A Small Dose of Alcohol

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References / Additional Information (updated 1/05/05)

ALCOHOL DOSSIER
Name: Ethyl Alcohol (CH3-CH2-OH)
Use: solvent, commonly found in beverages
Source: home, industry, stores, and alcoholic beverages
Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
Absorption: readily absorbed by intestine, food will delay absorption
Sensitive individuals: fetus (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-FAS)
Toxicity/symptoms: developing nervous system very sensitive to low levels of exposure; kids – lowered IQ, learning and behavioral problems; adults – memory loss, inebriation, liver disease, cancer
Regulatory facts: government agencies recommend women not consume alcohol during pregnancy; blood alcohol regulated by local governments when operating a motor vehicle
General facts: long history of use, consumed world wide, 1-3 infants per 1000 affected by FAS worldwide
Environmental: voluntarily consumed
Recommendations: do not consume alcohol during pregnancy, otherwise limit consumption and do not drive a motor vehicle after drinking

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• England – Department of Health (DOH) Alcohol Misuse Information. (accessed: 1 April 2003).
  The DOH provides extensive information on the health effects of alcohol.
  
• Nordic Council For Alcohol And Drug Research (NAD). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  
• International Council on Alcohol and Addictions (ICAA). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “ICAA is a non-governmental organization in consultative status (Category Special) with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and in official relations with the World Health Organization.”

North American Agencies

• Health Canada – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  This site provides tool to reduce and manage the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol.
• U.S. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF), Department of Justice. (accessed: 26 August 2003).
  ATF’s unique responsibilities include protecting the public and reducing violent crime. and enforces the Federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco diversion, firearms, explosives, and arson.
• U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “The NIAAA supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems.”
• Alcohol - Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) - The National Toxicology Program. (accessed: 5 April 2003).
  CERHR alcohol web site has information for parents about the effects of alcohol on reproduction and development.
• U.S. National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “NCADI is the world's largest resource for current information and materials concerning substance abuse.”
• U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “The CSAP mission is to decrease substance use and abuse by bringing effective prevention to every community.”

Non-Government Organizations

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  An international organization dedicated to helping people with alcohol consumption concerns.
• Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “CSPI is an advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science.”
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking.”
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  NCADD provides education, information, help and hope to the public and advocates prevention, intervention and treatment.
• Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  The Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS) is a multidisciplinary institute dedicated to acquisition and dissemination of knowledge on psychoactive substance use and related phenomena with primary emphasis on alcohol use and consequences.
• FAS Bookshelf, Inc. Online. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  Web site devoted to providing resources on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “NOFAS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and improving the quality of life for those individuals and families affected.”
• The Alcohol and Temperance History Group (ATHG). (accessed: 2 April 2003).
  “ATHG was founded in 1979 to foster the exchange of ideas among scholars of all disciplines who are interested in any aspect of past alcohol use, abuse, production, and control within given societies or countries.”

References

Alcohol and Health, 10th Special Report to the U.S. Congress. Highlights from Current Research. Health and Human Services, June 2000.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome – Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Kathleen Stratton, Cynthia Howe, and Frederick C. Battaglia, Editors; Committee to Study Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC. 1996.

Global Status Report: Alcohol and Young People. By David H. Jernigan. World Health Organization, 2001. (use search) Date: September 15, 2002.

A Short History of Wine - By Rod Phillips. Ecco/HarperCollins Publishers, New York. 370 pp. Five Mellenniums of winemaking.

National Geographic Magazine. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: The Preventable Tragedy. Author-Photographer George Steinmetz. Feb. 1992 pp 36-39.