Alcohol is a widely popular recreational drug throughout the world, however, it is also one of the most dangerous. The active chemical in alcoholic beverages is ethyl alcohol and acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. Ethyl alcohol inhibits receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce tension and inhibitions, but as the proportion of alcohol in the blood increases, alcohol can interfere with a person’s judgment, motor activity, and concentration. The extent of the effect of ethyl alcohol is determined by its concentration in the blood. When a person’s blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) reaches 0.06 percent of the blood volume, they typically feel relaxed and comfortable, but when increased to 0.09, they cross the line into intoxication. Fatal B.A.C. levels are those that approach or exceed 0.55 percent of blood volume (Comer, 2015).
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WAYS TO SOBER UP QUICK!
There is no way to speed up the rate at which alcohol is removed from the blood. The average rate at which alcohol is metabolized is about 25% of an ounce per hour. Splashing cold water on someone’s face, drinking black coffee, or “pulling yourself together” have no effect on the concentration of alcohol in your blood (Comer, 2015).
When one consumes 5 or more drinks on a single occasion, it is called a binge drinking episode. An alcohol binge drinking episode is experienced each month by about 23% of people above the age 11, in the United States. About 6.5% of those over age 11 binge drink alcohol at least 5 times each month and are considered to be heavy consumers (men outweighing women 3:2)(Comer, 2015).
B.A.C. in College 