ALCOHOLISM, the most widespread form of
drug abuse. It is a worldwide problem, with distinct national
differences in prevalence that, in general, mirror rates of per
capita alcohol consumption.
酗酒，最普遍的药物滥用形式。这是一个世界性问题，在实际情况中具有明显的国家差异，一般来说，反映了人均酒精的消费率。
There is no single, simple definition of alcoholism. In North
America a large group of people though not addicted to alcohol,
persist in drinking even though they become aggressive, cause
accidents, or have other alcohol-related problems. Such people are
generally known as problem drinkers. The term alcoholism or
chronic alcoholism is applied to a behavioral disorder
characterized by an excessive use of alcohol to the extent that it
interferes with physical and mental health. According to the
National Council on Alcoholism, alcoholism is an addiction to
alcohol that entails several harmful consequences, including damage
to the brain, liver, or
other organs, as well as destructive effects on the alcoholic’s own
life and that of the alcoholic’s family.
关于酗酒并没有单一、简单的定义。在北美，有大量的人群虽然并没有沉迷于酒精，但即使他们变得好斗，引发事故，或产生与酒精相关的其它问题也会持续饮酒。这样的人通常被称为问题饮酒者。酗酒一词或慢性酒精中毒适用于一种以过量饮酒，干扰到身体和精神健康为特征的行为障碍。根据全国酗酒委员会的说法，酗酒是一种对酒精的成瘾，会带来一些有害的后果，包括对脑、肝或其它器官的损害，也会给酗酒者自己的生活以及酗酒者的家庭带来破坏性影响。
In the United States about 4 million are alcoholics, and
perhaps another 6 million are problem drinkers. Together they are
responsible for more than 20,000 traffic deaths each year. They
make up nearly half of all people arrested, and are often involved
in crimes of violence. As many as 25,000 murders and suicides
yearly are associated with misuse of alcohol. In addition to the
deaths and suffering associated with alcohol misuse, the economic
costs of alcoholism are enormous—on the order of $60 billion a
year, chiefly in lost work times, medical and hospitalization
costs, property damage, and welfare services.
在美国，酗酒者大约有400万人，也许另有600万人是问题饮酒者。他们每年共造成2万多人的交通死亡。他们几乎占了所有被捕人员的一半，而且经常涉及暴力犯罪。每年有多达2.5万人与滥用酒精有关的凶杀和自杀。除了与滥用酒精有关的死亡和痛苦外，酗酒的经济成本巨大---数额一年要600亿美元，主要是损失的工作时间、医疗和住院费用、财产损失，以及福利服务等。
ALCOHOL IN THE BODY
Alcoholic beverages are so classified because they contain
ethyl alcohol, or ethanol (C2
H5 OH). Once it is ingested, ethyl
alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the
bloodstream. The rate of absorption depends on various factors.
Food in the stomach, especially fatty food, slow down the rate of
absorption, whereas water mixed with the alcohol speeds it up.
Similarly, the alcohol in carbonated beverages, such as bubbly
wines and cocktails made with soda, are absorbed more rapidly. The
stomach, however, has protective mechanisms for preventing too much
alcohol from being absorbed too quickly. If too much alcohol is in
the stomach, the stomach lining secretes a mucous coating that
slows absorption, and the valve between the stomach and small
intestine closes, preventing the alcohol from entering the small
intestine, where it would be absorbed quickly. The closing of the
valve may also cause nausea.
身体内的酒精
含酒精的饮料是这样分类的，因为它们含有酒精，或乙醇（C2
H5
OH）。一旦摄入，酒精就会被胃和小肠吸收到血液循环中。吸收的比率取决于各种因素。胃中的食物，尤其是高脂肪的食物，吸收率会缓慢，而混合了酒精的水会加快速度。同样，碳酸饮料中的酒精，例如，起泡葡萄酒和带有苏达水的鸡尾酒会吸收的更快。然而，胃为防止过多的酒精被过快地吸收具有保护机制。如果胃中有过多的酒精，胃粘膜会分泌一种减慢吸收的黏液层，并且关闭胃与小肠之间的瓣膜，防止酒精进入小肠，因为小肠会迅速吸收酒精。瓣膜的关闭还可能引起恶心。
The elimination of alcohol from the body begins almost as
soon as it is absorbed into the bloodstream. About one tenth of it
is eliminated unchanged as part of sweat, urine, and exhaled air.
The rest of the alcohol is broken down or metabolized, chiefly by
the liver. An average-sized adult metabolizes from one-third to
one-half ounce (10—15ml) of alcohol an hour. A person drinking 4
ounces (120 ml) of whiskey will have about 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of
alcohol in the blood at the end of an hour as a result of both
elimination and metabolic action. The blood-alcohol concentration
will be about 0.07%.
身体排除酒精几乎在酒精被吸收进血液循环时就开始了。大约有十分之一的酒精尚未变化就以出汗、尿液、呼出的空气被排除。剩余的酒精主要通过肝脏分解或代谢。一个中等身材的成人一小时可代谢三分之一至二分之一盎司（10—15毫升）的酒精。一个人喝4盎司（120毫升）的威士忌酒，由于排除和代谢的作用，在一个小时后血液中的酒精大约有1.5盎司（45毫升）。血液酒精浓度大约为0.07%。
As alcohol circulates in the bloodstream, it is distributed
to every part of the body. The effects of alcohol on various organs
and tissues are of THREE types: the short-term effects of a single
episode of drinking; the long-term effects of chronic alcoholism;
and withdrawal symptoms. Also important is the interaction of
alcohol with other drugs in the body that may result in fetal
malformations in pregnant women. The amount of alcohol required to
produce such malformations is not known.
当酒精在血液中循环时，它会分布到身体的每一部分。酒精对各种器官和组织的影响有三类：一次喝酒的短期影响；慢性酒精中毒的长期影响；和脱瘾期的症状。此外，重要的是在身体中酒精与其它药物的相互作用可能导致孕妇的胎儿畸形。但产生这样的畸形需要多大量的酒精尚不清楚。
Short-Term Effects. Contrary to popular
belief, alcohol is not a stimulant but a depressant. The organ most
affected is the brain, and as the blood level rises, the
concentration of ethanol in the brain increases.
短期影响。与普遍看法相反的是，酒精并不是一种刺激物，而是一种抑制剂。受到影响最大的器官是大脑，随着血液含量的上升，大脑中的乙醇浓度也会增加。
At a blood-alcohol level of about 0.05%, resulting from
drinking 2 or 3 ounces (60—90) ml) of whiskey, the drinker’s
judgment and thinking become dulled. Feelings of tension and
anxiety are relieved so that the drinker feels relaxed and
inhibitions may be released.
在喝2或3盎司（60—90毫升）威士忌，血液酒精含量大约为0.05%时，饮酒者的判断和思考能力会变得迟钝。紧张和焦虑感被缓解，因此饮酒者会感到放松，而且会释放拘束感。
Higher blood level, about 0.10%, produce clear signs of
intoxication—clumsy movements, slurred speech, and difficulty in
maintaining balance. In many states, a blood level of 0.10% is
accepted as legal evidence of intoxication.
当达到更高的血液酒精含量，大约0.10%时，会产生明显的中毒迹象---动作笨拙，说话不清，以及难以保持平衡。在许多国家，0.10%的血液酒精含量被认定为法定的中毒证据。
At 0.30% the drinker is confused and close to
unconsciousness. At 0.45% the drinker may sink into a coma. Usually
at about 0.70% the brain areas controlling breathing and heart rate
are affected, causing death. Most people rarely drink
enough to raise their blood alcohol level above sleep and cannot
drink anymore.
在达到0.30%时，饮酒者会糊涂，并接近无意识状态。达到0.45%时，饮酒者可能会陷入昏迷。通常在达到0.70%时，大脑控制呼吸和心率的区域会受到影响，会导致死亡。多数人在还没有喝到他们血液酒精含量极限时就已睡着了，已无法再喝了。
Some alcoholics experience blackouts during periods of heavy
drinking. The affected person appears to be behaving normally, but
later cannot remember anything that happened during this
period.
在大量饮酒期间，一些酗酒者体验到断片。受到影响的人似乎行为正常，但之后却无法记起这一时期中发生的任何事情。
Other organs and tissues affected by alcohol include the
liver, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. Because sugar stored in
the liver is not accessible when alcohol is present, hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar) may occur. Large amounts of alcohol irritate the
stomach and may cause gastritis or diarrhea. Because alcohol acts
as a diuretic, the kidneys are stimulated to produce more
urine.
受到酒精影响的其它器官和组织包括肝脏、胃肠道和肾脏。因为，当酒精存在时，贮存在肝脏中的糖是无法获取的，可能会出现低血糖症（低血糖）。大量饮酒会刺激胃，还可能引发胃炎和腹泻。因为酒精作为一种利尿剂，肾脏受到刺激会产生更多的尿液。
Alcohol also affects sleep. Small amounts may be an aid to
sleep; however, red wines with high tyramine content may cause
insomnia. Heavy drinking just before bedtime decreases the normal
extent of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, an important phase of
sleep in which dreaming occurs.
酒精也会影响睡眠。少量可有助于睡眠；不过，含有高含量酪胺的红酒会导致失眠。睡觉前大量饮酒会减少REM（快速眼动）睡眠的正常程度，一种梦中出现的睡眠重要阶段。
Although the underlying mechanism is not understood, large
amounts of alcohol can precipitate an attack of gout. Alcohol may
increase sexual desire in males but results in decreased sexual
potency. The effects of alcohol on sexual desire in women appear to
be changing as sexual mores evolve. In an earlier time, alcohol was
more likely to decrease sexual desire in women; today, however the
data appear to be more complex.
尽管尚未理解这种潜在的机制，但大量的酒精会引发痛风。酒精会增加男性性欲，但会导致性能力下降。酒精对女性性欲的影响似乎随着性观念的演变而变化。在较早的时期，酒精更有可能降低女性的性欲；然而，今天的数据似乎更为复杂。
Long-Term Effects.
Chronic alcoholics suffer a number of serious physical and mental
disorders, and their life span is usually 10 to 12 years shorter
than that of non-alcoholics. It is not known whether many of their
disorders are caused directly by the alcohol or by the effects of
poor nutrition, which almost always accompanies chronic alcoholism.
Because alcohol supplies the body with calories (about 150 calories
per ounce), alcoholics tend to neglect other foods and develop
serious nutritional deficiencies. Also, the B vitamins thiamine and
niacin play a role in the metabolism of alcohol and thus are more
quickly used up. Alcohol may interfere with the absorption and
storage of other vitamins, and, because it increases the formation
of urine, many water-soluble minerals are lost through increased
urination.
长期影响。慢性酗酒者会遭受到许多身体和精神障碍，而他们的寿命通常比不酗酒者少10到12年。尚不清楚他们的许多障碍是否直接是由酒精所导致，或因营养不良的影响，它几乎总是伴随慢性的酒精中毒。由于酒精为身体提供了热量（每盎司大约150卡路里），酗酒者常常忽视了其它食物，并导致严重的营养缺乏。此外，B族维生素硫胺素和烟酸在酒精的代谢中起了作用，因此消耗得更快。酒精可以干扰其它维生素的吸收和贮存，而且由于它增加了尿的形成，许多水溶性矿物质通过增加的排尿而流失。
Probably the best-known disease associated with prolonged
drinking is cirrhosis of the liver. Cancer of the liver is also
associated with alcoholism, as is a disorder called fatty
liver, which results from the accumulation of fatty acids in
the liver. Fatty liver is considered by medical authorities to be
the first phase in the development of cirrhosis of the
liver.
可能与长期饮酒有关的最著名的疾病就是肝硬化。肝癌也与酗酒有关，还有一种称为脂肪肝的疾病，它是肝脏中脂肪酸累积的结果。脂肪肝被医学权威认为是肝硬化发展的第一个阶段。
