“Alcohol, what really is its effects on my body”

Drinking alcohol increases the activity of the dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic pathways of our brains, which is the reward pathway, alcohol also stimulates the opioid cells that release endorphins. This produces feelings of joy, pleasure, and euphoria. You feel relaxed because the part of your brain that controls the worry and stress is supressed. But the aftermath of alcohol use, especially in excessive amounts is not as pleasant. The cumulative effects of drinking alcohol can lead to the following problems:

• Slurred speech
• Dependence
• Heart damage
• Blackouts
• Liver damage
• Stomach distress
• Infertility, etc.

Alcohol is very rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. The distribution of alcohol depends on the amount of body fluid we have. Women have less body fluids than men, thus a certain amount of drinks may have no effect on a man but may result in a woman becoming intoxicated. In South Africa, the legal limit of alcohol intake is 0.05g per dL, this means that anything more than 2 drinks within an hour will put you over the legal limit. A problem of dependence may start to develop when the intake of alcohol becomes excessive or when more alcohol becomes needed to achieve the same euphoric effects that were experienced with say 2 glasses. This may then be a sign of alcohol dependence which can lead to undesired withdrawal symptoms that make you feel horrible when your blood alcohol concentrations return to normal and the euphoric effects start to wear off.  The help that may be needed to treat dependence problems, depend on the severity of dependence. With moderate dependence, the most important thing is to find a support system that will help and encourage you to stop. By joining a support group, talking to a psychologist or with your parents, it can be managed. When dependence is more severe then other measures such as a rehabilitation centre may be necessary.

“Is it dangerous to use sedatives and sleeping drugs?”

Sedatives and Hypnotics help to decrease our inhibitions, suppress our anxiety, and produce relaxation. This encourages the continuous use because these drugs enable us to sleep better. Unfortunately, this is not the only mechanism involved with these drugs. Sedatives have been proven to enhance the dopaminergic pathways in our brain which after continuous use, may enhance the development of addiction. These drugs are known as Central Nervous system depressant drugs, excessive use of these drugs can require increased doses due to ineffectiveness and can lead to toxicity or overdose. In many instances this can be fatal. Although the effects that these drugs produce help better our ability to sleep thus allowing us to feel and function better, these drugs are not a permanent solution and should not be used for longer than the recommended time frame.

Brand, L.Prof.  2021.  Study Unit 3. Alcohols. Unpublished lecture notes on efundi, FKLG 312.  Potchefstroom: NWU.  [PowerPoint presentation]

Brand, L.Prof.  2021.  Study Unit 12. Drug Dependence. Unpublished lecture notes on efundi, FKLG 312.  Potchefstroom: NWU.  [PowerPoint presentation]

Burnett, D. 2016. Drink and be merry: why alcohol makes us feel good, then doesn’t. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2016/nov/29/drink-and-be-merry-why-alcohol-makes-us-feel-good-then-doesnt

Katzung, B.G., 2018. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 14th ed. United States of America: McGraw-Hill Education.

Pietrangelo, A. 2018. The effects of Alcohol on your body. Healthline.com. https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body