The effects of alcohol will vary from person to person. They depend on: * How much and how quickly the alcohol is consumed. * The person's body build: size and weight. As well, the proportion of fat to lean is important as alcohol is absorbed evenly by all tissues in the body except fat. * How good their health is, and particularly, how well their liver works. * The occasion on which the alcohol is consumed, e.g. with a meal, alone or at a party; after hard physical exercise. * Whether the alcohol is consumed with other drugs. * Age and gender - children, young people and women are usually more affected by alcohol than adult men. This is because they tend to have lower body weights, smaller livers and a higher proportion of fat to lean. Some immediate effects may include: relaxation . . . feeling of well being . . . loss of inhibitions . . . dizziness . . . unclear judgement . . . uncoordinated movements . . . slow reactions . . . blurred vision . . . slurred speech . . . aggression . . . vomiting . . . unconsciousness.

BINGE DRINKING

A drinking binge is commonly defined as having five or more "standard" drinks in a row for men, and four or more in a row for women. When someone sets out to get drunk, then drinks a large amount of alcohol in a short time, it is a binge and it is deadly dangerous. Some of the factors that confuse the definition of binge drinking are the amount of time that passes while someone is drinking, the food eaten, the situation, and medications the person may be taking. First off, the binge drinking definition says that in a binge, the drinks are consumed "in a row." This implies that they are consumed more or less as quickly as possible. If a person is drinking that quickly, he or she will become drunk, and it does constitute a binge. Five drinks on one occasion is not a healthy amount of alcohol for anyone to consume. Five drinks on one occasion will make almost anyone "legally" drunk, and will make most people quite drunk. If someone has a big meal before drinking, it takes longer for the alcohol to reach the bloodstream. However, when you are talking about four or five drinks, no meal is going to keep you from becoming drunk. If someone intends to become drunk, and drinks four or five drinks (depending on gender,) it's high-risk drinking and very dangerous. Factors such as unusual situations and medications lower the number of drinks that constitute a binge. If a person is in an unusual or uncomfortable situation, his or her discomfort will escalate the effects of alcohol somewhat. Even more seriously, if a person is taking any one of a large number of medications - both over-the-counter and prescription medications - he or she may become drunk with very little alcohol. In addition, drinking alcohol while taking medications can be extremely dangerous. How much is "a drink" of alcohol ? A standard drink is 12 grams of pure ethanol (the proper name of alcohol) and equals: 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler. 8 ounces of malt liquor. 5 ounces of wine. 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (whiskey, etc.) What are the short term effects of Binge drinking ? Each instance of binge drinking can cause the following problems: Hangover -- headache, intense thirst, nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light and noise, blurry vision, shakiness, and exhaustion Loss of consciousness Falling or running into things, causing injury or death Inability to make good decisions Increased risk of sexual assault Getting into trouble with authorities Damaging property Behaving aggressively and getting into fights Alcohol poisoning -- nausea and/or vomiting; can progress to unconsciousness, coma, or death Respiratory arrest Choking to death on vomit Sudden death from stroke Increased risk of drowning Loss of reasoning ability, movement control, and reaction speed -- all of which make you deadly behind the wheel of a car

HEAVY DRINKING

Heavy drinking over a short period of time can cause a hangover, headache, nausea, shakiness and possibly, vomiting. Because of its effects on judgement, concentration, vision and co-ordination, drinking is a common cause of accidents, particularly car accidents and drowning. Young people are particularly at risk. They tend to drink alcohol less regularly than adults so they may experience many of the immediate effects more strongly. Alcohol can kill by interfering with the brain's control over breathing but people usually pass out before this happens. Long - term effects: Anyone who drinks a lot of alcohol, regularly, over a period of time, will probably experience some physical, emotional or social problems related to alcohol. Damage to some of the body organs can be permanent. Other significant Effects of Alcohol abuse: poor diet . . . stomach inflammations . . . frequent infections . . . skin problems . . . liver damage . . . brain damage . . . damage to reproductive organs . . . memory loss . . . confused thinking . . . heart and blood disorders . . . depression . . . relationship problems . . . poor work performance . . . financial difficulties . . . legal problems.

ALCOHOLIC POISONING

Before we can understand how alcohol poisoning happens, we need to know how the body responds to alcohol. Alcohol is classified as a depressant, and as such, its use causes effects and changes in the body and brain. Alcohol use slows down many of the functions of the body, including blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. If a person has put a large amount of alcohol in his or her system, the "slowing down" can lead to "passing out" and unconsciousness. And the vital organs, heart and lungs, can be slowed to the point of stopping. How much alcohol will cause poisoning? Different people experience different effects. Some people who have little tolerance for alcohol or whose body is sensitive to the drug could be seriously at risk after six or seven drinks. Your body only oxidises about one ounce (approximately one drink) an hour. Which means if people drink very quickly (shots, drinking games, beer bongs, etc...) sometimes they will pass out and we will check on them and think they are okay, but all of the alcohol hasn't reached their brain yet. It may take some time to circulate. We need to constantly evaluate anyone who is semi-conscious to make sure they are all right.

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF USING ALCOHOL

Years of heavy drinking can cause major, permanent damage to your body. The type and extent of damage that alcohol causes depends on many factors, including the duration and severity of the abuse. The gender and age of the drinker also come into play. Men are more likely than women to develop an alcohol abuse or dependence problem. In fact, two-thirds of alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent individuals are men. Women experience more alcohol-related diseases than men; they experience greater physical damage after fewer years of heavy drinking; and those diseases progress more rapidly in women than in men. Female alcoholics have death rates 50 to 100 percent higher than those of male alcoholics. Liver disease in particular is more rapidly severe in women. Alcohol is also especially dangerous for young people. Recent brain imaging studies in teens and young adults who drank heavily have shown shrinkage in an area of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning, which indicates that these young people's ability to learn and remember suffers. Alcohol can also prevent teens from growing to full-size. Heavy drinking in teens has been shown to interfere with muscle and bone growth. In addition, people who drink as teenagers have a greater chance of osteoporosis later in life. Mixing alcohol with other drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and barbiturates doubles the damaging effects of alcohol. This can cause slowed breathing, heart attack, and death. The physical damage caused by heavy drinking includes: Birth Defects Drinking any alcohol while pregnant can do severe, permanent damage to the child. A woman who could be pregnant must not drink any alcohol. Alcohol use during pregnancy is the #1 cause of nonhereditary mental retardation . . . a child may exhibit lifelong hyperactive behaviour and learning disabilities. Liver Damage The liver processes nutrients and filters the blood, among other things. The liver suffers the most life-threatening damage from alcohol Fatty liver - Accumulation of fat in the liver slows its function. Alcoholic hepatitis Liver cells swell and cause blockage. This is 10 -30% fatal. Cirrhosis Heavy scarring of the liver prevents bloodflow. Cirrhosis is usually fatal. Liver cancer Pancreas Damage The pancreas helps to regulate the body's blood sugar levels by producing insulin, and has a role in digesting the food we eat. Pancreatitis -- Inflammation of the pancreas causes severe abdominal pain, unwanted weight loss, and can cause death. Heart Disease Hypertension (high blood pressure.) Enlarged heart - cannot be repaired. Coronary heart disease - narrowed arteries lead to heart attack and death. Irregular heartbeat, which can lead to heart attack and death. Decreased bloodflow to the arms and legs. Stroke - Blocked bloodflow to the brain or bleeding in the brain. Stroke is a major killer. Bone Damage The rapid bone growth that should be taking place in the teenage years is limited by alcohol. Cancer Alcoholism may increase a person's chances of having any of the following cancers: Mouth, Pharynx, Oesophagus, Breast, Pancreas, Liver, Colon and Rectum. Brain Damage Lowered cognitive (thinking) abilities-even with moderate drinking! Destruction of brain cells, producing brain deterioration and atrophy (shrinking.) Mental disorders: increased aggression, antisocial behaviour, depression, and anxiety. Heavy drinkers have more accidental injuries due to damage to the sense of balance. Other health problems caused by drinking alcohol: Weakened vision. Malnutrition . . . because heavy drinkers often drink rather than eat. Water retention . . . resulting in weight gain and bloating. Skin disorders such as middle-age acne. Dilated blood vessels near the skin causing a red nose, often called "brandy nose." Heartburn, nausea, gastritis, and ulcers. Poor digestion and inflammation of the small and large intestines.

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION - (BAC)

Blood alcohol concentration is a measure of the amount of alcohol in a person's blood. A breathalyser test measures the amount of alcohol in a person's breath and is an indication of BAC. BAC is determined by how much a person drinks and over what period of time they drink. However, calculating how many drinks will put a person over the legal BAC limits for driving .05 or .02 is not easy. Some people will reach higher BAC after drinking the same amount of alcohol. These people include: women . . . people in poor health . . . people with an empty stomach . . . people with small build . . . people who are overweight for their height. To keep your BAC under the general legal driving limit of .05, a good guide is two standard drinks in the first hour and then one an hour. To stay under the legal driving limit of .02 it is best to avoid drinking altogether, as just one standard drink could be enough to put you over. Sobering up: Sobering up takes time. About 10 per cent of alcohol in the blood is discharged through breath, sweat and urine; the rest is broken down by the liver. The liver can only work at a fixed rate, getting rid of about one standard drink an hour. Nothing can speed up the work of the liver, not black coffee, cold showers, exercise, vomiting or any other favourite remedy. Vomiting only removes the alcohol in the stomach that has not had time to be absorbed into the bloodstream - at most, the last drink will be eliminated this way. Taking a shower or drinking black coffee may help someone who has been drinking to feel more awake, but it won't reduce their BAC. If a person has drunk more than a few standard drinks, as they sober up, they may feel OK but they can over the .05 or .02 driving limit.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

If you need help with information, advice or referral to a local counsellor or community service, you can call:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a self help organisation for people with alcohol problems. Telephone: (02) 9599 8866 (24 hours) or country areas free call: 1800 442 947. or visit their website at www.aa.org.au

ADIS, the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in NSW. ADIS provides a 24 hour, 7 days confidential service. Telephone: (02) 9361 8000 or country areas free call: 1800 422 599

Al-Anon Al-Anon is a self help organisation for family, relatives and friends of people with alcohol problems. Telephone: (02) 9264 9255 or (03) 9654 8888

Community Health Centres,general practitioners, general hospitals and private counsellors can also provide assistance and advice.

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