Understanding Alcohol Intoxication: Why Being Drunk is a Disease State
Being drunk is a disease state! A disease is an abnormal condition that occurs because something is harming the structure and function of an organ. Alcohol causes changes in the structure and function of the brain as well as other organs.
Alcohol intoxication, (aka., being drunk), is a misunderstood condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While many view drunkenness as a temporary state induced by alcohol consumption, it's essential to recognize that being drunk is more than just a passing phase. In fact, alcohol intoxication can be considered a disease state, because it has a negative impact on the body and mind. In this blog, we'll delve into the physiological and psychological aspects of alcohol intoxication, exploring why it qualifies as a disease.
The Physiology of Alcohol Intoxication:
Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that acts on the central nervous system, producing a range of effects on brain function and behavior. When alcohol is consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and then travels to the brain, where it starts to cause mayhem.
In the brain, alcohol acts as a depressant, slowing down the communication between neurons and disrupting the balance of neurotransmitters. It increases the impact of neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) while decreasing the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate, which slows the brain down. This imbalance leads to changes in mood, thinking, movement, coordination, all the symptoms we know of being drunk.
Alcohol also causes the brain to shrink. Initially, it dehydrates brain cells, reducing cell volume which causes cerebral atrophy (brain shrinkage). But over time alcohol damages neurons and other brain cells, which results in the loss of brain tissue volume. Alcohol decreases blood flow to the brain which results in a lack of oxygen and nutrients to brain cells. Alcohol also impairs neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to make new neurons.
As blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises, people experience a range of symptoms, including impaired judgment, slurred speech, lack of coordination, and slowed reflexes. In severe cases, alcohol intoxication can progress to alcohol poisoning, which is associated with slower rates of breathing, loss of consciousness, and even death.
In conclusion, alcohol intoxication is more than just a fleeting state induced by alcohol consumption—it is a disease state with far-reaching implications for individuals and society as a whole.