Study Unit 12.2

You (as a pharmacist) are invited by the local high school to address all the teachers and learners on the topic “Alcohol, what really is its effect on my body”. Focus on the effects, “pleasant” as well as “unpleasant”, how many glasses are safe? How do I know when I am starting to develop a problem? What should I then do?  Throughout, keep the age of your target group (learners) in mind!

Alcohol falls under the class of sedative-hypnotics and causes central nervous system depressant effects. It potentiates GABAs effects on the GABA _A -receptors, acting via second messengers to agonize NMDA-receptors. Alcohol causes sedation, relief of anxiety at lower concentrations and at higher concentrations disinhibited behaviour, impaired judgement, slurred speech, ataxia, coma and death. With chronic use your body develops tolerance (metabolic tolerance) and higher concentrations are needed for the same effects. When you start to take alcohol on a more regular basis (more than 5 days a week) it starts to shift towards dependance because you get addicted to the feeling of “no worries” and it may make you forget your sorrows for a short while. But with chronic use alcohol can have negative effects on the body and can lead to alcohol fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver failure. It also effects your GIT – pancreatitis, gastritis and diarrhea, weight loss and absorption deficiency of water-soluble vitamins (Vit. K). Alcohol also elevates your blood pressure and can have negative effects on your heart such as arrythmias. You are also more prone to lung infections and if you have TB/pneumonia. Alcohol increase your chance to get cancer – mouth, throat, larynx, esophageal, liver and breast cancer (in woman).

It can cause sedation, subjective high feeling and slowed reactions at 50-100mg/dL BAC (blood alcohol concentration) which is 2-5 units of alcohol. With increased intake impaired motor function, slurred speech, ataxia, emesis, stupor, coma and respiratory depression can occur. More than 400mg/dL is deadly and is equal to approximately equal to 40 units of alcohol. Where one beer is 1.5 units 1 glass of wine is 3.3 units and cocktails have approximately 2-4 units per cocktail. Where one unit equals 0.02g of alcohol. When you feel that you are starting to depend on alcohol and struggle to go without it due to your body being addicted to the feel-good effect of alcohol, seek help. Rehabilitation programs are available, because alcohol with chronic use really is not good for your health.