Alcohol intoxication(also known asdrunkennessorinebriation) is a physiological state induced by the consumption of alcohol.
Intoxication is the consequence of alcohol entering the blood stream faster than it can be metabolized by the liver. Some effects of alcohol intoxication are central to alcohol's desirability as a beverage and its history as the world's most widespread recreational drug. Common effects are euphoria and lowered social inhibitions. Other effects are unpleasant or dangerous because alcohol affects many different areas of the body at once and may cause progressive, long-term harm when consumed inexcess.
Common symptoms of alcohol intoxication include slurred speech, euphoria, impaired balance, loss of muscle ( ataxia), flushed face, dehydration, vomiting, reddened eyes, reduced inhibitions, and erratic behavior. Sufficiently high levels of blood-borne alcohol will cause coma and death from the depressive effects of alcohol upon the central nervous system. "Acute alcohol poisoning" is a related medical term used to indicate a dangerously high 
Pathophysiology
Alcohol is metabolizedby a normal liver at the rate of about one ounce(one two-ounce shot of spirits, a normal beer, a regular sized glass of wine) every 90 minutes. An "abnormal" liver with conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, gall bladderdisease, and cancerwill have a slower rate of metabolism.
Ethanolis metabolised to acetaldehydeby alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH), which is found in many tissues, including the gastric mucosa. Acetaldehyde is metabolised toacetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which is predominantly found in liver mitochondria. Acetate is used by the muscle cells to produce acetyl-CoAusing the enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase, and the acetyl-CoA is then used in the citric acid cycle. [ 1 ]It takes roughly 90 minutes for a healthy liver to metabolize a single ounce, approximately one hour per standard unit.
Ethanol's acute effects are largely due to its nature as a central nervous system depressant, and are dependent on blood alcohol concentrations:
*.20–79 mg/dL - Impaired coordination and euphoria
*.80–199 mg/dL - Binge drinking: Ataxia, poor judgement, labile mood. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism(NIAAA) defines the term " binge drinking" as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above.
[ 2 ]
*.200–299 mg/dL - Marked ataxia, slurred speech, poor judgement, labile mood, nausea and vomiting
*.300–399 mg/dL - Stage 1 anaesthesia, memory lapse, labile mood
*.400+ mg/dL - Respiratory failure, coma
As drinking increases, people become sleepy, or fall into astupor . After a ver ...if survived). CNS depression and impaired motor co-ordination along with poor judgement increases the likelihood of accidental injury occurring.
[ 3 ]It is estimated that about one third of alcohol-related deaths are due to accidents (32%), and another 14% are from intentional injury.
[ 4 ]
In addition to respiratory failure and accidents caused by effects on the central nervous system, alcohol causes significant metabolic derangements. Hypoglycaemiaoccurs due to ethanol's inhibition of gluconeogenesis, especially in children, and may cause lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis and acute renal failure. Metabolic acidosis is compounded by respiratory failure. Patients may also present with hypothermia.
In the past, alcohol was believed to be a non-specific pharmacological agent affecting many neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
