14 4: Substances- Use, Intoxication, and Overdose Medicine LibreTexts

A nonhuman-primate model is described that has been developed specifically to study these differences and the influence of environment and rearing on brain chemistry and alcohol-induced aggression. Every means possible should be used to ameliorate the patient’s withdrawal signs and symptoms. Medication should not be the only component of treatment, because psychological support is extremely important stages of alcohol intoxication in reducing the patient’s distress during detoxification. However, for individuals with physiologic substance dependence, detoxification is defined as the management of the withdrawal syndrome. Opioid overdoses can be prevented by helping individuals struggling with opioid use disorder find the right treatment and recovery services, as well as providing public education about administering naloxone.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

During delirium tremens, patients are suggestible to many sensory stimuli, particularly to objects seen in dim light. Vestibular disturbances may cause them to believe that the floor is moving, the walls are falling, or the room is rotating. As the delirium progresses, resting tremor of the hand develops, sometimes extending to the head and trunk.

Alcohol Use

Type II alcoholism is, therefore, characterized by impaired impulse control, antisocial traits, difficulties in social relationships, and physically aggressive behaviors (Cloninger 1986, 1987, 1988). Indeed, Bergman and Brismar (1994) concluded that type II alcoholism is determined by a genetic predisposition to both alcoholism and violence. Such a finding would indicate that individuals who act aggressively under the influence of alcohol have a life-long pattern of aggression, and that in these individuals, alcohol probably increases the likelihood of acting aggressively. The Controlled Substances Act is a federal law that places all controlled substances (i.e., substances regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency) into one of five categories called schedules. This placement is based on the substance’s medical use, its potential for abuse or dependency, and related safety issues.

• An alcohol overdose occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that areas of the brain controlling autonomic nervous system functions (e.g., breathing, heart rate, and temperature control) begin to shut down.
• Acute alcohol intoxication is usually apparent based on what people or their friends tell the doctor and on results of the physical examination.
• Alcohol percentage is determined by the amount of alcohol consumed, the time in which the alcohol was consumed, and body weight.
• Both animal and human studies suggest that reduced serotonin functioning is related to impaired impulse control (Higley et al. 1996b, 1996c; Linnoila et al. 1983; Mehlman et al. 1994; Soubrié 1986).

What does it feel like to be drunk? What you need to know

They may have feelings of numbness and become unaware of their surroundings. After an episode of alcohol intoxication, it takes time to recover. The person will be hospitalized until their vital signs return to normal.

What are the six critical signs of alcohol poisoning?

• These effects will become more pronounced the more alcohol is used.
• For example, using a rodent model, Miczek and colleagues (1993) showed that alcohol’s effect on aggression is dose-dependent, increasing aggression at low dosages, but decreasing it at higher dosages.
• People with alcohol use disorder are encouraged to try several different meetings and to attend those at which they feel most comfortable.
• Type I alcoholics are believed to consume alcohol primarily to reduce anxiety, whereas alcohol use for type II alcoholics appears to be part of an overall behavior pattern of impulsive, antisocial behavior.
• No approach has benefited so many people with alcohol use disorder as effectively as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Both animal and human studies suggest that reduced serotonin functioning is related to impaired impulse control (Higley et al. 1996b, 1996c; Linnoila et al. 1983; Mehlman et al. 1994; Soubrié 1986). Therefore, Cloninger and other researchers have suggested that serotonin function is related to loss of control over drinking among type II alcoholics (Cloninger 1986, 1987; Linnoila et al. 1994). Studying alcohol-induced aggression in humans has several limitations (see sidebar). Studies with animal models have helped delineate how alcohol affects aggression and the mechanisms that induce these changes. For example, using a rodent model, Miczek and colleagues (1993) showed that alcohol’s effect on aggression is dose-dependent, increasing aggression at low dosages, but decreasing it at higher dosages.

It is important to determine not only the severity of the substance ingestion but also the patient’s level of consciousness, the substances involved, and any complicating medical disorders. Often, more than one substance of abuse is involved, and it is critical to know what substances have been ingested, as well as how much of each substance. Getting professional medical help is necessary in situations of extreme alcohol intoxication. That’s because paramedics, physicians, and other medical staff can administer certain treatments to help mitigate the effects of intoxication. Those can include oxygen therapy, a breathing tube that keeps airways clear, or IV fluids for dehydration. If alcohol intoxication has progressed to a critical level, activated charcoal may help stop the devastating effects of alcohol from moving further along or the stomach may need to be pumped to clear its contents.

The Risks of Alcohol Abuse

• Chronic drinking can even cause dementia by causing a dangerous vitamin B-1 (thiamine) deficiency.
• Their blood alcohol content (BAC), which measures how much alcohol is in the bloodstream, will be very low at 0.01 to 0.05 percent.
• This article examines the differences in brain chemistry among individuals that influence whether alcohol increases aggression.

Toxicity or overdose