Alcohol intoxication refers to a temporary condition that occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol at one time. Severe alcohol intoxication — or alcohol poisoning — is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention. Although people can safely consume alcohol without experiencing immediate adverse health effects, long term alcohol consumption can jeopardize overall health.
The Department of Health and Human Services classifies alcohol as a carcinogen, a substance that plays a role in causing cancer. The medical community has linked alcohol with numerous types of cancer, such as cancers of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus.
Keep reading to learn more about alcohol intoxication, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments. A standard serving of alcohol in the United States is 0. This translates to the following single servings of standard alcoholic drinks:.
The rate at which the body metabolizes alcohol varies from person to person, depending on factors such as:. When a person drinks more alcohol than their liver can process, ethanol molecules start accumulating in the body. This can damage tissue cells and organs.
The symptoms of alcohol intoxication range from mild to severe, depending on how much alcohol a person consumes and how quickly their body metabolizes it. These symptoms often occur in stages, depending on how intoxicated a person is. The table below shows common symptoms at alkohol intox barn level of alcohol intoxication.
It includes information about blood alcohol concentration or content BAC — a common way to measure intoxication for medical or legal purposes. BAC refers to how much alcohol is in the bloodstream. People can get individualized BAC estimates using this calculator.
In every U. A person who drives with a higher BAC is at risk of arrest. In alcoholic drinks, a chemical compound called ethanol is responsible for the symptoms associated with intoxication. Numerous commercial and household products, such as mouthwash, perfume, and gasoline, also contain ethanol.
When a person drinks alcohol, ethanol passes through the digestive system and enters the bloodstream through the linings of the stomach and intestines. If an individual drinks alcohol on an empty stomach, their BAC usually peaks within 30—90 minutes.
Once ethanol is inside the bloodstream, it can travel throughout the body, affecting various functions. Ethanol interferes with the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid. This amino acid, often called GABA, reduces central nervous system activity.