Understanding ETOH: The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Lists of dangerous recreational drugs don’t usually include EtOH – but if you have ever struggled with compulsive alcohol use, you’ve been impacted by this oddly named substance. 

If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol use or have concerns about the risks of mixing medications and alcohol, help is available. Call us today or visit our admissions page now to take the first step towards healing.

What Is EtOH?

EtOH is an abbreviation for ethanol. It is based on the substance’s chemical structure (C2H5OH). Ethanol is also referred to as ethyl alcohol, but it perhaps best known simply as alcohol.

In other words, when you have a beer, a glass of wine, or any other alcoholic beverage, you are ingesting EtOH. 

This substance is also present in a range of other products, including mouthwash, perfumes, cosmetics, vanilla extract, hand sanitizer, cough syrup, windshield fluid, and rubbing alcohol.

How Does EtOH Affect the Body and Brain?

When you consume an alcoholic beverage, the EtOH interferes with receptors in the central nervous system that are responsible for emitting and receiving various neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). 

Initially, alcohol has a stimulant-like effect, which is why you may become more talkative and less inhibited after you have had a drink or two. As you continue to drink, EtOH will act more like a depressant, causing symptoms such as poor judgement, delayed reaction time, and impaired coordination.

Over time, the continued presence of EtOH in your system can have serious physical and psychological repercussions.

Effects of EtOH Abuse

It is difficult to overstate the degree of damage that EtOH abuse can inflict on the body and mind. 

Alcohol use has been associated with increased risk of several medical concerns, including:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Elevated blood cholesterol levels
• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Cancers of the mouth, head, and neck
• Pancreatitis
• Sexual dysfunction 
• Infertility
• Overdose and death

From a psychological and cognitive perspective, EtOH abuse has been linked with:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS)
• Diminished learning capacity
• Memory impairments
• Dementia
• Addiction

Signs of EtOH Addiction

Addiction diagnoses are typically based on the criteria listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In the case of alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for EtOH addiction, these criteria include:

• Using alcohol in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than you intended
• Having a persistent desire, or a history of unsuccessful attempts, to end your EtOH use
• Spending a considerable amount of time acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Developing powerful cravings for EtOH
• Failing to meet your responsibilities at work, in school, or in the context of your personal life, as a result of your continued EtOH use
• Continuing to drink even after experiencing recurring social or interpersonal problems (such as conflicts with family and friends) that were either caused or worsened by your EtOH use
• Continuing to drink after developing physical or psychological problems that you know are related to your alcohol use
• Giving up important activities, or greatly reducing your participation, because of your EtOH use
• Using EtOH is situations where it is particularly hazardous to do so, which can including mixing alcohol with other drugs or drinking and driving

• Becoming tolerant to the effects of alcohol, which means you need to drink more or for a longer period than you used to in order to experience the drug’s effects
• Going through withdrawal, which can involve both physical and psychological distress, when you abruptly end or significantly reduce your EtOH use

You don’t have to exhibit all 11 of the symptoms listed above to be diagnosed with EtOH addiction. The DSM-5 includes three severity specifiers based on how many of the criteria you meet:

• Mild (two or three symptoms)
• Moderate (four or five symptoms)
• Severe (six or more symptoms)

Symptoms of EtOH Overdose

As noted in the “Effects of EtOH Abuse” section earlier in today’s post, one of the many dangers of alcohol abuse is overdose. Clinicians refer to this as alcohol toxicity. It is also commonly known as alcohol poisoning.

Overdose is a potentially fatal experience that occurs when the amount of EtOH a person has ingested exceeds their body’s ability to break down and eliminate the drug.

Someone who has overdosed on EtOH may have symptoms such as:

• Extreme confusion or disorientation
• Diminished responsiveness
• Slowed heart rate
• Low body temperature
• Vomiting
• Incontinence
• Loss of consciousness or difficulty remaining awake
• Cool, clammy skin
• Seizure

Anyone who exhibits these symptoms is in crisis and needs immediate medical attention. If you are with someone who has overdosed on alcohol:

• Call 911 
• Stay with the person until emergency first responders arrive
• Place a blanket or coat over them to keep them warm
• If they are unconscious, place them on their side, which can prevent them from choking if they vomit
• Do NOT try to sober them up by putting them into a cold shower or forcing them to drink coffee

When help arrives, be prepared to tell them how much EtOH the person consumed and if they were also using other recreational or prescription drugs.

What Happens During EtOH Withdrawal?

Experts believe that EtOH causes the body to overproduce a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. As the body’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA slows the functioning of the central nervous system.

EtOH can also suppress the body’s ability to produce glutamate, which is the body’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate speeds up the delivery of messages through the central nervous system.

When a person who has become addicted to EtOH suddenly stops drinking, their body will struggle to reestablish equilibrium, which includes once again achieving balanced levels of GABA and glutamate. This process can cause a variety of distressing withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Intense headaches 
• Elevated body temperature
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Excessive perspiration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia

Usually, these symptoms are painful, but not life-threatening. However, people who have been drinking heavily for an extended period may develop a particularly dangerous set of withdrawal symptoms that are known as delirium tremens, or the DTs. These symptoms can include:

• Profound disorientation
• Agitation and aggressiveness
• Difficulty communicating
• Hallucinations
• Extreme tremors

Researchers estimate that, in the absence of effective medical treatment, the anticipated mortality rate of the DTs may be as high as 37%. Thankfully, with proper care, more than 96% of those who develop these serious symptoms survive.

Find Help for Alcohol Addiction in the San Francisco Area

If you’re ready to quit drinking, but you’re worried about your ability to get through EtOH withdrawal, Live Oaks Wellness is here for you.

When you choose our addiction rehab center near San Francisco, CA, you can begin your recovery journey with a brief stay in our onsite medical detox program. Our team of experienced and compassionate detox professionals can help you complete the withdrawal process safely and with minimal discomfort. 

Once you’ve completed detox, you can transition into residential treatment, where you can learn how to live a healthier and more hopeful life without alcohol.

To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.