| | | | | manifestations and increased the adaptive capacities |
| Intoxication affects the way consent works in first aid | | | | of the organism. Functional and morphological changes |
| and emergency medical situations. In all cases | | | | observed in laboratory animals after treatment with |
| (intoxicated or not), victims of a medical emergency | | | | the neurometabolic compound glutamic acid could be |
| must give permission for a rescuer to help. It's required | | | | classified as reversible. |
| for the victim to understand the necessity of medical | | | | In severe cases—those of severe stupor and |
| treatment before agreeing to any help, as well as | | | | coma—the person should be intubated (breathing |
| understanding the consequences of refusing treatment. | | | | tube placed in airway) to support respirations (which |
| Victims must also know the possible side effects of | | | | may stop spontaneously) and to protect the lungs |
| any treatment they receive. | | | | from filling with vomit. |
| To determine the relationship between frequent alcohol | | | | Intubation involves placing a short, flexible plastic tube |
| intoxication and HIV risk behavior of people in alcohol | | | | into the windpipe to just below the vocal cords and |
| treatment. | | | | connecting the tube to a respirator machine. The tip of |
| The Effects of Alcohol | | | | the tube has a small donut-shaped balloon around it, |
| Intoxication can have a number of effects on a | | | | which is inflated to seal the end of the tube to the |
| person, particularly on the brain, as it is very sensitive | | | | inside of the windpipe. |
| to alcohol. Treatment for alcoholism is sometimes | | | | In most people, the liver metabolizes about 10 grams of |
| necessary for people addicted to this substance. | | | | ethanol per hour. This corresponds to a BAC fall of |
| Alcohol has nearly immediate effects on the body. The | | | | about 20 mg/dL per hour. Thus, the length of time a |
| reason for this is that it requires no digestion, unlike | | | | person (and family) will need to wait until discharge |
| other foods. The higher the blood alcohol content is in | | | | may be expressed by the formula (BAC-100)/20 = the |
| the body, the greater the effects of alcohol. | | | | wait in hours. Example: The BAC from a blood sample |
| Treatment | | | | drawn at midnight is 280. (280-100)/20 = 9. The BAC |
| Alcohol-related disorders are treated by the | | | | should fall to 100 mg/dL by 9 am (midnight plus 9 |
| administration of adenosine antagonists and adenosine | | | | hours). |
| agonists to a host. Adenosine antagonists are used to | | | | A social worker may talk with the intoxicated person |
| inhibit both acute intoxication and chronic dependence | | | | prior to discharge from the hospital. The social worker |
| by administering prior to alcohol consumption. The | | | | may advise the person to go to an alcohol treatment |
| symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal | | | | center. This is an extremely difficult situation because |
| syndrome may be treated by administering adenosine | | | | many people either don't recognize their problem, if |
| agonists which reduce the physiological dependence | | | | they are chronic drinkers, or don't have any desire to |
| on alcohol during the withdrawal period. | | | | correct the situation. |
| Treatment with glutamic acid reduced pathological | | | | |