1. Chapter 9 Alcohol Acute effects Mechanisms of action Long-term effects http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/images/ProhibitionTile.jpg

2. Chemical structures of three commonly used forms of alcohol (Ethanol)

3. 9.3 Alcohol content

4. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC): BAC: 0.04% 0.10% 0.35% 0.50% Factors influencing absorption:

5. Blood levels of alcohol after oral administration

6. Why is there are a difference between the effect of alcohol on men and women?

7. Metabolism of alcohol Another enzyme: P450 liver enzyemes Drug disposition toleranceCross tolerance

8. 9.11 The effects of chronic alcohol use on the liver cirrhosis

9. Immediate Physiological Effects -Increases blood circulation to the skin -Decreases heart rate -Depresses REM sleep -Increased urination -Slurred speech -Alcohol poisoning

10. Immediate Psychological Effects -Reduces anxiety -Impairs judgment -Memory deficits (blackouts) -Perceptual changes -Decreases visual abilities -Decreases reaction time -Decreases eye-hand coordination

11. Effects of long-term use (abuse) -Enzyme changes -P450 liver enzyme -Alcohol dehydrogenase -Pharmacodynamic tolerance -Sexual dysfunction - testicular atrophy - decreased libido - lower sperm production - menstrual disorders -Cognitive impairments -reasoning ability, problem solving -inability to shift attention to a new task -memory -Korsakoff's syndrome - Confabulation

12. 9.9 Alcohol-induced brain damage

13. Physical dependence Common symptoms Delirium tremens

14. Box 9.1 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (Part 1) teratogen

15. Benefits mortality stats –What kills the heavy drinkers? –Why low among moderates? May help prevent dementia (moderate doses)

16. 9.13 Alcohol’s effects on neuronal membranes

17. Glutamate Excitatory neurotransmitter –Associative learning (NMDA receptors) –Excitotoxicity Alcohol –Acute effects Inhibits effectiveness of glutamate Reduces glutamate release –Chronic effects Increase in NMDA receptors (upregulation)

18. GABA Inhibitory neurotransmitter Alcohol –Acute effects Enhance effectiveness of GABA Substances that increase GABA also increase alcohol effects Mice bred to be esp. sensitive to GABA have more intense response to alcohol –Chronic effects Reduces effectiveness of GABA receptors (down-regulation)

19. Dopamine Dopaminergic mesolimbic system (VTA  NA) –Reward system Alcohol –Acute effects Increases firing rate of DA neurons in VTA, which releases more DA –Chronic effects During withdrawal, decreases firing rate and DA release

20. 9.17 Rebound depression of reinforcement during withdrawal

21. Opioids (endorphins) Excitatory neurotransmitter –Mood –Perception of pain –Reinforcement Alcohol –Acute effects Enhances opioid synthesis and release –Chronic effects Reduces brain levels of opioids

23. 9.18 A wide variety of individuals are alcoholics

24. Alcoholism What is alcoholism? Disease model –Genetics –Environment

25. At risk for alcohol-related problems: Men: 5 or more standard drinks in a day (or 15 or more per week) Women: 4 or more standard drinks in a day (or 8 or more per week) Some statistics for alcohol: About 3 in 10 adults drink at levels that elevate health risks. Among heavy drinkers, 1 in 4 has alcohol abuse or dependence. All heavy drinkers have a greater risk of: –hypertension –gastrointestinal bleeding –sleep disorders –major depression –stroke –cirrhosis of the liver –Several cancers

26. 9.19 Three-factor vulnerability model

27. Treatment for alcoholism Denial Detoxification Program types Drug treatments –Anabuse –Naltrexone