Alcohol is a hallucinatory substance with addiction and dependence-producing

properties that has been widely used in many cultures and countries for centuries. a
high burden of disease and has significant social and economic consequences due to
The harmful use of alcohol . Alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200
diseases, injuries and other health conditions. Drinking alcohol is linked with a risk of
developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, including alcohol
dependence, and major noncommunicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, some
cancers and cardiovascular diseases. There is relationship has been established
between harmful drinking and incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and
HIV.[1]

 Pharmacologically alcohols are the derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons, while

inadequate.Alcohol refers to ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
 Manufacture of alcohol:- alcohol is produce.by fermentation of sugars:

ZYMASE
 C6H12O6 2CO2+2C2H5OH

GLUCOSE (IN YEAST) ETHANOL

The above reaction is called as fermentation and this reaction is carried out till alcohol
content reaches upto approximately 15 % then further the reaction is inhibited by
alcohol itself.

convertase

Starch maltose

Molasses is the major source of commercial alcohol and it is the leftover byproduct of sugar industry.
example:- barley when soaked produce malt then it gets fermented with the help of yeast and tends to
produce alcohol.

There is having various types of alcoholic beverages such as melted liquors, wines, spirits etc. this
different types is based on concentration of ethanol.

PHARMACOKINETICS:- The absorption of alcohol from stomach is totally dependent the concentration
of alcohol intake , presence of food and similar other factors and it is seen that the rate is generally slow
but absorption from intestine is very fast ; it is seen that the peak levels after ingestion of alcohol in the
fasting state are attained after approximately 30 minutes thus the rate of absorption is determined by
gastric emptying . the first pass metabolism of alcohol occurs in liver and stomach . the distribution of
alcohol is widely in the body and most important to note that alcohol crosses blood brain barrier and
placenta efficiently. The concentration of it in brain is nearly about the concentration of blood .There is
the primary pathway of utilization of alcohol; dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase .
 Alcohol dehydrogenase aldehyde dehydrogenase

Ethyl alcohol acetaldehyde acetate

co2+h2o

The rate at which individual metabolise alcohol is reflected by alcohol dehydrogenase which exhibits
considerable genetic variability , and governs the susceptibility of alcohol. Simultaneously the small amt
of alcohol is oxidized bt hepatic microsomal enzyme mainly with the help of enzyme CYP2E1 .thus a
constant amount of alcohol is degraded on unit time i.e 8-12 ml of alcohol/hour this is irrespective of
blood concentration . excreation of alcohol occurs through kidney and lungs.

Pharmacology of alcohol:-