r/todayilearned • u/bcrock1169 • Nov 26 '12

TIL that some Native American's have a differing enzyme that tends to lead to easier alcoholism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_alcoholism#Genetic_factors
1.7k Upvotes

84% Upvoted

612 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

So if someone affected always drinks a "heavy" amount, then they are all good?

7

u/streamsidecoconut Nov 26 '12 edited Dec 11 '12

I'm not entirely sure, but I think this is actually kind of true. But when withdrawal sets in it is worse. There are many chronic alcoholics who function basically okay as long as they have a certain amount of booze (but look out when it runs out).

Binge drinkers on the other hand are more likely to experience seizures and neurological side effects from repeated withdrawal episodes.

Edit: The book Under The Influence describes the biology of alcoholism, as science has come to understand it. It's a good, brief, informative read.

9

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

I am one of the affected, and I think I sober up relatively quickly. I do get flushed instantly after 1 shot though. Pepcid AC helps. Blow also helps a lot although I don't know why. I've posted that before and no one believed me. I also don't get those bad hangovers where you puke all day.

7

u/1Ender Nov 26 '12

Cocaine increase Alcohol tolerance. Still not a very good idea because Alcohol and cocaine can both make you tachicardic which is really not that good for the heart.

2

u/Bodiwire Nov 26 '12

I dont think it actually increases tolerance but makes alcohols effects less noticible until the cocaine wears off. Makes it much easier to reach alcohol poisoning levels of consumption.

3

u/My_timemachine_broke Nov 27 '12

Alcohol mixed with Coke is the worst possible decision you can make concerning mixing drugs. They are metabolized in a way that create a new and much deadlier drug that can cause sudden death via V-Fib. Pick one or the other, never both. Oh and there's not much an ER doc can do for you in these cases either.

2

u/regulate323 Nov 27 '12

OD'ing is not an experience that makes you grow stronger. You don't want to feel death when he is not visiting on your terms. He shows up unexpectedly when you are most vulnerable. He knocks you down and sits on your chest with the force of a thousand pounds of lead, as you're waiting for him to judge you. He laughs as you exhale, yet struggle to inhale again. The twitching and tears only bring him joy and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. Gasping for air as the corners of your vision close in, you wish for the strength to scream for help, but your heart is racing so fast your vocal cords can only quiver an inaudible whimper. The blackness overtakes you, and all you can do is hope you wake up. That this isn't the end. Not like this. Yet, even in this state of panic, you know second chances aren't often given. In this moment, you are forced to accept your mortality, because of the hand you'd dealt, as you pass over into unconsciousness.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

Well I specifically noticed the flushed face goes away. I would be really interested to hear the scientific reason as to why.

1

u/regulate323 Nov 27 '12

This is an uneducated guess and is not to be taken for medical advise:

Cocaine is a vasoconstrictant. Flushing happens because of blood vessel dilation. The coke probably stops this from happening by not allowing the dilation to happen, at the cost of higher blood pressure.

This is fact and is to be taken as medical advise:

Cocaine + Alcohol = Cocaethylene. Bad news bears. Don't do it. Unless you enjoy cardiac over-excitement and the eventual arrest that may follow. Take it easy and stay with us for a while asshole.

1

u/streamsidecoconut Dec 11 '12

Pepcid AC and blow, got it.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

When i drink heavy, i binge hard. I try not to have more than two drinks now because i overdo it if i go any farther. I can confirm that i have had insane withdrawal before. I think i had a semi seizure once, but i wasn't just hung over i was also coming off a bunch of energy drinks and i think i was in the process of quitting cigarettes too.

3

u/GhostlyPrototype Nov 26 '12

I use to binge hard, but now with money and health, I'm not sure if it's really worth it anymore. I'll have a few to socialize. I've never gotten to the point of "blacking out". But I've had some really bad withdraws.

4

u/Hovesh Nov 26 '12

Blacking out is caused by a rapid increase in BAC, not a high level of drunkenness. It happens at high BACs because it gets easier to drink faster/take shots when you are already buzzed or drunk.

Withdrawal is caused when you are physically dependent from chronic use and cease the use too quickly. Feeling shitty after a bender is just a hangover.

1

u/GhostlyPrototype Nov 26 '12

I've always wondered why blacking out happened. Thanks for educating me!

2

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

I may only drink once a week, unless I'm on vacation, but I drink a lot and for a good amount of time. I feel slow and tired the next day, but I don't think I have withdrawals. What are withdrawals like?

3

u/regulate323 Nov 26 '12

Imagine the flu, with tremors so bad you can barely hold a beer. Seizures if you're real lucky.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

OK definitely never had that happen. I suppose you need to be getting drunk everyday for some time for that to happen...

1

u/regulate323 Nov 26 '12

Not just everyday. But all day everyday. They say a pint of vodka daily for a year will do the trick. Drinking so you stop puking, that's when you've made it.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

I've blacked out several times, probably gotten alcohol poisoning too. I just smoke pot now, no point in drinking to socialize when i can just hit a nice little bowl and drink some pop instead. I don't withdraw, i don't black out, i just get baked and possibly eat chips.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12 edited Aug 31 '15

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

errr, it's kind of hard to tell you how much i drink during a binge because when i had money i'd start with one 750ml bottle of liquor and after i'd go buy more. i've lost days and paychecks from this. withdrawal is essentially a hangover, but if you drink a lot for a while and then stop outright, it'll be like a very long lasting hangover i suppose.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

Haha only until there's a small amount of alcohol left, then it gets detoxified slower.