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Alcohol Blackout Research Paper

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Alcohol use is something that is becoming more and more common in underage young adults, especially college students. Even so, many adults over the age of 21 participate in binge drinking. Binge drinking consists of drinking multiple drinks at one time. This results in what is commonly known as a “blackout”. So how does drinking and alcohol use effect everyday mental performance? There are so many different things that alcohol can cause. When the mind is impaired with something such as alcohol, the decision-making skills of the person in taking the alcohol are going to be impaired as well. Alcohol is a key factor in many different tragedies. Alcohol can be linked with things like death, injury, physical assault, sexual assault, unsafe sex, …show more content…

College students are at a higher risk of alcohol use than any other age group. Under age and college age drinkers are at more of a risk for neurotoxicity and harmful mental effects due to alcohol consumption than those who initiate alcohol use later in life. The brain functions though things such as neurotransmitter receptors, and cell signaling molecules. These are effected when alcohol is ingested. (Zeigler, 2004) Alcohol blackouts are becoming more and more common when binge drinking occurs. A blackout is when excessive drinking leads to a from of memory impairment or loss. What happens is a kind of amnesia occurs. The brain cannot recall any memories or events that have occurred. One might think that blackouts and passing out are the same thing, but they are not. A blackout is when someone is awake and able to function even though they are under the influence. (White, 2005) Some cases of extreme alcohol use an alcohol overdose is possible. An alcohol overdose is the next step after a black out. Like a blackout, an alcohol overdose occurs during something like binge drinking. “Alcohol can cause death directly by suppressing brain stem nuclei that control vital reflexes like breathing and gagging to clear the airway.” (White,

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