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Introduction to Drugs and the

Neuroscience of Behavior 1st Edition


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Chapter 8: Alcohol

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Ethyl alcohol, which is found in beverage alcohol, functions as a central nervous system (CNS) ____.
a. neutralizer c. stimulant
b. psychedelic d. depressant
ANS: D PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used Depressant Substance

2. Which region of the world reports the lowest levels of alcohol consumption?
a. Middle East c. South America
b. North America d. Australia
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used Depressant Substance

3. According to a 2009 survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), what percent of all U.S. individuals 12 and older had consumed alcohol
within the last 30 days?
a. at least 12% c. at least 50%
b. at least 25% d. at least 75%
ANS: C PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used Depressant Substance

4. The number of grams of alcohol found in 100 milliliters of solution is referred to as the ____ of alcohol.
a. proof c. dosage
b. percentage d. unit
ANS: B PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol Production Through Fermentation and Distillation

5. Marty is looking for a bottle of vodka for a holiday party. He settles on a bottle of vodka that has 40g of
alcohol in 100 mL of solution. What is the proof of this vodka?
a. 20 c. 80
b. 40 d. 100
ANS: C PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol Production Through Fermentation and Distillation

6. Mike works at a plant that produces alcoholic beverages. He is in charge of overseeing a procedure that
uses yeast cells and grain to make the alcohol. What process is Mike using?
a. evaporation c. condensation
b. distillation d. fermentation
ANS: D PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol Production Through Fermentation and Distillation

© Cengage Learning 2014


7. Janet is in charge of the distillation process at the alcohol manufacturing company, Drink-2-Relax. What
does this process involve?
a. Separating alcohol from a fermented mixture
b. Combining alcohol with a fermented mixture
c. Using bacterial cells and a nutrient source to yield alcohol
d. Using yeast cells and a source of sugar to produce alcohol
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol Production Through Fermentation and Distillation

8. Liquors have a much higher alcohol content than beers and wine. Why?
a. The fermentation process used to generate liquors yields a higher content of alcohol.
b. Liquors use a distillation process, which bypasses the need for fermentation.
c. Liquors go through a process of fermentation and distillation, which concentrates the
alcohol.
d. Yeast cells used in the distillation process require minimal sugar substrates.
ANS: C PTS: 1
REF: Alcohol Production Through Fermentation and Distillation

9. The earliest recorded history of alcohol dates to a time when taverns in Samaria and Egypt sold alcohol,
and traders transported alcohol throughout the known world. When was this early recorded history?
a. 3200 B.C c. 1200 A.D.
b. 1200 B.C. d. 3200 A.D.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: The History of Alcohol Consumption

10. The history of alcohol consumption shows that alcohol usage was ____.
a. supported without opposition
b. an important part of medicine
c. discouraged in religious practices
d. restricted to fermented beverages until the 19th century
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: The History of Alcohol Consumption

11. What historical role did the 18th Amendment play in the usage of alcohol in the United States?
a. Banned sale and distribution of alcohol
b. Banned the consumption of alcohol
c. Protected the right to consume alcohol
d. Protected the right to free trade of alcohol
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: The History of Alcohol Consumption

12. Seth consumes two alcoholic beverages. As a result, he has 0.05 grams of alcohol in his body per 100-ml
volume of blood. What is Seth’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
a. 0.005 c. 0.5
b. 0.05 d. 5
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacokinetic Factors and Alcohol’s Effects

© Cengage Learning 2014


13. A disruption of which enzyme would lead to the build up of alcohol in your body?
a. alcohol oxidase c. alcohol esterase
b. alcohol dehydrogenase d. alcohol catalase
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacokinetic Factors and Alcohol’s Effects

14. Identical twins Erin and Jill drink the same amount of alcohol at a party. Erin has a plate of pasta before
consuming the alcohol; Jill drinks on an empty stomach. Why is Jill more likely to feel stronger effects of
the alcohol?
a. When Erin’s bran processes the rewarding properties of food, this competes with the
alcohol reward pathways.
b. On a full stomach, alcohol remains in the stomach longer, which facilitates metabolism
before absorption.
c. A full stomach facilitates passage of food through the digestive system to the liver, where
most alcohol is metabolized.
d. On an empty stomach, alcohol dehydrogenase production depletes, which allows alcohol
levels to build up
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacokinetic Factors and Alcohol’s Effects

15. Which statement best reflects the rate of alcohol elimination?


a. The rate follows nonlinear kinetics.
b. The rate follows linear kinetics.
c. The rate is highly unpredictable due to variable kinetic patterns.
d. The rate follows a mix of nonlinear and linear kinetics.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacokinetic Factors and Alcohol’s Effects

16. What is the basis of a breathalyzer test?


a. Five percent of alcohol is eliminated in the lungs.
b. Ten percent of alcohol remains in the stomach for a prolonged period.
c. Seven percent of alcohol is perspired through the pores.
d. Three percent of alcohol tightly binds to mucous membranes in the mouth.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacokinetic Factors and Alcohol’s Effects

17. Alcohol is least likely to bind to which type of receptor?


a. glutamate receptors c. serotonin receptors
b. GABA receptors d. acetylcholine receptors
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

18. What is the relationship between alcohol and GABA receptors?


a. Alcohol acts as a GABA receptor agonist, causing hyperpolarization of the neuron.
b. Alcohol acts as a GABA receptor agonist, causing depolarization of the neuron.
c. Alcohol acts as a GABA receptor antagonist, causing hyperpolarization of the neuron.
d. Alcohol acts as a GABA receptor antagonist, causing depolarization of the neuron.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

© Cengage Learning 2014


19. Which brain structures are primarily responsible for alcohol’s depressing effects on the CNS?
a. thalamus, cerebellum, and hippocampus
b. cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex
c. cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus
d. cerebral cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

20. Sean is a chronic user of alcohol. What types of changes on the GABAergic system would we expect to
find in Sean’s brain?
a. Increased metabolism of GABA
b. Reduced number of GABA receptors
c. GABA receptors that are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol
d. Greater inhibition of GABA neurons
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

21. Graduate student Adrienne studies the effects of alcohol on voltage-gated calcium channels. After
performing a series of experiments, Adrienne finds that alcohol, because of its action on these channels,
____.
a. increases neurotransmitter release
b. decreases neurotransmitter release
c. increases the packaging of neurotransmitters into vesicles
d. decreases the packaging of neurotransmitters into vesicles
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

22. According to a study by Ding et al. (2011), the serotonergic 5-HT3 receptor is important for alcohol’s
ability to increase ____ concentrations in the nucleus accumbens.
a. GABA c. norepinephrine
b. glutamate d. dopamine
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

23. In a microdialysis study by Cohen and colleagues (2002), administration of the cannabinoids CB1
receptor antagonist rimonabant prevented alcohol from increasing ____ levels in the nucleus accumbens
of rats.
a. dopamine c. acetylcholine
b. serotonin d. GABA
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Alcohol and Central Nervous System Functioning

24. In general, what type of effects does low dose alcohol have on the brain?
a. Neither excitatory nor depressant effects on physiological and psychological functions
b. Both excitatory and depressant effects for most physiological and psychological functions
c. Excitatory effects for certain physiological and psychological functions
d. Depressant effects on physiological and psychological functions
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

© Cengage Learning 2014


25. Over the course of one hour, Jennifer consumes four standard drinks. What type of drinking does this
exemplify?
a. Moderate drinking c. Binge drinking
b. Heavy drinking d. Extreme drinking
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

26. Who is engaging in extreme drinking?


a. Hal, who consumes five beers in two hours
b. Marta, who is engaging in “21 for 21” on her 21st birthday
c. Devlin, who has not gone a single day without drinking a beer in over 10 years
d. Caitlyn, who has a shot of tequila on an empty stomach
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

27. What is the relationship between alcohol and body temperature?


a. Core temperature increases, and the body feels warmer.
b. Core temperature increases, but body feels cooler.
c. Core temperature decreases, but the body feels warmer.
d. Core temperature decreases, and the body feels cooler.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

28. What is a physiological effect of low dose alcohol?


a. Decreased risk of stroke
b. Increased risk of heart disorders
c. Increased risk of ischemia
d. Decreased risk of neurodegenerative disease
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

29. Amber is contemplating kicking her once-a-day glass of red wine habit. But then she is surprised to find
out that low dose alcohol has health benefits. What does Amber learn about alcohol’s role in promoting
cardiovascular health?
a. Alcohol increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
b. Alcohol decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
c. Alcohol activates plasmin.
d. Alcohol promotes blood platelet formation.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

30. Alcohol use causes poor judgment because of a weakening of behavioral control that manifests as poor
risk assessment, engagement in dangerous behavior, and impulsivity. This process is referred to as ____.
a. desensitization c. deregulation
b. disinhibition d. disengagement
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

31. A specific disinhibition trait in alcohol use is ____.


a. decreased motivation c. increased feelings of relaxedness
b. increased impulsivity d. incoherent speaking
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

© Cengage Learning 2014


32. Gizelle says to her roommate before they head out for the night, “I’m only going to have two drinks
tonight. I have to get up early.” As the night progresses, her roommate asks, “What happened to your two
drink rule?”, as she catches Gizelle drinking her fourth beer. What is Gizelle likely experiencing?
a. dependence c. sensitization
b. withdrawal d. priming
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

33. Alcohol has a marked effect on reducing ____.


a. impulsivity c. reaction time
b. extravertedness d. disinhibition
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

34. In a study by Schulte and colleagues (2001), participants were asked to identify square patterns formed by
X’s in a rapid series of differently patterned screens. Alcohol-treated participants who had a BAC of 0.05
or higher produced more errors than placebo-treated patients. This study demonstrates that alcohol
disrupts ____.
a. divided attention c. coordination
b. reaction time d. disinhibition
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

35. Which type of memory is least likely to be affected by alcohol consumption?


a. episodic c. sensory
b. semantic d. working
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

36. Based on a study by Liguori et al. (1999), participants can detect clear drug effects at BACs of 0.05. What
were these drugs effects?
a. feelings of depression and delirium c. feeling high and moderate delirium
b. feelings of depression and dizziness d. feeling high and mild dizziness
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

37. What hypothesis did Conger (1956) develop to explain habitual alcohol use?
a. chronic disinhibition hypothesis c. tolerance subjectivity hypothesis
b. tension reduction hypothesis d. alcohol state dependent hypothesis
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

38. Gabe has a BAC of 0.25. How will Gabe’s cognitive function be affected by this acute increase in blood
alcohol level?
a. He may suffer a seizure.
b. He may experience reversible dementia.
c. He will feel more alert, but in fact will not be.
d. He may experience increased personal insight.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

© Cengage Learning 2014


39. After a night of binge drinking, Hank wakes up and tells his buddies, “What happened last night? I must
have blacked out.” What alcohol-induced state is Hank referring to?
a. stupor and anterograde amnesia
b. stupor and retrograde amnesia
c. loss of coordination and anterograde amnesia
d. loss of coordination and retrograde amnesia
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

40. Most alcohol related deaths occur from ____.


a. suppressed gag reflex c. myocardial infarction
b. grand mal seizure d. depressed respiration
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

41. What typically causes a person with a high BAC to pass out?
a. Extreme exhaustion
b. Loss of GABA receptors
c. Dampening of cortical arousal areas
d. Increased activation of dopamine receptors
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

42. Tyler finds himself in the emergency room after suffering from alcohol poisoning. Tyler’s BAC must
have been at least ____.
a. 0.025 c. 0.25
b. 0.05 d. 0.5
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

43. Alcohol poisoning is characterized by inhibition of ____ functioning.


a. limbic system c. autonomic system
b. hepatic d. cardiovascular
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

44. Barry, an alcoholic, is at risk for low cardiac output associated with chronic alcohol use referred to as
alcoholic ____.
a. cardiomyopathy c. cardiac dysrhythmias
b. myocardial infarction d. endocarditis
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

45. Barry, an alcoholic, suffers from alcoholic cardiomyopathy. What are the characteristics of this disorder?
a. enlargement of the heart, and constriction of the heart chambers
b. enlargement of the heart, and dilation of the heart chambers
c. atrophy of the heart, and constriction of the heart chambers
d. atrophy of the heart, and dilation of the heart chambers
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

© Cengage Learning 2014


46. After a week of heavy partying during spring break, Liz experiences abnormal heartbeats. She finds out
from her doctor that she likely experienced cardiac arrhythmias referred to as “____.”
a. holiday heart syndrome c. drinker’s heart syndrome
b. alcohol output syndrome d. college cardiac syndrome
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

47. Chronic alcohol use can lead to chronic liver disease, characterized by tissue scarring and poor liver
function referred to as a(n) ____.
a. hepatitis c. hepatic steatosis
b. intrahepatic cholestasis d. cirrhosis
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

48. Unaware that she is pregnant, Tabitha engages in heavy alcohol drinking during most of her pregnancy. If
Tabitha’s baby develops fetal alcohol syndrome, what facial characteristics will be prominent?
a. Abnormally large eye openings c. Fuller than normal upper lip
b. Eyes set far apart d. Hydrocephalus (large head)
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

49. Derek, an alcoholic, was just diagnosed with Korsakoff’s syndrome. A possible cause and a symptom of
this syndrome is ____.
a. GABA receptor loss and high blood pressure
b. GABA receptor loss and memory loss
c. vitamin B6 deficiency and high blood pressure
d. vitamin B1 deficiency and memory loss
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

50. Who is experiencing acute alcohol tolerance?


a. Justin, who as a result of alcohol use, has diminished GABA receptor levels
b. Genaya: she feels less of a “buzz” from alcohol when her BAC declines, compared to her
increasing BAC
c. Terry: because of an increase in alcohol dehydrogenase levels, he is metabolizing more
alcohol
d. Mindy: her BAC is climbing at a decreased rate in response to her alcohol consumption
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

51. Increases in alcohol dehydrogenase levels is characteristic of which form of alcohol tolerance?
a. metabolic tolerance to alcohol c. behavioral tolerance to alcohol
b. pharmacodynamic tolerance to alcohol d. acute tolerance to alcohol
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

52. Increases in NMDA receptor levels is characteristic of which form of alcohol tolerance?
a. metabolic tolerance to alcohol c. behavioral tolerance to alcohol
b. pharmacodynamic tolerance to alcohol d. acute tolerance to alcohol
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

© Cengage Learning 2014


53. Sensitization typically occurs in response to alcohol’s ____ effects.
a. cardiovascular c. behavioral
b. hepatic d. reinforcing
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

54. Bernard is an alcoholic. What term best describes Bernard’s condition?


a. alcohol abuse c. alcohol tolerance state
b. alcohol dependency d. alcohol withdrawal syndrome
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

55. How do type A alcoholics differ from type B alcoholics?


a. Type A: 25 and older with low genetic risk; Type B: under 25 with high genetic risk
b. Type A: 25 and older with high genetic risk; Type B: under 25 with low genetic risk
c. Type A: under 25 with low genetic risk; Type B: 25 and older with high genetic risk
d. Type A: under 25 with high genetic risk; Type B: 25 and older with low genetic risk
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

56. Dean is an alcoholic. During withdrawal from alcohol, he experiences a seizure. What biological adaptive
response played a role in his seizure?
a. Increased glutamate synthesis c. Increased glutamate receptor levels
b. Increased glutamate metabolism d. Decreased glutamate receptor levels
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

57. Who is likely participating in cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat alcohol dependence?


a. Stan, who is prescribed naltrexone to weaken alcohol’s reinforcing effects
b. Maiken, who undergoes a 12-step recovery program centered on social support
c. Alex, who learns to eliminate his problems associated with alcohol use
d. Solenne, who goes through a detox program and avoids contact with others who drink
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: Psychosocial Interventions, Therapeutic Drugs, and Alcohol Use Disorders

58. Estelle is prescribed medication to treat her alcohol dependence. This medication weakens alcohol’s
reinforcing properties by blocking opioid receptors. What medication was she prescribed?
a. Disulfiram c. Acamprosate
b. Naltrexone d. Burpropion
ANS: B PTS: 1
REF: Psychosocial Interventions, Therapeutic Drugs, and Alcohol Use Disorders

ESSAY

1. Describe current pharmacological strategies for treating alcohol dependence. Provide examples of specific
medications and their biological mechanisms of action. When applicable, discuss studies that support the
effectiveness of these strategies.

© Cengage Learning 2014


ANS:
Pharmacological treatments for alcohol addiction attempt to reduce alcohol intake by (1)
producing aversive effects, (2) weakening / effects, or (3) reducing cravings. Disulfiram (Antabuse) has
been used since 1949 to treat alcohol addiction. Disulfiram discourages alcohol use by generating
aversive effects through disrupting alcohol’s metabolic process in the body. Disulfiram inhibits
acetaldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme activity, the enzyme that breaks acetaldehyde down into inactive
metabolites. After consuming alcohol, disulfiram, through inhibiting this enzyme, causes a buildup of
acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde, in turn, causes a number of adverse physiological effects, including nausea,
sweatiness, and facial flushing. By producing these adverse effects, disulfiram deters alcohol
consumption (Heather, 1989).
Disulfiram appears most effective at reducing alcohol consumption when patients are willing to
participate in cessation programs and when disulfiram compliance is supervised. Otherwise, alcohol-
addicted individuals who are coerced, often through court-mandated treatment, into taking disulfiram
either fail to take the medications regularly or switch to alternative drugs of abuse (Heather, 1989). Only
one in five patients treated with disulfiram remain abstinent one year later (Miller, Walters, & Bennett,
2001).
Although disulfiram treatment generates aversive effects, naltrexone treatment may reduce
alcohol’s reinforcing effects. Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist approved in Canada, Europe,
and the United States for treating alcohol addiction. By blocking opioid receptors, naltrexone may
interfere with endogenous opioid mediation of alcohol’s reinforcing effects, as described previously in
this chapter (Volpicelli, Sarin-Krishnan, & O’Malley, 2002).
Gonzales and Weiss (1998) demonstrated naltrexone’s reduction of alcohol’s reinforcing effects
in rats using both self-administration and microdialysis procedures. In this study, rats self-administered
less alcohol after naltrexone administration. Moreover, naltrexone caused a weaker elevation of nucleus
accumbens dopamine levels after alcohol administration. In humans, naltrexone prevents alcohol-addicted
individuals from consuming alcohol to dangerously high BACs (Volpicelli, Alterman, Hayashida, & O?
’Brien, 1992). Beyond this, however, naltrexone provides less than promising results for alcohol
addiction. In a one-year clinical study conducted by Krystal and colleagues (2001), naltrexone, in
combination with psychosocial therapy, failed to increase the number of alcohol-free days compared to
placebo.
Acamprosate (Campral) is a treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for alcohol
addiction. It acts on GABA and NMDA receptors. Research suggests that acamprosate may treat alcohol
addiction by reducing cravings for alcohol (Littleton, 1995). Acamprosate may achieve these results by
substituting for two primary mechanisms of action for alcohol. First, acamprosate exhibits agonist actions
at GABA receptors. Second, acamprosate functions as an antagonist for glutamate NMDA receptors. In
clinical trials, acamprosate modestly reduces craving and increases the number of alcohol-abstinent days
(Volpicelli et al., 2002). However, a collection of more recent studies has found that at 6- and 12-month
follow-ups with patients taking acamprosate, generally 20–40 percent of patients report alcohol
abstinence (Mason, 2001).

PTS: 1
REF: Psychosocial Interventions, Therapeutic Drugs, and Alcohol Use Disorders

2. The term hangover refers to an unpleasant experience that occurs after alcohol consumption. Describe the
symptoms and social cost of a hangover. In addition, discuss and analyze the five theories describing the
biological origins of a hangover, discussing relevant studies that support the theories.

© Cengage Learning 2014


ANS:
Hangover symptoms include headache, a poor sense of overall well-being, diarrhea, fatigue, and
nausea. Hangovers are not only unpleasant but also are associated with cognitive deficits. These deficits
occur even when BAC reaches zero. In a study by Howland and colleagues (2010), those experiencing
hangover with no BAC levels exhibited significant deficits in reaction time and attention. The severity of
the hangover is related to the magnitude of these deficits.
Hangovers are highly prevalent in the general population. Based on survey information, nearly 75
percent of those drinking to intoxication have experienced a hangover, and about half of these drinkers
experienced hangover within the last year. The prevalence of these debilitating effects present a high
economic burden from worker absenteeism, low productivity, and accidents. Absenteeism, in particular,
accounts for billions in lost wages each year (Wiese, Shlipak, & Browner, 2000).
Hangover symptoms appear around 6 –8 hours after drinking ceases. These symptoms begin to
occur as the BAC approaches 0, and they worsen when the BAC reaches 0. Once hangover symptoms
occur, they remain for as long as 14 –16 hours. The cause of hangover is not entirely understood.
Currently, there are thought to be five possible contributors to hangover.
The first contributor to hangover may be acute alcohol withdrawal. Many of the features of
hangover match the DSM-IV characteristics for alcohol withdrawal. Moreover, alcohol consumption
reduces hangover symptoms (Swift & Davidson, 1998). Unlike alcohol addiction, however, hangover
symptoms do not develop into further stages of alcohol withdrawal such as seizures.
A second possible contributor to hangover is the buildup of acetalhyde after alcohol consumption.
As previously described, alcohol dehydrogenase converts alcohol to acetalhyde. Acetalhyde produces
aversive hangover-like effects. However, alcohol consumption must be very high to produce sufficient
buildup of acetalhyde to produce aversive symptoms. Further, hangover symptoms occur when the body
no longer contains acetalhyde.
A third possible contributor for hangover may be acetate accumulation. A metabolite of
acetalhyde, acetate accumulates to much greater levels in the body than acetalhyde and may be present in
the body when hangover symptoms begin. Acetate causes other effects in the body, such as increased
levels of adenosine, and causes headaches in humans and laboratory animals. Adenosine produces
increased pain sensitivity and fatigue. Thus, acetate together with its production of adenosine may
contribute to many hangover symptoms. In a demonstration of acetate’s effects, Maxwell and colleagues
(2010) assessed the effects of acetate on headache in laboratory animals. The resulting headache from
acetate was substantially reduced with treatment by caffeine, an adenosine receptor antagonist.
A fourth possible contributor to hangover is direct action by alcohol. Alcohol consumption causes
dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low blood sugar, vasodilatation, and gastric irritation. All of these
effects could support the symptoms of hangover. However, studies indicate that these specific effects are
most related to severe hangover.
The fifth possible contributor for hangover is overconsumption of other chemicals in alcoholic
drinks. These other chemicals can include acetones, polyphenols, and methanol. Methanol, in particular,
is known to produce aversive effects similar to hangover. Moreover, hangover symptoms are worse for
drinks with a high number of fermentation byproducts, referred to as congeners, than those with less
congener content. In a study conducted by Chapman (1970), more participants exhibited hangover after
consuming bourbon, a drink with high congener content, than those who consumed vodka, a drink with
low congener content.

PTS: 1 REF: Hangover

© Cengage Learning 2014

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