Intoxication is a condition that occurs upon administration of high concentrations of psychoactive substances, such as alcohol and addictive substances, that affects the central nervous system which causes alteration and disruption in the person’s level of physiological and psychological function and responses, such as perception, cognition, behavior, and judgment.

The factors that influence the rate of intoxication of a person includes the body mass, gender, food, rate of intake, substance dose or amount, medicine or drug interactions. The rate of intoxication of a person is inversely proportional to the body mass of that person, where in, a petite person has the higher chance to be intoxicated than a larger person, even though they have taken the same amount of substance. Gender influences the intensity of the intoxication. Since females tend to have smaller body mass than males, the absorption of the substance into the bloodstream is faster in females. Presence of food slows down the stomach’s digestion of the substance which highly affects its absorption into the bloodstream. The rate of the substance intake is also a factor, because administering the substance faster than the rate of the metabolism of the substance, increases the chance of intoxication. The increase of the consumed amount of the substance can increase the alcohol concentration in the bloodstream. Lastly, medicine intake can interact and affect the psychoactive substance causing a heighten effect of that specific substance.

Intoxication is a condition that causes disruption in a person’s physiological and psychological responses due to the intake of high levels of psychoactive substances that affects the central nervous system. The factors that influences the rate of intoxication of a person are body mass, gender, food, rate of intake, substance dose or amount, medicine or drug interactions.

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is classified as a central nervous system depressant, which disrupt the physiological and psychological functions of the brain through stimulating the effect of the neurotransmitter called GABA. And upon binding to the GABA receptor, it inhibits certain brain signals that decreases the activity of the central nervous system which stimulates sedation. These sedative effects include physical and psychological impairments, such as diminished judgment.

Alcohol stimulates the effect of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Upon binding to the GABA receptor, the alcohol inhibits certain brain signals that eventually causes sedative effects on the central nervous system.

Binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking, is a dangerous pattern of excessive alcohol consumption that produces a blood alcohol concentration above the 0.08% limit of legal driving which causes alcohol intoxication. This usually happens when women consume four or more alcoholic beverages in a single session which is about two hours, and five or more alcoholic beverages for men. Binge drinking can cause dangerous consequences that can severely disrupt physiological and psychological functions of the nervous system and this can also lead to alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking is correlated with various health problems which include injuries from accidents and alcohol poisoning, violence, alcohol use disorders and chronic diseases, such as heart attack and stroke.

Binge drinking is the excessive alcohol consumption in the span of about 2 hours that eventually produces blood alcohol concentration above 0.08%. Binge drinking can cause injuries due to accidents and alcohol poisoning, alcohol use disorders and chronic diseases.

The intake of over-the-counter medications can have interactions with the alcohol concentration in the body that could lead to detrimental health conditions and even death. Drinking alcohol before the consumption of over-the-counter drugs could affect the absorption and elimination rate of the drug, which means that the alcohol and drug concentration in the body would increase and will have a decreased elimination rate, making the drug stay in your body for a longer period of time. Drug consumption after drinking alcohol can also increase or decrease the effectiveness and efficacy of the drug, depending on the interaction of the drug with the alcohol. Additionally, alcohol may activate some enzymes that could change the chemical composition of the drug which can eventually damage the liver and other organs in the body.

Taking over-the-counter drugs after drinking alcohol is not safe, because of the possible alcohol and drug interactions that can occur. This includes a decreased or increased efficacy of the drug, increased alcohol and drug concentrations in the body, and activation of enzymes that could alter the drug’s composition causing organ damage.

Adolescence is the period where rapid physiological and psychological development occurs during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Alcohol consumption during adolescence affects the critical hormonal balance that is significant for the development of the bones, muscles, and organs. Consuming alcohol during adolescence also significantly influence the maturation of the reproductive system. Additionally, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol among teenagers can cause weight gain that may increase the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. Overweight young drinkers tend to have elevated liver enzymes—indicating liver damage, which pose higher risk of developing liver problems. The liver is the organ responsible for metabolizing nutrients and getting rid of the harmful substances in the system. Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption can immensely damage the liver, since it also metabolizes alcohol. It can also pose damage to the pancreas, causing pancreatitis—inflammation of the pancreas. Moderate alcohol consumption during puberty can the damage the hippocampus—the complex structure in the temporal lobe of the brain that is responsible for the regulation of the behavior, emotion, learning and memory of the person. Alcohol consumption among teenagers may cause blackouts, which is dangerous to the neurological development of teens and this pose a serious risk to the teenagers’ safety and health. Young drinkers have the risk of suffering from neurocognitive deficits. They can also experience increased physical dependence on alcohol and substance abuse, which could make teens to have a higher risk of developing mental health problems, serious behavioral problems and extreme levels of psychological distress in adulthood. Alcohol consumption can also cause poor impulse control that could lead to violence episodes and perilous sexual behavior. Lastly, long-term alcohol consumption has been associated with a higher risk of developing cancers in the breasts, neck, head and stomach.

Moderate alcohol consumption among teenagers can affect their physiological and psychological development during adolescence. Alcohol consumption can affect the development of the organs and the maturation of the reproductive system. It can also damage the hippocampus, liver, and pancreas that causes harmful health conditions. Additionally, it is associated with developing cancers.

Alcohol consumption often begins during adolescence. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2019, 29% of the teenage population consumed alcohol and 14% binge drank for the past 30 days. And 5% of them drove after alcohol consumption, while 17% rode with a driver who drank alcohol. But teenagers are not aware about the dangers of binge drinking. Underage drinking poses physiological and psychological problems, such as death from accidents, alcohol-related injuries, neurological impairment, and mental health problems. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol overdose. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 2,200 deaths every year on the account of alcohol overdose. Some of the symptoms of alcohol overdose include vomiting, hypothermia, irregular breathing, and loss of consciousness. If someone is experiencing alcohol overdose, immediately call 911. Stay with the individual and keep them upright or lay them in a Bacchus Maneuver position to prevent from choking.

PSA script about binge drinking

Your Address
City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address

Date

Name of the City Council Member
Title
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,

I am (your name), a (grade level) student of (your school’s name). This is a letter to address my concerns regarding the establishments that are selling liquors to a person who is considered as underage. I would like to ask your respectful office to implement the policy that would let the police to prosecute these establishments.

The consumption of alcohol usually begins during adolescence. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2019, 29% of the population of young adults had drank alcohol, while 14% of them continuously binge drink. Alcohol consumption poses physiological and psychological health risks among underage drinkers. Alcohol also endangers the neurological development of teens which can affect their behavioral capability and mental health. 20-40% of the mortality associated with alcohol overdose were due to suicidal attempts of the youth.

As the (title of the city council member) of (your city, state), I am aware that there are other important things that you have to implement, but I still believe that protecting the lives of every individual is the most important thing in preserving humanity. And because of that, I hope that you will make a step in providing guidance to our youth.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely appreciate it. Have a great day!

Sincerely,

(signature)
Your name

Letter to the City Council Member