These days, alcohol consumption among young people is very common. It is considered a form of entertainment when going out on weekends, partying or simply to de-stress from the different worries of everyday life. These situations predispose the consumption of high amounts of alcohol, which can be very dangerous due to the effects it has on the human body.

What does consuming high amounts of alcohol do to your body?

To better understand the effects, we will see how they develop according to the amount of alcohol ingested.

• 20 to 50 mg/dL: mild drowsiness, some decrease in fine motor coordination, and impaired driving ability.

• 50 to 100 mg/dL: impaired judgment and a further decrease in coordination.

• 100 to 150 mg/dL: unsteady gait, slurred speech, loss of behavioral inhibitions, and impaired memory.

• 150 to 300 mg/dL: delirium and lethargy (probable).

• 300 to 400 mg/dL: often loss of consciousness.

• ≥ 400 mg/dL: possibly life-threatening.

How does alcohol consumption affect your life?

Often, people drink to feel better and seek refuge in alcohol, but over time this behavior can increase feelings of sadness or depression, may alter sleep, increase the risk of suicide, and affect family, social, educational and work life.

As mentioned above, not only your life is affected, but also the lives of those around you. Even if high amounts of alcohol are consumed on a single occasion, car accidents, falls, drowning, violence, among other accidents can occur.

The risk of being involved in an automobile accident is higher in young people than in older people. In fact, in 2016, nearly 3 out of 10 drivers with a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.08% or higher who were involved in crashes were between the ages of 25 and 34.

What you can do

• You can look for recreational activities that do not include drinking alcohol.

• Help a family member or friend with tendencies to consume high levels of alcohol.

• Avoid high doses of alcohol

• If you drink alcohol, don't drive. Call a cab, use a ride-sharing company or ask a sober friend to drive you home.

References

1. NIAAA. (n.d.). Entender los riesgos de sobredosis de alcohol | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/node/5421

2. Medline Plus. (2020). Riesgos del consumo de alcohol para la salud. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000494.htm

3. O’Malley, G. F., & O’Malley, R. (2022, March 7). Alcohol. Manuale Merck versión para el público general. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.merckmanuals.com/es-us/hogar/temas-especiales/drogas-recreativas-e-intoxicantes/alcohol

4. CDC. (2020). Impaired Driving: Get the Facts | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html#:%7E:text=Young%20people%3A,people%20than%20for%20older%20people.&text=Among%20drivers%20with%20BAC%20levels,years%20of%20age%20(27%25).

For more information you can visit:

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/