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Questions and Answers
Which alcohol is the oldest recreational drug?
Which alcohol is the oldest recreational drug?
Ethanol contributes to more morbidity, mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined.
Ethanol contributes to more morbidity, mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined.
True
What is the standard amount of ethanol in a 'Standard Drink'?
What is the standard amount of ethanol in a 'Standard Drink'?
14 grams
Ethanol is rapidly absorbed via the stomach and small intestine, with Tmax approximately ___ minutes without food.
Ethanol is rapidly absorbed via the stomach and small intestine, with Tmax approximately ___ minutes without food.
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Match the following steps in the metabolism of ethanol:
Match the following steps in the metabolism of ethanol:
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What is the oldest recreational drug?
What is the oldest recreational drug?
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Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the U.S. is often untreated.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the U.S. is often untreated.
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What is the content of a 'Standard Drink' in terms of grams of ethanol?
What is the content of a 'Standard Drink' in terms of grams of ethanol?
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Blood Ethanol Concentration (BEC) can be readily estimated by the measurement of ethanol levels in ________ air.
Blood Ethanol Concentration (BEC) can be readily estimated by the measurement of ethanol levels in ________ air.
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Match the following steps of ethanol metabolism with the correct process:
Match the following steps of ethanol metabolism with the correct process:
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Study Notes
The Alcohols
- Ethanol, Methanol, and Ethylene glycol are types of alcohols.
Ethanol
- Oldest recreational drug and most commonly abused drug in the world.
- Contributes to more morbidity, mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined.
Ethanol Consumption
- Has been documented as far back as 10,000 BC.
- Incorporated into religious festivals, used for pleasure, and in medicinal practice.
- Dangers of heavy consumption have long been recognized by almost all cultures.
Ethanol Consumption in the US
- Associated with other substance use and psychiatric disorders, often goes untreated.
- About 1/3 men and 1/4 women meet criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
- Excessive consumption causes 600,000 emergency department visits/year, 10% of deaths (≈85,000/year) in working adults, and 1/3 of fatal traffic accidents.
Physiological Effects
- Relatively large amounts are required for physiological effects.
- Consumed in gram quantities, unlike other drugs which are in milligram or microgram quantities.
Standard Drink
- Contains 14 g ethanol.
- Produces about 30 mg% blood ethanol concentration in a 70-kg person.
Blood Ethanol Concentration (BEC)
- Readily estimated by the measurement of ethanol levels in expired air.
- Determined by rate of drinking, sex, body weight, H2O percentage, rates of metabolism, and stomach emptying.
Absorption
- Rapid absorption via the stomach and small intestine, more in the latter.
- Tmax ≈ 30 mins without food.
- Cmax higher in women than in men.
- Delayed by food in the stomach due to slowing of gastric emptying.
Distribution
- Distributes to total body water.
- Tissue concentration approximates plasma concentration, especially in highly perfused tissues (e.g. the brain).
- Crosses the placenta.
Metabolism
- 90% metabolized in the liver.
- 2-step process:
- Oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde via Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) and Microsomal Ethanol-Oxidizing System (MEOS) pathways.
- Oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
- Kinetics:
- Zero-order if BEC is >10 mg%.
- First-order if BEC is <10 mg%.
The Alcohols
- Ethanol, Methanol, and Ethylene glycol are types of alcohols.
Ethanol
- Oldest recreational drug and most commonly abused drug in the world.
- Contributes to more morbidity, mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined.
Ethanol Consumption
- Has been documented as far back as 10,000 BC.
- Incorporated into religious festivals, used for pleasure, and in medicinal practice.
- Dangers of heavy consumption have long been recognized by almost all cultures.
Ethanol Consumption in the US
- Associated with other substance use and psychiatric disorders, often goes untreated.
- About 1/3 men and 1/4 women meet criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
- Excessive consumption causes 600,000 emergency department visits/year, 10% of deaths (≈85,000/year) in working adults, and 1/3 of fatal traffic accidents.
Physiological Effects
- Relatively large amounts are required for physiological effects.
- Consumed in gram quantities, unlike other drugs which are in milligram or microgram quantities.
Standard Drink
- Contains 14 g ethanol.
- Produces about 30 mg% blood ethanol concentration in a 70-kg person.
Blood Ethanol Concentration (BEC)
- Readily estimated by the measurement of ethanol levels in expired air.
- Determined by rate of drinking, sex, body weight, H2O percentage, rates of metabolism, and stomach emptying.
Absorption
- Rapid absorption via the stomach and small intestine, more in the latter.
- Tmax ≈ 30 mins without food.
- Cmax higher in women than in men.
- Delayed by food in the stomach due to slowing of gastric emptying.
Distribution
- Distributes to total body water.
- Tissue concentration approximates plasma concentration, especially in highly perfused tissues (e.g. the brain).
- Crosses the placenta.
Metabolism
- 90% metabolized in the liver.
- 2-step process:
- Oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde via Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) and Microsomal Ethanol-Oxidizing System (MEOS) pathways.
- Oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
- Kinetics:
- Zero-order if BEC is >10 mg%.
- First-order if BEC is <10 mg%.
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of alcohols, including ethanol, methanol, and ethylene glycol, as well as their history, effects, and risks of consumption.
