Alcohol affects anyone who consumes it in many ways. Some of the effects are immediate and only lasts for several hours. Despite being short-term, it is important not to ignore the immediate effects of alcohol abuse because they can escalate or spiral into many other issues. So, if you or your loved one loves drinking, make sure to pay attention to what the alcohol does to the body and to others around you.
The Short-term Effects of Alcohol Is Different for Each Person
The short-term effects of alcohol on you may not be the same for your drinking buddy. This is because the short-term effects of alcohol vary depending on multiple factors, such as:
- Sex, weight, and body fat percentage
- Alcohol tolerance
- Medical conditions
- Mental and physical health
- Use of other medications or drugs
- Whether or not the person has eaten
Number of Drinks and Their Effect
The amount of alcohol consumed is one of the variables that determine the short-term effects a person may experience. The University of West Virginia outlined the effect of alcohol on a person with normal alcohol tolerance based on the number of drinks.
- 1 to 2 Drinks – It causes a person to feel relaxed. Inhibitions are minimal, but there will be reduced alertness and slower reaction time.
- 3 to 4 Drinks – It slows a person’s reaction time and affects their judgment and fine motor skills.
- 5 to 7 Drinks – The person may become emotionally irrational or argumentative. It also starts to affect vision and perception.
- 8 to 10 Drinks – Alcohol will begin to affect a person’s motor skills severely. Vision will begin to lose focus, speech will start to slur, and reaction times will be way slower. A person may also feel nauseated or vomit.
- 10+ Drinks – A person can begin to experience serious short-term effects, such as losing consciousness and a slower breathing rate. A person can also become at risk of developing alcohol poisoning after having more drinks than their body can handle.
The short-term effects of alcohol can last for several hours, depending on how much you drink. The human liver can only process one standard drink in an hour. So, it will take a while for the liver to remove alcohol from your body if you drink too much.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
While short-term effects of alcohol consumption only last for hours, they can still have serious consequences you must not ignore. Here are some of them:
Accidents and Injury
Impaired thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination due to alcohol consumption can make a person more prone to accidents ranging from road collisions to drowning, falls, and other unintentional injuries. These accidents can be fatal. In 2019, 700,000 died worldwide due to alcohol-associated injuries.
If you or your loved one is lucky enough to survive an accident, there’s still the risk of getting injured. Accidental injuries commonly linked to alcohol include fractures, facial injuries, and head injuries.
Alcohol Poisoning and Overdose
Alcohol poisoning is one of the most serious short-term effects of alcohol use. It happens when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches or exceeds 0.40%. If you’re drinking while taking other drugs or medications, you can suffer more adverse effects. Alcohol poisoning and overdose are life-threatening emergencies.
Some of the signs a person who has been drinking has alcohol poisoning include vomiting, seizures, and slow or irregular breathing. The person will also develop hypothermia, get confused, and pass out. If you cannot wake them up, they could be at risk of dying. If your drinking buddy is exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, it is critical to seek immediate medical attention.
Violence
Any amount of alcohol can disrupt a person’s normal brain function. It weakens the part of the brain that restrains impulsive behaviours like aggression, resulting in overreacting and misjudging situations. When an individual is drunk, for instance, a small disagreement might escalate to a physical fight because the intoxicated person is unnecessarily threatened.
Crime
Consuming more alcohol than the body can handle also increases the person’s risk of committing criminal offenses. It means the seemingly harmless short-term effects of alcohol, like reduced inhibitions, impaired judgment, and less muscle control than normal, can cause you to commit crimes that could change your life for the worse in an instant.
Offenses associated with alcohol range from minor to serious and include driving while intoxicated, public-order offenses, sexual and aggravated assault, and even homicide. Minor offenses may cost you only fines and legal fees, but more serious crimes will jeopardize you or your loved one’s future. Committing crimes also means you’ve caused harm to other people.
Unplanned Time Off School or Work
If a person drinks excessively in the evening, they may continue to feel the short-term effects of alcohol upon waking up. It is commonly known as a hangover. Symptoms can include headaches, body aches, trouble concentrating, sensitivity to sound and light, etc. The severity of a hangover is linked to the amount of alcohol consumed and the quality of sleep.
A hangover can cause you to miss school or work. Many employees call in sick because of a hangover, and it’s not surprising since the symptoms just make it challenging to give your best at work. Working while you have a hangover also increases the risk of committing costly mistakes. And if you are holding safety-sensitive roles, showing up to work can only pose a safety risk to you and those around you.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) do not have a cure and can stay with the person throughout their lifespan. They also have serious consequences beyond the immediate effect of the infection itself. They increase the risk of HIV acquisition, infertility in women, and even cancer. If a pregnant mother is infected, they can pass it to the child.
STDs are spread predominantly by sexual contact. Alcohol strongly influences individuals to engage in risky sexual activities, which could lead to contracting an STD. Various studies have already proved the association between alcohol use and STIs.
Get Help Before You Get Hurt
Even if you or your loved one is lucky enough not to experience any of the consequences of the short-term effects of alcohol, you’ll be at risk of developing more serious health issues if you don’t cease or reduce alcohol consumption. So don’t wait; start drinking moderately (or not at all) before you get hurt. If you cannot seem to stop drinking, HARP rehab professionals are always ready to lend a helping hand.
Speak to a HARP alcohol specialist today.
