Absorption and Elimination of Alcohol From the Body During Alcohol Abuse

The absorption and elimination of alcohol from the body is a straightforward, biochemical process. Alcohol’s active ingredient—ethanol—becomes ingested, quickly absorbing into the gastrointestinal tract before becoming distributed throughout the body. While the alcohol dependent individual may only be aware of the effects of ethanol on mood and the coordination, the body is at work processing it through its organs. In the wake of alcohol abuse, these natural processes intended to eliminate alcohol from the body become compromised, often leading to a host of health concerns. However, with the medical supervision of an inpatient detox facility, you can find physical healing and treatment for the parts of your body alcohol may have damaged.

Absorption and Elimination of Alcohol From the Body During Alcohol Abuse

As soon as you take a drink of alcohol, your body begins to absorb and process it immediately. The stomach absorbs about one-quarter of the alcohol content of a given drink. From there, the large surface area of the intestinal lining also works to absorb ethanol, transferring the remaining 75 percent of the alcohol to the bloodstream. This process of absorption results in the maximum blood alcohol level about one half hour after consuming a drink. If there is food in the stomach before drinking commences, the rate of alcohol absorption may be slightly decreased, taking longer to hit the bloodstream.

Once the alcohol is absorbed, it is distributed throughout the body and we begin to feel its effects. Women tend to have a greater effect in response to same quantity of alcohol than men, due to smaller size which causes higher alcohol concentrations in the body. Metabolism, alcohol tolerance, weight, and other factors can also affect alcohol absorption rates, resulting in faster and stronger intoxication experiences.

Almost 95 percent of the alcohol consumed is finally removed from the bloodstream by the liver during alcohol abuse. Because of this, the byproducts of alcohol metabolism can cause damage to the liver and the rest of the body as it becomes overtaxed. For this reason, processing large amounts of alcohol can cause permanent damage to the liver, as the repeated elimination of alcohol causes it to function with less efficiency. Over time, the liver becomes enlarged with fatty tissue deposits, reducing its ability to function. If left untreated, the liver hardens, becoming cirrhotic relatively quickly. The remaining 5 percent of alcohol in the bloodstream is removed by bodily fluids and through the exhalation of moisture as we breathe. Fortunately, many luxury alcohol and drug rehab programs provide holistic care with medical staff who specialize in healing and attending to long-term alcohol damage, allowing treatment and healing to take place in the body as alcohol dependency is overcome.