Substance Abuse
Alcohol
What is tolerance?
Tolerance is a phenomenon in which progressively larger doses of a substance are needed in order to achieve the desired effects. A college senior who has used alcohol regularly since his or her freshman year will most likely need to drink more in order to achieve the "buzz" that used to come after a couple of beers. People sometimes view tolerance as a good thing since they see themselves as being able to "handle their liquor" better than when they first began drinking. In reality, however, tolerance means the body is getting used to functioning while under the influence of a foreign substance, so tolerance can actually be a sign of growing dependence.
How can I prevent hangovers?
At the risk of sounding trite, the best hangover prevention is not drinking or drinking in moderation. Although the exact cause of hangovers isn't known, some contributors are:
- the stomach irritation and dehydration caused by alcohol, or
- congeners, the by-products of fermentation and distillation. Congeners are present in distilled or fermented drinks (wine, scotch, brandy, rum, and, to a lesser extent, vodka and gin) and give liquor its unique taste, but they have toxic effects on your body.
Knowing these contributors to hangovers can provide clues about possible prevention strategies, including:
- Avoid alcohol containing large amounts of congeners (bourbon, red wine, brandy, rum, and scotch have the most).
- Pace yourself - overconsumption is the primary cause of hangovers. Drink more slowly - approximately 1-2 drinks per hour maximum.
- Eat before, during, and after drinking. Food in the stomach not only slows alcohol absorption, but also provides a buffer against stomach irritation.
- Drink lots of water during and after drinking. This won't flush out the alcohol but it can keep you more hydrated and help you avoid the headache and dry mouth that accompany dehydration.
- If you still wake up feeling miserable, the best remedies are water, bed rest, an analgesic, and healthy foods. Unfortunately, the only real cure for a hangover once you have one is time.
- Although some people recommend the "hair of the dog that bit you" (i.e., a drink) to get over a hangover, there's no evidence supporting this practice and it may actually make you feel worse.
What's the relationship between sexual activity and alcohol use?
Alcohol obviously has a number of positive effects or so many people wouldn't use it! It makes us more relaxed, less inhibited, and more talkative, all things that could facilitate sexual involvement. The most important thing to remember is that these positive effects of alcohol are only present at low doses, i.e. 1-2 drinks. After that, sexual activity under the influence takes on greater risks. Drunk sex is generally messy, unsafe, uncoordinated and unsensual! It's usually not safer sex, meaning condoms or other protective measures are less likely to be used. Effective communication is lessened when you're under the influence, leading to increased risk of miscommunication. Higher doses of alcohol (more than two drinks) may increase aggression, possibly leading to forced sexual activity. All in all, moderation is required if you decide to combine alcohol and sex.
What are blackouts?
When you can't remember all or part of a time period during which you were drinking, even though you appeared conscious to others, you have probably had a blackout. Blackouts occur when the amount of alcohol you have consumed interferes with your brain's ability to properly function and process information. Blackouts are concerning for several reasons- first, if you don't have a clear recollection of what you did, you may have engaged in risky behaviors such as unprotected or unplanned sexual activity or driving under the influence. In addition, frequent blackouts are a warning sign of problem drinking (see below).
What are signs of problem drinking?
The primary signs of problem drinking are: Having health, legal, social, academic or financial problems as a result of drinking. For example, missing class or work because of drinking or hangovers, not be able to have fun or express oneself without drinking, fights or problems with roommates or significant others, spending excessive amounts of money on alcohol, blackouts/passing out, trips to the ER, being defensive when someone mentions your drinking, needing to drink more to achieve the same effects (tolerance), frequently drinking with the primary purpose of getting drunk, and/or repeatedly driving under the influence. These are only guidelines and each case is different. If you're concerned about your drinking or a friend's drinking, get more information!
Are you more likely to get sick if you switch drinks?
Probably. Alcohol in and of itself is an irritant to your stomach and your system. Different types of alcohol contain congeners, toxins that are by-products of the distillation and manufacturing process. Mixing different types of alcohol is more likely to expose you to different congeners, which can increase the chances of becoming sick. If you are going to drink, it's better to give your system a fighting chance by only requiring it to cope with one type of irritant.
Does drinking cause you to lose brain cells?
Drinking doesn't actually eliminate brain cells but it does alter them and can interfere with the neuron functioning. Slurred speech, irregular gait, and other effects result from alcohol wreaking havoc with your neurons. Short-term effects are generally reversible and most infrequent or moderate alcohol users will experience no long-term side effects. However, research indicates that abusive use of alcohol for an extended period of time can result in permanent changes in the brain and diminished ability to learn certain types of information, solve complex problems, pay attention, and process visual information.
Page updated: 3/27/08
