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Alcohol
intoxication represents a temporary
disturbance of the spirit accompanied by
physiologic modifications which is caused by
external factors.
Alcohol intoxication affects the person's behavior
and mood. It depends on
several factors such as physical and
psychological state, external environmental
stimuli, and alcohol tolerance.
There are several changes
that occur when an individual is intoxicated:
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mood changes: from cheerfulness to depresion,
anger, and aggression;
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changes from stimulation to inhibition;
» social
behavior changes: from facilitating contacts to
aggressive behaviors;
» self-consciousness
changes: from wide-awakeness to a pathological
state (characterized by dizziness and temporary
loss of consciousness) and even coma;
» changes
in the reasoning capacity: slow thinking,
obsessive ideas, low level of critical thinking -
which sometimes is perceived as creative thinking;
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motion changes: speaking difficulties,
disturbances during movement coordination, and
uncontrolled gesture;
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neuro-vegetative modifications: vasodilation,
pulse variation, nausea and vomiting,
thermoregulator difficulties, and sometimes loss
of sphincters control.
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these changes become more obvious when
the alcohol intoxication is severe. Based
on the blood alcohol concentration, there
are three types of intoxication:
light (0,5 - 1,5%o),
medium (1,5 - 2,5%o)
and advanced intoxication.
However, all the changes that occur
during each state of intoxication varies
from person to person. These differences
among drinkers depend mostly on the
drinking habit. |
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There is also a particular form of
intoxication called pathological intoxication,
which is characterised by intense behavioral and
consciousness changes, and is common in
psychopaths and patients with cerebral diseases.
An
ancient Roman proverb says "vino
veritas" - "the truth is in the
wine". This means that, when intoxicated, a
person is showing their real character.
When the person is intoxicated several of its
brain functions (such as the ability to reason
and assess and the logic) are inhibited. When
intoxicated a person might not be able to control
themself, might say and do things that normally
they would not do or say.
Also, major personality modifications
can occur in advanced states of
intoxications, when large areas of midbrain (the
center of emotions) are affected.
The real character of a person cannot be
artificially (chemically) revealed. However, it
is dangerous when a person starts to believe than
only with alcohol they can achieve a fulfilled
life that satisfies their real character.
In these cases, other remedies need to be found,
such as psychotherapy.
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