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Drunkenness is the result of an elevated level of ethanol in the body, affecting cognitive and motor activities.
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The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) defines “drunkenness” by its symptoms.
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At low doses of intake, alcohol acts as a stimulant, while at higher doses, it becomes a depressant.
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For the purposes of harm reduction and prevention, it may be necessary to define two distinct states, one that has been called “simple drunkenness”, and the other acute intoxication, a clinical condition often requiring admission to an emergency room and whose effects may be long-lasting.
Different individuals may become “drunk” at different levels of consumption and blood alcohol.
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Factors such as gender, age, size, general health, mood state, ethnicity, use of medication or experience with drinking all play a role in the degree of intoxication and the rate at which it occurs.
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Heavy drinkers and those with a family history of dependence appear to be more sensitive to the stimulant effects of alcohol at lower BAC, and less sensitive to alcohol’s effects at higher BAC.
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Drunkenness also includes a largely a subjective component that cannot easily be defined by the number of drinks consumed.
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The only objective assessment of drunkenness is provided by its legal definition for the purposes of certain behaviors, such as drunk driving, where definitions in terms of BAC limits leave little room for interpretation.
Drunkenness and alcohol-related problems
Intoxication, particularly if it is repeated, is associated with increased risk for the following:
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injury and emergency room admission;
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certain cardiovascular problems;
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neurological problems and dementia;
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accidents and greater severity of such accidents;
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traffic fatalities;
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fetal alcohol syndrome and effects;
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at extremely high levels of intake, acute alcohol poisoning.
In addition, heavy drinking is also correlated with social outcomes such as loss of productivity, absenteeism.
In some cultures, drunkenness has a special role.
Drunken behavior is not tolerated in some cultures, except in certain well-defined contexts and on occasions that are considered to be “times-out”. In other cultures, drunkenness may be positively valued and even sought as a desirable outcome of drinking. Most cultures view drunkenness as more permissible in men than in women.
A certain level of drunkenness may be viewed as permissible during special celebrations or holidays in some cultures. Drunkenness may be allowed within a religious context, to enhance sociability, demonstrate hospitality or largesse, stimulate or sustain collective work-efforts, celebrate special events, or otherwise enhance personal or social wellbeing.
Implications for policy and prevention
In developing policy and prevention efforts, drunkenness requires special attention through a focus on:
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drinking patterns of certain groups of individuals at particular risk;
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situations where drunkenness is likely to occur;
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settings that contribute to heavy drinking patterns;
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education that provides information on alcohol, it’s effects and outcomes of particular drinking patterns;
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implementation and enforcement of laws around issues such as drunk driving;diagnosis and treatment for those whose drunken behavior is chronic and may be indicative of larger problems. |