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WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM?
1
t is common to speak of
drinking problems in terms
of drunkenness or
alcoholism. What is not
generally understood is that
there are five definable
types of alcoholic abuse of
which three are
characterized by loss
ot
control and addictive
behavior. All five types the
Bible broadly classifies as
sin (Gal. 5:21 and
1
John
3:4). Each is characterized
by sorne kind
ot consequent
illness.
The problem drinker
has
purely psychological
dependence on alcohol to
relieve emotional or bodily
pain. His or her drinking is
excessive, but
noncompulsive, and
damages marital and other
interpersonal relationships.
At this stage the problem
drinker shows no evidence
ot
physiological addiction
nor loss of the ability to
control or to determine his
or her intake
ot
alcohol.
The hard drinker
is
characterized by nutritional
deficiency diseases such as
cirrhosis
ot
the liver, gastritis
and noninflammatory
degeneration
ot
the nerves.
He or she has no loss
ot
control , no withdrawal or
other addictive
manitestations. Hard
drinkers otten have poor
nutritional habits. Damage to
the body is primarily
physiological , with reduced
earning capacity and
consequent reduced tamily
stability and reduced lite
expectancy.
The periodic drinker
is
usually abstinent between
binges, but suffers
trom
manic-depressive mood
swings. He or she may
begin a binge when skidding
into such painful depressive
moods. The periodic drinker
suffers
trom
loss of control
and temporary addictive
behavior.
The steady alcoholic,
a
type characteristic
ot
the
vast majority of American
alcoholics, has true
physiological addictions,
withdrawal symptoms, loss
ot
control of intake and a
craving
tor
alcohol. He or
she has increased body
tissue tolerance tor alcohol,
suffers from progressive
impairment
ot
all areas
ot
the person's tunctioning,
mcluding health.
The plateau alcoholic
is
identified by the need to
maintain a certain mínimum
level
ot
inebriation much
ot
the time. The plateau
alcoholic is prevalen! in
France and among women
and Skid Row alcoholics in
America. He or she may
seldom be obviously
intoxicated and may be able
to hide the problem tor
many years. The social lite
ot
the plateau drinker
disintegrates subtly and
gradually. Such individuals
also suffer trom declining
health, trom addiction and an
inability to exercise positive
control over alcohol intake.
This general classification
was first developed by the
late E M. Jellinek , the father
of scientific alcoholism
research.
-Herman
L.
Hoeh
PAOGAESSIVE PHASES
Most-but not all-alcoholics go from controlled social
drinking to complete addiction in seven phases.
1 Controlled social drinking
2 Purposeful occasional drinking to escape from tensions
3 Frequent escape drínking in which tolerance to alcohol
steadily increases
4 Early alcohollc phase with first blackout
5 Progressive preoccupation with alcohol
6 Complete alcohol dependence, danger of wíthdrawal
symptoms
7 Social, medica! and spiritual help
needed or death occurs
RELATIVE
TOLERANCE
LEVEL
3
4
ALCOHOLCONTENTAND
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL
METABOUZATION RATES
OF VARIOUS LIQUORS
1
JALCOHOL
CONTENT
1
IAMOUNT
•METABOLIZEDPERHOUA
Beer (4.5%), 12-oz. can
.54oz.
.38oz.
Dlnnerwine (12%), 4 oz.
J
.sooz.
1.42oz.
Dessert wine (22%), 4 oz.
:IIO·Gii. l
.31 oz.
80
proof whiskey,
J
.40oz.
gln, etc., 1 oz.
_1 ,28 oz.
100 proof whiskey,
.sooz.
gin, etc., 1 oz.
1.28 oz.
Hlghball : 1 oz. whiskey,
.aooz.l
4 oz. ginger ale'
Manhattan: 1
Vz
oz.whiskey,
• 7J'Oto:l
'A
oz. sweet vermouth
Martlnl: 1
1
/z
oz. gin,
.75~1
'/z
oz. 12% vermouth
Tom Collins: 1
Yz
oz. gln,
15•J
lemon, sugar, mlx
'CerbonatedmlxMs ln<:rease theabsorpllon
rateolalcohollnto the bloodstream.
Drug Educat1on, Content and Methods
Glrdano and Gl rdano
®
1972, 1976Addlson, Westey Publlshlng
Co. ,
tnc.
EFFECTSOF ALCOHOL
NUMBER
BLOODALCOHOL PSYCHOLOGICAL
OFDRINKS CONCENTRATION ANO PHYSICAL EFFECTS
1
.02-.03%
No overt effects, slight feeling of musele
relaxation, slight mood elevation.
2
.05-.06%
No intoxication, but feel ing of relaxation,
warmth. Slight increase in reaction t ime,
slight decrease in fine musele coordination.
3
.08-.09%
Balance, speech, vlslon and hearing
slightly impalred. Feellngs of euphoria.
lncrea~ed
loss ot motor coordination.
4
.11 - .12%
Coordination and balance becomlng
difficult. Dislinctlmpairment of mental
faculties. judgment, etc.
5
.14-.15%
Major impairment of mental and physlcal
control. Slurred speech, blurred vislon,
lack of motor sklll.
Loss of motor control- must have
7
.20%
assistance Inmovlng about. Mental
confusion.
10
.30%
Severe intoxlcation. Mlnlmum conscious
control of mind and
body.
14
.40%
Unconsciousness. threshold of coma.
17
.50%
Deepcoma.
20
.60%
Death from resplratory fallure.
For
eecii-"'ur
ttme
lepee.IUbtrKt
.015%
blood
1?"-
drlnk · -
~(4.0'J!o~12oz.)Of
8lcollol-•lratlol.,
or
-..oxlmetiiJ-
drlnt.
-IIIOIIbelt
(1oz.
~.
4oc.
Orug Educatlon, Content and MethOds
Glrdano
and
Glfdano
© !972, !976Addison, Westey Pubtlshlng
Co..
/nc.