actually depresses the brain. The ability to make good judgments and decisions are depressed first, followed by loss of coordination and motor functioning (slurring and staggering). If taken in high enough doses, alcohol can depress the central nervous system so much that breathing and heartbeat will cease. |
| Alcohol is a great way to relax and reduce stress. | Alcohol increases the level of stress that is placed on the body. Adrenaline levels increase in the body as we drink. We may feel more relaxed when we drink alcohol, but the body actually comes under additional stress. |
| Coating your stomach with a greasy or milky solution will slow the absorption of alcohol and keep a person from getting drunk or sick. | The stomach cannot be “coated” to prevent alcohol absorption. However, individuals are encouraged to eat foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins before consuming alcohol. This slow-digesting food reduces the amount of alcohol that is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the mucous membrane lining of the stomach. Food also slows the rate of the stomach emptying into the small intestine, where absorption of alcohol occurs at a much faster rate. |
| It would be to my advantage if I could learn how to “hold my liquor”. | If your usual amount of alcohol no longer gives you a “buzz” or you have to drink increasing amounts to feel any effect, you are developing a tolerance. Tolerance is a sign that the liver is being constantly exposed to alcohol and is working overtime to cope. It may also mean you have gone beyond being a social drinker and may be developing a more serious problem with alcohol. |
| Anyone who passes out from drinking too much should be put to bed and allowed to “sleep it off”. | If a friend has had too much to drink and passes out, the worst thing you can do is drag them into a bedroom away from everyone else and close the door. Alcohol slows down the heart rate and breathing and lowers the blood pressure. The amount of alcohol it takes to make you pass out is dangerously close to the amount it takes to kill you. If a friend passes out, monitor their breathing and heart rate closely. If there is reason for concern, do not hesitate to get the individual medical attention. You may save their life |
| Anyone who passes out from drinking too much should be put to bed and allowed to “sleep it off”. | If a friend has had too much to drink and passes out, the worst thing you can do is drag them into a bedroom away from everyone else and close the door. Alcohol slows down the heart rate and breathing and lowers the blood pressure. The amount of alcohol it takes to make you pass out is dangerously close to the amount it takes to kill you. If a friend passes out, monitor their breathing and heart rate closely. If there is reason for concern, do not hesitate to get the individual medical attention. You may save their life. |
If you recognize any or some of the symptoms of these disorders in yourself or someone you know then be sure to reach out to a healthcare professional to get the help you or that person may need.
References
- https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/How-much-is-too-much/whats-the-harm/what-Are-Symptoms-Of-alcohol-Use-Disorder.aspx
- https://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/withdrawal#symptoms
- https://www.drugs.com/cg/alcohol-intoxication.html#symptoms
- https://www.priorygroup.com/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/alcohol-addiction-withdrawal
- https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-intoxication#symptoms
Prepared by:
10th December, 2022