Take away CAT Mod IX: Studies in alcohol Jan -April class 2024

Answer all questions

1. For generations, alcohol and drugs have been used for a variety of reasons in different

cultures around the world. Briefly describe ANY THREE.

1. The Bonding Experience

Especially among contemporary youths, many individuals struggle to relate to peers.

The stress of socializing can be a major reason why individuals turn to drugs or

alcohol as a means of curbing social anxiety. Alcohol, sometimes called the “social

lubricant,” has been used this way since wine was first produced in the late Neolithic

Period (circa 10,000 B.C.).

It is now commonplace for groups of friends to plan social gatherings around the

presence of alcohol, such as meeting for happy hour at a favorite bar. Being under the

influence of alcohol makes peer interaction much easier; people often feel more

confident, are quicker to crack jokes and speak up, feel less self-conscious, and worry

less about rejection.

2. Relief from Stress

Those who feel overwhelmed by the amount of stress experienced on a day-to-day

basis have a plethora of healthy alternatives to manage stress. Meditation, guided

breathing exercises, and yoga are relaxing and teach awareness of the state of your

body and its processes, both physical and emotional. In fact, meditation and so-called

mindfulness exercises have shown that traits believed to be immutable, such as

addiction, can be positively and significantly improved.

 3. Lifestyle Appeal

Sometimes individuals find the lifestyle of the substance abuser to be appealing, perhaps

even glamorous. Observers will notice the way a community of substance abusers dress,

the music they listen to, what they do for fun, their attitude toward structure and

responsibility, and find this lifestyle appealing.

2. Briefly explain the four types of alcohol.

 Ethanol is the alcohol used in alcoholic beverages, meaning that it is the type of alcohol

with the highest rates of misuse. It is also a preservative in health and beauty products

and is found in lotions, creams, and paints. It is also used as an ingredient in colognes

and astringent in skin cleansing products.

 Methanol is a clean energy chemical for creating many popular household products and

fueling various types of transportation, such as cars and ships. Methanol does not have

any color but does have a slight alcohol smell. It is a toxic substance that can be created

naturally by the human body due to a person’s food and drink choices. For example, diet

sodas containing aspartame will produce methanol in the body. Also, fruits, vegetables,

and fermented products are a source of methanol.

 Isopropanol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers. It is also clear

and colorless but has a distinct alcohol smell. Isopropanol may be an ingredient in

household cleaners, paint thinners, and perfumes. Consuming just a small amount of this

alcohol can be toxic and, for some, fatal if it is swallowed or gets in the eyes.
 3. Highlight ANY FOUR factors that influence BAC

 Metabolic rate – which is affected by diet, digestion, fitness, emotional state, hormonal

cycle.

 Amount of body fat– Body fat does not absorb alcohol so alcohol is more concentrated in

people with a high proportion of body fat.

 Drinking on an empty stomach – Having food in the stomach slows down the rate at

which alcohol passes into the bloodstream.

 Percentage of alcohol in a drink – The higher the percentage, the higher the BAC.

4. Briefly describe Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is one name for two conditions that often happen

together -- Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome. Many doctors think of them

as different stages of the same disease.They can happen if you don’t get enough vitamin B1,

also called thiamine. Vitamin B1 helps your brain turn sugar into energy. When your brain

and nervous system don’t get the amount they need, they don’t work as well. Wernicke

Encephalopathy typically comes on suddenly, and you’ll need treatment right away.

Symptoms include confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and trouble with your vision.

Korsakoff syndrome happens more slowly. It’s a long-term, ongoing problem that damages

the part of your brain that handles memory.

5. Give a short description of alcohol use disorder as per DSM 5.

When a person is diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, the severity of the condition is

determined by the number of symptoms they have.

Mild: 2-3 symptoms present

Moderate: 4-5 symptoms present

Severe: 6 or more symptoms present

 6. Briefly explain the health effects of alcohol on ANY FOUR body organs.

Brain: Alcohol slows down the chemicals and pathways your brain uses to control your

body, altering mood, slowing down reflexes and affecting balance. It also can contribute

to learning, memory, and sleep problems.

Heart: Alcohol increases your heart rate and expands your blood vessels, making more

blood flow to the skin (which causes you to feel warm), however, this heat passes out

through the skin, causing body temperature to fall after it has risen.

Digestive tract: Alcohol is first broken down in the stomach, promoting an increase in

digestive juices. Alcohol also irritates the small intestine and colon where it is further

broken down and absorbed, and it also can affect the normal speed that food moves

through them, which may result in abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

Kidney: Alcohol dries out (i.e., dehydrates) the body, which can affect the kidneys and

the body’s ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes. It also disrupts hormones that affect

kidney function.

Liver: Alcohol—most of it, in fact—is metabolized in the liver, which filters circulating

blood and removes and destroys toxic substances, including alcohol. The liver can handle

a certain amount of alcohol, but as a person continues to drink, it can become stressed to

the point of causing permanent damage.

7. Give a brief summary of alcoholism causative and perpetuating factors.

 Psychological Factors

Many individuals with psychological illnesses turn to alcohol as a method of coping with

their illness. For example, some with schizophrenia claim that alcohol “quiets” the voices in

their head; some with depression claim that alcohol elevates their mood. This is especially

common in individuals who have not been diagnosed or who have found that medication

creates unpleasant side effects.

Additionally, many psychological disorders reduce an individual’s ability to perceive the

reality of their drinking or acknowledge risks and warning signs.

 Personal Choice Factors

There are some aspects of personal choice when it comes to alcoholism. For example,

someone who has decided that they will never have a drink is obviously not going to develop

alcoholism. Additionally, those who choose to avoid social situations where drinking is likely

to occur are also less likely to develop alcoholism. However, once an individual begins

drinking, personal choice has considerably less influence over whether they become an

alcoholic compared to other factors.

 Familial Factors

Excluding genetics, an individual’s family life plays a significant role in the likelihood that

they develop alcoholism. People who grow up in a family where heavy drinking is practiced,

or even encouraged, are more likely to develop alcoholism. In these families, heavy drinking

is normalized and glamorized; it becomes socially acceptable, expected, and potentially

desirable.

 Drinking History Factors

A person’s drinking history heavily influences their likelihood of developing alcoholism.

Individuals with a long history of drinking are more likely to become alcoholics than those

who have been drinking alcohol for less time. Similarly, individuals who have consumed

more alcohol are more likely to become alcoholics than individuals who have consumed less

alcohol. Alcohol use actually rewires the brain to desire and depend on alcohol, and these

effects are cumulative.

8. Highlight the four phases of alcoholism by Jelinek.

Stage One: Pre- alcoholic

In the pre-alcoholism phase, the individual drinks not just as a social activity, but because

alcohol helps relieve psychological stress and tension. This is sometimes referred to as

“early relief drinking.” At this stage, a person may not experience or perceive any ill

effects of their drinking. But eventually, they’ll need to drink more than before to

experience the same pleasant effects. That’s because physiological changes are going on

and the individual is developing a tolerance to alcohol.

Stage Two: Prodormal (Early Alcoholic)

Other troubling physical signs and symptoms emerge as the individual enters the

prodromal stage. Levels of consumption escalate and the individual may even gulp their

first couple of drinks to hasten their buzz. The individual may become abnormally

preoccupied with drinking and recurrent blackouts may accompany drinking episodes. At

this point, the individual’s drinking problem still might not be readily apparent to others.

Many people feel guilty about their behavior at this stage and will go to great lengths to

hide their drinking patterns.

Stage Three: Crucial Phase (Middle Alcoholic)

At this point, the person has lost control over their drinking and the damage of their

drinking becomes evident. The person may try and rationalize their drinking, make

excuses or even blame others. At times, they may stop drinking entirely or alter their

pattern of drinking, but they usually fail repeatedly. Negative emotions become the norm

and they may lose interest in their family, job and hobbies. People often leave jobs or lose

friendships in this phase.

 The physical decline continues. At this stage, the individual is usually completely

physically dependent on alcohol and may begin drinking in the morning. Poor nutrition is

common and they may land in the hospital because of health problems.

Stage Four: Chronic Phase ( Late Alcoholic)

In the chronic phase, the individual engages in prolonged episodes of binge drinking,

sometimes known as “benders.” The physical and mental decline continues and the person

may experience impaired thinking or even have psychotic episodes. At this point, their

tolerance for alcohol actually declines and small amounts of alcohol cause marked

inebriation. The person generally no longer experiences psychological relief from drinking at

this stage, but their level of physical dependence is so high, they simply can’t stop. Indeed,

stopping at this point would result in severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

9. Briefly describe ANY FOUR impacts of alcoholism on families living with person

with an alcohol use disorder.

Children can be greatly affected by alcoholism in their household. They can feel guilty,

where they believe they are responsible for the drinking and the fact that it won’t stop.

They can also become frustrated and angry, as they try to make sense of why a person

they care about is behaving in such a way. As alcoholism can disrupt routines, this can

mean a child misses out on steady mealtimes or bedtimes, or has to take on additional

responsibilities to establish routine in the household. Their mood and behaviours can also

become unpredictable, where they find it difficult to make friends and are afraid of going

to school.
As a person becomes addicted to alcohol, their focus can shift, where they neglect their

work in favour of drinking or dealing with the effects of drinking. This can lead to a

spouse or partner having to deal with the repercussions of a loss of income or less money

in the household. They may also have to take on more responsibilities with regards to the

family and home.

Everyone wants to love and protect their family. When someone has alcoholism, their

family may try to hide its existence as they feel ashamed. They may want to help the

addict get out of troubles caused by alcohol. Families can also try to help, control or cure

the alcoholism, or even agree to let it continue in exchange for keeping everyone together.

Alcohol is not free. Although even the strictest accountant or budgeter can make an

allowance for entertainment expenses, ongoing drinking can quickly cause people to

spend beyond their allotment for socializing. It is well established that alcohol misuse can

lead to serious financial problems, but not only because of the actual money spent on

alcohol.

10. Give a brief understanding of the influence of alcohol on the following

neurotransmitters;

a. Glutamate

An example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate, which would normally

increase brain activity and energy levels. Alcohol suppresses the release of glutamate,

resulting in a slowdown along your brain's highways.

b. Dopamine

Alcohol increases the release of dopamine in your brain's "reward center." The reward

center is the same combination of brain areas that are affected by virtually all

pleasurable activity, including everything from hanging out with friends, going on

vacation, getting a big bonus at work, ingesting drugs (like cocaine and crystal meth),

and drinking alcohol.

c. GABA

GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and GABA-like drugs are

used to suppress spasms. Alcohol is believed to mimic GABA's effect in the brain,

binding to GABA receptors and inhibiting neuronal signaling.

d. Serotonin

A rise in dopamine levels will create a sense of euphoria and good feelings all around.

The reason why people become dependent on alcohol is due to this feeling of

euphoria. When this positive neurotransmitter isn’t felt strongly enough on its own,

individuals become desirous of substances that provide them with the good feelings

that come from a dopamine hit and so are encouraged by their bodies to consume

alcohol more frequently.