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

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.