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- Ethanol is the single most important substance of abuse in the United
States. - It is the active agent in beer, wine, vodka, whiskey, rum, and other liquors. - Ethanol acts on cerebral functions as a depressant similar to general anesthetics. - This depression causes most of the typical symptoms such as impaired thought, clouded judgment, and changed behavior. - As the level of alcohol increase, the degree of impairment becomes progressively increased. - In most jurisdictions in the United States, the level for prima facie evidence of being under the influence of alcohol for purpose of driving a motor vehicle is 1,000 mg/ml (0.1 g/dl; 0.1%; 100 mg/dl). Useful for - Detection of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) in blood to document prior consumption or administration of ethanol. - Quantitation of the concentration of ethanol in blood correlates directly of degree of intoxication. Interpretation - The presence of ethanol in blood at concentrations > 300 g/ml (>0.03% or g/dl) is generally accepted as a strong indicator of the use of an alcohol- containing beverage. - Blood ethanol levels > 500 mg/ml (>0.05%) are frequently associated with a state of increased euphoria. - Blood ethanol level > 1,000 mg/ml (>0.1%) exceeds Minnesota's legal limit for driving a motor vehicle. - These levels are frequently associated with loss of manual dexterity and with sedation. - A blood alcohol level >3,000 mg/ml (>0.3%) may be lethal as normal respiration may be depressed below the level necessary to maintain life. - The blood ethanol level is also useful in diagnosis of alcoholism. A patient who chronically consumes ethanol will develop a tolerance to the drug, and requires higher levels than described above to achieve various states of intoxication. - An individual who can function in a relatively normal manner with a blood ethanol level >1,500 mg/ml (>0.15 %) is highly likely to have developed a tolerance to the drug achieved by high levels of chronic intake. |