Intoxication
From Drug Rehab Wiki
Intoxication is the temporary state of being impaired, both physically and mentally, from drinking too much alcohol or from using certain drugs.
The word "intoxication" is most commonly used as a synonym for alcoholic drunkenness, but many drugs, both illegal and prescription, can produce a temporary state of mental and physical impairment, including heroin, marijuana, Ecstasy, LSD, opioid painkillers, GHD, ketamine, hashish, and so forth. The degree of intoxication depends upon which drug is used and in what amounts. Even inhaling certain household substances, such as glue or gasoline, can produce short periods of intoxication. There is actually such a thing as water intoxication, which occurs from drinking too much water in too short a time, but it is rare.
Alcoholic intoxication has different levels with different symptoms. At low levels the person may show personality changes, such as becoming overly vivacious or overly withdrawn, and he lose some ability to make judgments. He may feel warm and have flushed skin. At higher levels of intoxication, the person's speech becomes slurred and he will show emotional instability and be unable to perform tasks that require fine motor skills, such as writing or using a computer. At even higher levels, the person will experience double vision, lethargy, memory loss, and difficulty sitting upright. At the next level, the person goes into a stupor and sleeps. The final levels are alcohol poisoning, in which the person can appear comatose, stop breathing and die. Common slang words for intoxication are being wasted, hooched up, destroyed, looped, loaded, plastered, wiped out, and stoned.
The legal and medical definition of alcoholic intoxication is based on the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, and there are tests that can measure it. In the United States, if you have a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, you are considered too drunk to drive an automobile and can be arrested if you do so. However, some studies indicate a blood alcohol content of only 0.02% can affect your reaction time and ability to operate your car safely.
The laws against driving while under the influence of drugs (DUID) are similar to those of driving under the influence of alcohol. You can even face penalties if you are driving while impaired by prescription drugs. How much alcohol or what amount of drugs a person needs to consume in order to become legally intoxicated depends on the individual. Some factors that influence alcoholic intoxication include age, gender, weight, ethnicity, fitness level, how quickly the drinks were consumed, and if you ate food along with the drinks. Factors that can influence whether you become legally impaired by drugs can be age, weight, gender, amounts used and in what combination, and how tolerant your body is to a particular drug.
There is no medical treatment for alcohol intoxication except to wait until the effects wear off. Coffee just produces a "wide awake drunk". Medical antidotes are available for some forms of drug overdoses and reactions.
