False substitutes for alcohol. Surrogate alcohol - the first signs of poisoning, emergency care, treatment and consequences. Clinical picture of poisoning with alcoholic surrogates
What is an alcohol substitute? How does it differ from ordinary alcohol and what are the consequences of poisoning with this substance? Not many people know the answers to these questions. Although it is better to be aware of such things.
What is a surrogate
These are liquids that are close in chemical composition to alcohol, but which categorically cannot be used instead of alcohol. However, not everyone follows this rule. Moreover, the domestic market is teeming with low-quality products, that is, a surrogate. The most annoying thing is that a fake can be found not only in a dubious alcohol store, but also on the shelves of huge supermarkets.
By the way, statistics say that in 98 cases out of 100, alcohol surrogate poisoning did not happen by mistake, it was specially used to achieve intoxication. This means that people suffering from alcoholism most often suffer from such poisoning.
Types of surrogate
Now there is a lot of “wrong” alcohol, but it can be divided into two main groups.
- Based on ethanol. This includes industrial alcohol, lotions and even medicines. These are all alcohol-containing household products. They may contain such substances that lead not only to poisoning, but also to lethal outcome.
- Without ethanol. They are also called false surrogates. But their use leads to a state similar to intoxication. These include dichlorvos, gasoline, amyl, butyl and methyl alcohols.
This list can be supplemented with colognes, disinfectants, alcohol tinctures from a pharmacy and moonshine. All this also applies to surrogates of alcohol. However, you need to understand that the use of these substances is dangerous to life and health.
Consequences of using surrogates
They can be very different, but never positive. Naturally, alcoholics are the most affected. In second place are teenagers. They are susceptible to poisoning by alcohol substitutes because they are not sold high-quality alcohol from the counter of a normal store.
But adult healthy people are the least likely to end up in a hospital bed because of a surrogate, since it is almost impossible to run into fake alcohol in a store that has the appropriate license. Although there are such precedents. You can also get low-quality alcohol as a gift.
Oddly enough, it is the alcohol surrogate that is the leader, among other causes of poisoning. Moreover, it very often leads to death. There is evidence that nine out of ten victims die without waiting for hospitalization. In addition to death, there may be other consequences, one of the most common is blindness. Such poisoning is treated by toxicologists and narcologists.
What is ethyl alcohol
It is a colorless liquid, that is, it is completely transparent, has a specific smell and a burning taste. This component is included in any kind of alcoholic beverages. So what is alcohol made from? It all depends on what it is intended for. After all, it is used not only as the basis of alcoholic beverages. That is why there are several types of ethyl alcohol.
Types of ethanol
Important: in addition to alcohol, water and, most often, various aromatic additives are added to alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol production
So what is alcohol made from? There are several ways to make this liquid. Non-food ethyl alcohol is produced from various raw materials. For example, manure, coal, oil or any other element of technical origin. These components are prepared and transported to the distillery.
There, raw materials are processed in a certain way, they undergo technical alcoholization. Then it is poured into containers and sent to industrial enterprises. Some distilleries carry out illegal activities and send part of such a product for the manufacture of counterfeit alcohol.
Liquor production
Drinking alcohol is made a little differently. It uses completely different components. For its manufacture, cereals, potatoes, sugar beets, sugar cane and other natural elements are used. This raw material is carefully processed. In the next step, yeast is added and the fermentation process begins. The result is alcohol. highest quality. Now it can be sent to the purification of alcohol takes place directly where alcoholic beverages will be produced.
Note: most often, inexpensive raw materials are used for the production of alcohol, since it requires careful processing and several degrees of purification, the production process is greatly stretched.
What is drinking alcohol
There are many varieties of it, it all depends on what kind of alcohol will be produced from it. For its manufacture, cereals, grapes, fruits, berries, sugar cane, agave and many other raw materials can be used.
For example, whiskey production requires crops such as barley or corn. To produce cognac, brandy or armagnac, you need grape spirit. In no case can technical alcohol be present in the composition of these drinks. Otherwise, you get a substitute for alcohol.
The production process of fruit spirits has several differences. So, for example, berries are most often soaked in ordinary drinking ethyl alcohol and a kind of flavored product is obtained. Apple alcohol is used to produce Calvados.
It is believed that sugar cane is used for the production of rum, this is not entirely true. Since this product is used for the manufacture of sugar directly. After that, a waste material is obtained - black molasses. This is where rum is made from.
Tequila is made from blue agave, and absinthe is made from herbal spirits.
How to drink alcohol
To avoid severe intoxication, in no case should you mix alcohol-containing products of different origin. That is, you should not switch from vodka to cognac, and then add tequila. Even taking into account the fact that they have the same level of alcohol, the body is unlikely to cope with such a variety. And the risk of a severe hangover increases exponentially. In addition, in order to protect yourself from a substitute for alcohol, you should buy alcohol only in large supermarkets or specialized stores with a good reputation. Drinks should not contain questionable ingredients. Moreover, on good alcohol there must be a certificate confirming compliance with GOST.
Important: high-quality alcohol cannot be cheap.
Proper cognac
At the moment, the problem of low-quality alcohol is more relevant than ever. From TV screens, almost every week they talk about mass poisoning with a surrogate. It is unlikely that the authorities will cope with this problem in the near future. To avoid getting into unpleasant situation, it is better to know in advance how to distinguish cognac from a fake. There are several points that you need to pay attention to.
Drink consistency
Good cognac is always thick and oily. In order to check this, you need to turn the container upside down. If “tears” slide along the bottom and walls, then the product is of high quality. More a good sign is one large drop that has fallen from the bottom.
It happens that the bottle is filled to the brim with a drink. Then, of course, the above method is not suitable. In this situation, you need to pay attention to the bubbles that rise when turning over. AT good cognac Large bubbles will rise first, and only then small ones. This suggests that the drink has the right consistency.
In high-quality alcohol there should be no impurities and sediments. That is, it must be perfectly transparent. Color can vary from amber to dark brown. The older the cognac, the darker it will be.
Also, the color depends on the age of the barrels in which it was aged and the amount of caramel color. But it is worth noting once again that regardless of the color, the drink should be transparent. If there is even a hint of cloudiness and sediment, you should not buy cognac.
Label quality
First of all, pay attention to how it is glued. If alcohol is made by handicraft method, then, most likely, the label on the bottle will not hold well and look asymmetrical. If the drink is expensive and not fake, then its sticker is likely to be embossed, similar to a banknote.
All information must be indicated on the bottle: manufacturer, bottling date, expiration date, composition, and so on. If the quality of the label paper does not inspire confidence or the imprint is fuzzy, then it is better to leave this drink in the store.
Real specialists distinguish the original from the counterfeit by the label, but this requires certain equipment. Another important point is a tax stamp. Its presence is mandatory.
The price of quality alcohol
A good quality drink is expensive. If somewhere they offer cheap cognac, then it is either fake or not of high quality. The high price of this alcoholic drink is quite justified, since the production process is quite complicated and costly. Not a single cognac factory will work at a loss.
Beware if they offer to buy a drink of the level of Courvoisier or Camus for 30-40 percent cheaper. This is an obvious fake. Outwardly, it is unlikely that it will be possible to distinguish a fake from the original. Because it's fake high level. Yes, and poison them, too, most likely, it is impossible. But the pleasure is not the same.
The only way to insure yourself against scammers in this case is not to buy such a product in suspicious places. Only at licensed locations. And you need to require a certificate for
We continue consultations with a narcologist, Tatyana Gurenko, especially for the readers of the StepUp portal. What is moonshine? First aid for acute alcohol poisoning. What types of alcohol substitutes are the most dangerous? What are the safe limits for drinking alcohol? All answers are right now.
ALCOHOL SURROGATES - substances made on the basis of ethyl alcohol containing impurities of various substances prepared on the basis of ethanol or other monohydric or polyhydric alcohols. Alcohol surrogates are toxic, their ingestion is dangerous for humans. Substitutes for alcohol include liquids of various chemical composition and purpose, which are used for the purpose of intoxication. Forensic medical observations regarding fatal poisoning with technical liquids indicate that 97.9% of the victims took them for the purpose of intoxication, and in 44.9% of cases they had no idea about the degree of harmfulness of the liquids used for the body. A wide range of alcohol-containing liquids is used as alcohol surrogates: medicinal tinctures, dosage forms for external use, technical liquids, household chemicals, cosmetics. Intoxication was accompanied by the appearance of focal symptoms of brain damage, circulatory disorders and vascular tone, acute respiratory failure and vascular events. Of the ambulances delivered to the hospital with poisoning by alcohol surrogates, 24.9% required intensive resuscitation efforts, the mortality rate was 6.9%. One of the variants of surrogate alcoholism is alcohol alcoholism, which develops with the abuse of various food and technical alcohols. The fact that in modern hydrolysis production, purified hydrolysis ethanol does not differ in toxic properties from food ethanol, indirectly indicates the possibility of abuse. And as a result, alcohol poisoning, the treatment of which must be carried out immediately. It’s a pity that not many people turn to specialists, and first aid for alcohol poisoning can be the last.
The most common variant of surrogate alcoholism is moonshine. Moonshine
is a highly toxic product that causes persistent irreversible changes throughout the body. The most harmful effect on the human body has fusel oil, which is a by-product of alcoholic fermentation. Isolated from alcohol, it really is an oily liquid of various colors (from light yellow to brown-red) with a sharp unpleasant odor. Fusel oil contains various toxic impurities: isopropyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, acetic ethyl ether, propyl alcohol acetyl, acetyl, amyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, pyridine, butyl alcohol, butyric ethyl ether, furfural.
If the poisonous properties of ethyl alcohol are taken as one, then for fusel oil this figure is 19, and for furfural 83. Moonshine vodka is made from various food products: rye flour, sugar, corn, barley, potatoes, etc. When analyzing moonshine in each of its form, a high content of fusel oil was found. So, in moonshine made from rye flour, the percentage of fusel oil depends on its strength: at 12`-0.30%, at 18.7`-0.32%. Moonshine of any strength, made from sugar, also contains a lot of fusel oil (from 0.21 to 0.42%). Its percentage is very high in moonshine vodka made from "bread" flour (up to 0.63%), corn (0.82%), barley (C.52%). Sometimes it is suggested that the moonshine currently produced is sufficiently well cleaned of impurities. Meanwhile, studies of experts indicate otherwise. It has been proven that the poisonous effect of moonshine, even well-purified, is 1.3 times greater than wine spirit. In the clinic of drunkenness, which is formed under the influence of the use of moonshine, there is no consistent increase in the severity of symptoms. First of all, there are forms of behavior that testify to social degradation: the loss of a family, conflicts at work, frequent changes in jobs, appearing at work in a drunken state, antisocial behavior in a state of intoxication. After several months of drinking, a pronounced hangover syndrome develops, physical addiction, alcoholic bragging, intolerance. Unexpectedly for the drinker himself, states of stupefaction, dysphoria may occur. If an alcoholic begins with the use of ordinary alcoholic beverages, and then switches to taking moonshine and other surrogates, then the clinic of the disease develops in a different way. Initially, the sense of control is lost. At the same time, patients are increasingly resorting to the use of surrogates. During this period, they violated not only the control of alcohol doses and the time of intake, but also their behavior, they lost a critical attitude towards their condition. The next very significant mental disorder should be considered the emergence of craving for alcohol. At first, it is mild and the drinker can fight it. In the future, if the intake of alcohol continues, then the strength of attraction increases (especially quickly when using moonshine). Usually, when using natural alcoholic beverages, even strong ones, withdrawal syndrome appears in the second stage of alcoholism, first after taking large doses, then after drinking even small doses.
When using moonshine, a hangover syndrome is formed much earlier, sometimes after several months of drinking. Alcoholism caused by surrogates often proceeds with a qualitatively different withdrawal syndrome. With a hangover associated with ordinary alcohol intoxication, vegetative (tremor, sweating, tachycardia) and mental disorders (anxiety, paranoid attitude) are expressed. In the clinic of the hangover syndrome caused by moonshine, vegetative disorders are less pronounced and more mental. The latter often contain delirious components. The drunken nature of drunkenness in ordinary alcoholism appears in the second stage of drunkenness, and with the use of surrogates in about 1/3 of patients, drunkenness becomes already in stage I. Amnesia of intoxication with moonshine alcoholism is noted in almost all cases in stage I of alcoholism, that is, much earlier than in chronic alcoholism caused by ordinary alcoholic beverages. Due to pronounced toxicosis, under the influence of the use of moonshine, intolerance is formed not in stage III of alcoholism, as usual, but in stage II. Moonshine causes an early change in the picture of intoxication: unmotivated anger, dysphoria, fear, and pickiness appear. In the psyche of a chronic alcoholic, under the influence of poisoning, such dramatic shifts occur that his moral character changes, such qualities as deceit, tactlessness, weak will, irresponsibility, indifference to the fate of his relatives appear, i.e., personality degradation occurs. In persons who abuse moonshine, memory and attention, physical and mental performance quickly decrease. The above observations of clinicians indicate the need to develop a differentiated therapy for alcoholism when consuming surrogates. The situation is complicated by the fact that patients with alcoholism have a pronounced tolerance to a number of substances, and the experiment proved the ability of ethanol to increase the tolerance of methyl, isopropyl and other alcohols, which is associated with the induction of microsomal enzymes. This suggests that alcoholics can tolerate large doses of undoubtedly toxic substances without signs of immediate poisoning, and the constant action of drugs will adversely affect the somatic and mental spheres. In addition, the inducing effect of "surrogate alcoholics" on people who only abuse alcohol can lead to fatal poisoning in the latter. Therefore, alcohol intoxication and its treatment should be carried out immediately.
Alcohol surrogates containing ethyl alcohol
:
colognes, lotions, medical tinctures, denatured alcohol, polish, hydrolysis, sulfite alcohols, BF glue, moonshine, home brew, chatter, etc., consist of technical alcohol, fusel oils and other components, such as essential oils, acetone, dyes, etc.
Alcohol surrogates that do not contain ethyl alcohol , much more dangerous. These are methyl (wood) alcohol, ethylene glycol (brake fluid), acetone, dichloroethane. When ingested, they decompose to highly toxic products and infect various bodies and tissues - the liver, kidneys, etc. Poisoning by them is very difficult, often fatal.
Acute alcohol poisoning usually occurs due to the abuse of strong liquors and alcoholic surrogates. In the latter case, however, it is necessary to highlight which active substance was contained in this “alcohol substitute” - for example, acetone, methyl alcohol, etc.
A single death is considered dose from 4 to 12 grams per kilogram of human weight. These are approximately 500 grams of pure alcohol. However, this figure fluctuates. So, for example, for "trained" alcoholics it can be much higher, and for absolute teetotalers - below. It also affects whether a person drank this dose quickly, in one gulp or within, say, a day, on a full or on an empty stomach, etc. Residents are more likely to be poisoned by strong liquor middle lane and the extreme north. In the toxicological department, this is about a quarter of all poisonings.
First aid in case of poisoning with alcohol and its surrogates: rinse the stomach and intestines or induce vomiting, give access to fresh air, cold to the head, give ammonia to drink inside - 5-10 drops in half a glass of water, give it to sniff, lubricate whiskey. If not ammonia, you can use vinegar or another breath irritant, you can even horseradish. If the patient is conscious, you can give him strong tea, coffee. If the condition is serious, there is no consciousness - urgently needed health care.
If after drinking alcohol you need sober up faster, then you should not go to bed, but on the contrary, you need to be active - actively maintain a conversation, sing songs or go outside and go for a run, or just take a walk. Activation of blood supply and metabolic processes, gas exchange will accelerate the elimination and deactivation of alcohol in the body.
First aid to victims of surrogates basically corresponds to assistance in case of ethyl alcohol poisoning. In case of poisoning with methyl alcohol, the patient should be given 100 ml of vodka (ethyl alcohol), it is an antidote to methyl alcohol. In case of poisoning with alcohol substitutes, even if the patient is conscious, you should immediately seek help from specialists.
Alcohol surrogates- various liquids not intended for internal use, but nevertheless used instead alcoholic beverages. Depending on the composition, they can cause significant harm to health. The use of surrogates is typical for the later stages alcoholism .
Types of surrogates:
Low-dangerous : colognes, lotions, non-food ethyl alcohol. Medicines containing alcohol (tinctures of hawthorn, motherwort and others).
medium hazardous : technical fluids based on ethyl alcohol.
Very dangerous : methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, dichloroethane, gasoline, dichlorvos and liquids containing them.
Prevention of alcoholism.
There are measures to prevent alcoholism in healthy people and ways to prevent alcoholic relapses and breakdowns in people who have already been diagnosed with alcoholism. In the most general sense alcoholism prevention includes explanatory work on the effect of alcohol on the human body the reasons development of alcoholic disease and its symptoms , the formation of a negative attitude towards alcoholic beverages, as well as some restrictive measures. This includes measures from the state, family, schools, medical institutions and psychologists.
The state should develop for its citizens a lifestyle that would exclude the use of alcohol in unacceptably large doses . For this purpose, introduced various ways, and above all:
Control over the quality of produced alcoholic products;
Restrictive measures excluding the consumption of alcohol by minors;
Strict restriction of places where one could buy and drink alcohol;
Creating an environment that excludes the use of alcohol in the production team;
Administrative and criminal punishment of persons appearing in in public places drunk;
Identification of drunkards who are potential alcoholics at work, individual measures of influence on them.
Particular attention should be paid to the education of the younger generation. Here explanatory work is mainly used in the form of conversations, lectures, wall printing. Young people must necessarily know not only about the harmful effects of alcohol and all consequences of abuse , but also laws aimed at combating drunkenness and penalties for doing so. However, prohibitive measures alone will not help in the fight against this evil. It is necessary to provide ways to spend healthy leisure time, which includes physical education, various kinds of circles, sport sections, hobbies, hobbies. Traditional religious denominations are of great educational importance. It is known that faith in God is incompatible with alcohol abuse, and therefore among true believers there are no drunkards and alcoholics.
The state and public organizations should participate in healthy leisure activities. To this end, a wide network of recreational and recreational activities should be used - sports palaces, stadiums, swimming pools, theaters and concert halls, popularization and accessibility of mass sports for all segments of the population.
Separately, it should be said about the prevention alcoholism
in persons already addicted to alcoholic beverages, including past alcohol treatment
.
Here further normalization is required. nervous system person, prevention of various kinds of conflicts, as well as periodically prescribed courses of anti-relapse therapy, carried out in narcological dispensary
. Relatives and friends of a treated alcoholic, as well as himself, need to know that situations that provoke relapse and breakdown are quite possible, and therefore, in order to prevent it, it is necessary to create a calm atmosphere in the family, refuse to meet with former drinking buddies, sometimes even change jobs and places residence. Particular attention should be removed to free time so that it is always busy. In addition, in such treated patients, special psychotic states may periodically occur, accompanied by irritability, insomnia, dreams about drinking, or an obvious craving for alcohol. In this case, you must immediately contact a narcologist for the appointment of anti-relapse treatment. The prevention system also includes the treatment of all internal diseases (gastritis, hepatitis
, pancreatitis, etc.). It is necessary to constantly explain to the patient that he will never be able to drink moderately, and therefore even a glass of vodka is contraindicated for him, which can provoke hard drinking
. This is a difficult task because many alcoholics sincerely believe that they can drink
"as everybody". Also important is correct mode nutrition with the exception of long breaks in eating, tk. hunger increases the craving for alcohol, and satiety suppresses the desire to drink.
It also requires explanatory work, which includes individual conversations and lectures aimed at explaining the direct effect of alcohol on the body, as well as an explanation of all the symptoms of alcoholic disease. Great importance has a personal example on the part of people, former drunkards who have not consumed alcohol for many years, as well as the organization of interest clubs and sobriety societies .
Safe drinking limits.
In the 80-90s of the 20th century, the WHO created the concepts of “safe limits on alcohol consumption” and “standard dose of alcohol”.
Standard dose of alcohol 1 U (unit) equals 8 g or 10 ml of pure alcohol. Accordingly, the number of standard doses in various types alcoholic beverages is:
1 bottle of beer - 2.0 U
1 bottle of strong beer 3.0 U
1. For men no more than 20 U per week; for women no more than 14 U.
2. No more than 4 U of alcohol per day for men and 3 U for women.
3. Do not drink alcohol at least 3 days a week.
4.Never exceed the 5 U limit.
Alcohol surrogates are alcohol-based liquids that are not meant to be taken orally. When using alcohol surrogates, poisoning develops, which often leads to death.
Alcohol surrogates
Alcohol surrogates are liquids containing alcohol that are not drinks. Once in the human body, they cause intoxication with severe health consequences.
Ethyl alcohol in the composition of surrogates may or may not be present. The ethanol group includes:
- Butyl alcohol.
- wood spirits.
- Denatured alcohol.
- Colognes.
- Varnish.
- Stain.
Surrogates are much more toxic than alcohol. So, wood spirits contain methanol, denatured alcohol contains aldehyde, polish contains a whole combination of various toxic alcohols. The stain contains chemical dyes, which, when ingested, cause blue skin and mucous membranes.
The second group includes "false surrogates":
- methanol.
- Ethylene glycol.
- Isopropanol.
- Clay BF.
- Dichloroethane.
Alcohol surrogates are dangerous because they no longer a large number of These fluids, when ingested, cause death.
Their toxic doses for the development of acute poisoning differ depending on the composition:
- methanol - 7-8 ml;
- ethylene glycol - 50 ml;
- polish - 50 ml;
- acetone - 30 ml;
- isopropanol - 0.5 - 2 ml / kg;
- glue BF - 20-50 ml.;
- dichloroethane - 5 ml.
Methanol is broken down in the human body to formic acid and formaldehyde. These substances are highly toxic and cause severe CNS damage. 7 ml. enough for acute poisoning with fainting and loss of vision. 50 cause lightning death.
Antifreeze is made from ethylene glycol, and in the body it decomposes into glycolic and oxalic acids, which are also highly toxic. If you drink half a glass of liquid, there will be acute poisoning with convulsions, impaired consciousness, difficulty breathing. 100 ml of antifreeze is a lethal dose.
Polish is a combination of ethanol, acetone and other alcohols and impurities, sometimes with the addition of aniline dyes. When drinking 50 ml. acute intoxication occurs with damage to all organs and systems, which can threaten a coma. 150 ml. enough to cause death.
Acetone, getting into the body, irritates the digestive tract, causes inflammation of the gastric mucosa. For acute intoxication, it is enough to drink 30 ml. substances, larger amounts can lead to death.
Severe poisoning with isopropanol occurs when ingested from 0.5 ml / kg. A person's pressure decreases, gastrointestinal disorders develop, he can fall into a coma. Dose in 240 ml. provokes death.
BF glue usually contains ethanol, acetone and chloroform, but its composition may vary. The toxic dose depends on the specific substance, but usually as little as 20 ml is enough to cause severe poisoning.
Dichloroethane provokes the strongest intoxication of the body - for this it is enough to drink only 5 ml, and sometimes even less. It affects almost all internal organs, leads to loss of consciousness, convulsions. Death occurs from 20 ml. substances.
Mechanism of toxicity
As part of alcoholic surrogates - highly toxic industrial alcohols. In addition, they may contain ethanol. Although it is drinking alcohol, but in combination with technical alcohol, it also becomes an extremely dangerous poison for humans.
The reasons for the intoxication of the body are associated with the effect of the indicated alcohols on the internal organs. Intoxication is the result of the poisoning effect of alcoholic poisons. If there are impurities in alcohol, there is a real threat to life.
Alcohol in the body breaks down to highly toxic acetaldehyde, and then to acetic acid. She subsequently turns into carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted by the kidneys and lungs. These processes consume all the reserves of carbohydrates in the liver.
Technical alcohols break down much longer than ethanol, continuing to circulate with the blood and poison organs. So, amyl alcohol is retained in the body for up to 50 hours. During this time, it disrupts the functionality of the heart muscle, which is fatal.
Regular consumption of industrial alcohols leads to a decrease in vascular tone. Microthrombi appear in the vessels, which leads to hypertension. Since toxic substances are excreted by the kidneys and liver, the cells of these organs die, and their insufficiency occurs.
On the video about alcohol surrogates and how to recognize a fake:
Signs and symptoms of acute poisoning
Signs of alcohol poisoning and its surrogates depend on their composition. If a person has consumed an ethanol-based liquid, the consequences will be less severe than those containing methanol and ethylene glycol. Intoxication with true surrogates is expressed in psychomotor agitation, redness of the face, increased salivation, sweating and euphoria.
However, symptoms of acute intoxication soon begin to appear:
- skin blanching;
- frequent urination;
- dilated pupils;
- dry mouth;
- lack of coordination;
- concentration of attention;
- incoherent speech.
Methanol poisoning is more dangerous. It is instantly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, causing the main damage to the nerves and kidneys.
Severe intoxication is given by the following signs:
- nausea with vomiting;
- visual impairment, up to blindness;
- weak intoxication;
- heat;
- dilated pupils;
- disturbances of consciousness;
- convulsions;
- disturbances in the work of the heart;
- hypotension;
- dry skin and mucous membranes.
After a couple of days, the whole body begins to hurt a person - the stomach, back, muscles, joints. He falls into a coma, then paralysis of the arms and legs develops.
Very quickly absorbed in the stomach and ethylene glycol. The main damage occurs in the liver and kidneys, which remove this substance from the body. Acute intoxication leads to disorders of the central nervous system, and signs of poisoning gradually increase.
The first 12 hours a person is in a state of intoxication and feels normal.
Then the central nervous system is affected and the following symptoms occur:
- nausea with vomiting;
- unquenchable thirst;
- diarrhea;
- cyanosis of mucous membranes and skin;
- headache;
- elevated temperature;
- respiratory disorders;
- tachycardia;
- motor excitation;
- fainting;
- convulsions.
After 2-5 days, the kidneys and liver fail. The skin turns yellow and begins to itch, the urine becomes dark, and urination gradually stops completely.
Diagnostics
To diagnose poisoning with true surrogates, the same methods are used as in the detection of ethanol intoxication. First, the doctor collects an anamnesis and examines the patient. If a person drank cologne, a characteristic smell from the mouth is recorded, if stained, his skin and mucous membranes are blue.
Additionally, hardware and laboratory studies are carried out. So, ECG helps to detect myocardial damage, heart rhythm disturbances. A venous blood test is also performed to identify the alcohols that the patient drank.
The difficulty in diagnosing intoxication with false surrogates lies in the fact that the patient is often in a coma. The doctor has to conduct a thorough survey of relatives. Reactions to methanol in the blood are also carried out.
Urgent care
In case of suspicion of poisoning with alcoholic surrogates, it is necessary to urgently call ambulance. Patients are most often in a coma, they require antidotes. Only a doctor can help in such cases, and every minute of inaction can cost a person a life.
The patient urgently needs gastric lavage, but it is better if it is performed by doctors. If you do this procedure yourself with plenty of drink and soda solutions, a person may choke.
The victim needs to loosen tight clothing so that he can breathe freely. He should be put on the bed with his head tilted to one side, otherwise he may choke on vomit. Raise your legs above your head, and with a chill - wrap the person with a blanket.
If the patient has stopped breathing, artificial respiration is required. It is better to collect vomit in a jar in order to provide them for analysis.
Treatment
Treatment of intoxication with surrogates involves the same measures as in alcoholic coma:
- Gastric lavage.
- Artificial ventilation of the lungs.
- The introduction of ethanol through a dropper.
- Preparations for the restoration of vision.
Gastric lavage is carried out through a probe, then sodium sulfate is administered to the patient. This procedure is periodically repeated for 2-3 days. To restore normal breathing, the patient is given pure oxygen and the lungs are artificially ventilated.
To prevent the oxidation of methanol and accelerate its excretion, the victim is injected with ethyl alcohol through a vein or give him brandy to drink. Since poisoning with alcohol surrogates is accompanied by vision problems, the patient is given lumbar punctures. He is also prescribed prednisolone, ATP, atropine and vitamins.
About 10-12 million Russians are consumers of surrogate alcohol. This figure is confirmed by the Center for Research of the Federal and Regional Alcohol Market.
Surrogate alcohol
Surrogate alcohol - various liquids used instead of alcoholic beverages, but not intended for ingestion.
Any surrogate contains a large number chemical substances capable of harming the human body.
Which liquids are surrogate and can be used for other purposes:
- Medicines and pharmacy tinctures (for example, the infamous Hawthorn tincture);
- Cosmetics (lotions, colognes);
- Technical fluids (ethyl alcohol for technical purposes);
- household chemicals and much more.
As they say, in Russia they drink everything that burns. If a person knows that the consumption of surrogate products in most cases leads to serious health consequences, why does this happen.
At-risk groups. Who uses a surrogate?
The low cost of a surrogate, no more than 50 rubles per bottle, also affects the descriptive characteristics of those who drink this alcohol.
Most often, a surrogate is used by people who do not have a fixed place of residence (homeless people) or people with a low level of income (the unemployed, on the verge of poverty, who have been abusing alcohol for a long time).
It is unlikely that a surrogate will be used by people with an average income, but this is also possible.
A low material level does not mean that a person is not aware of the consequences of using surrogate products. It's just that people in a difficult situation do not have the opportunity to buy a better product and buy what they have enough money for.
The task of society is to convey information about the dangers and dangers of using such products. One way to talk in plain language about the consequences.
The reaction of the body to the surrogate
There are several forms of alcohol intoxication: mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe. When using surrogate alcohol, even a mild form of intoxication can lead to irreversible consequences.
That is why, at the first sign of poisoning, it is necessary to call an ambulance.
What symptoms to look out for:
- severe, unbearable headache
- nausea and vomiting,
- dizziness, hallucinations, signs of delirium tremens
- dryness in the mouth and on the skin,
- abdominal pain, often sharp and throbbing
- bluish or icteric shade of the skin and mucous membranes,
- sudden blindness,
- cardiac arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure,
- respiratory failure, up to a complete cardiac arrest.
Symptoms may appear 10-30 minutes after consumption, either individually or several symptoms together.
What to do in case of poisoning with a surrogate?
The first and most important thing is to call an ambulance as soon as possible, explaining that poisoning with surrogate products has occurred. A person with this type of poisoning can only be helped by professional medical care. Self-detoxification can lead to sad consequences and even death.
While waiting for the team of doctors, it is recommended to do an immediate gastric lavage. At home, vomiting and drinking plenty of water will help. This method is recommended in the first hours after poisoning, and will not work if the victim is unconscious.
If an ambulance cannot reach you soon, try to get the victim as soon as possible. medical institution. In cases of poisoning by a surrogate, the bill can go on for hours and even minutes.
The introduction of the ban
In December 2016, a ban was introduced on the sale of non-food alcohol-containing products, which reduced the mortality rate from surrogate poisoning by 25%.
In April 2018, Rospotrebnadzor, on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation, extended the ban for another 180 days from April 20, 2018.
The number of violations in the field of illegal trade is also reduced. Rospotrebnadzor notes that, according to the results of work for the reporting period, a violation of the ban on retail trade in alcohol-containing non-food products was detected at every 4 facilities, at the end of 2017 - at every 54 checks.
The ban was introduced as a result of mass poisoning in the Irkutsk region. Then, several dozen people died from the consequences of using the Hawthorn tincture, and more than a hundred were injured.
Surrogate alcohol poisoning belongs to the category, which contains various impurities. It also includes poisoning with an alcoholic substitute based on other polyhydric or monohydric alcohols.
An alcohol surrogate is an alcohol-containing liquid that is not intended for ingestion. Therefore, this substance provokes such reactions and changes in the body that threaten not only health, but also life.
Alcohol surrogate intoxication is most often observed:
- in people suffering from alcoholism, who do not particularly care about the quality of the alcohol they drink,
- among adolescents who, for obvious reasons, cannot purchase high-quality alcoholic beverages,
- quite rarely this happens to adequate adults due to the fact that they mistakenly or unknowingly bought low-quality products.
Poisoning is usually accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea, hyperemia (reddening of the skin), loss of vision, and others. Sometimes psychosis develops, acute liver failure and everything can end in death.
To accurately diagnose, external symptoms are not enough. It is necessary to take special clinical samples, after which treatment is prescribed in the form of detoxification and restoration of the normal functioning of the affected organs.
Among other types of intoxication, surrogate alcohol poisoning occupies a leading position both in terms of distribution and in terms of the number of deaths. And often a person does not even have time to be hospitalized. Also, in most cases, everything ends with serious health problems.
Classification and toxicity of alcohol surrogates
There are two types of alcohol substitutes:
- True, which include ethanol with various impurities. The latter just cause poisoning.
- False, containing other alcohols, introducing into a state of intoxication. They themselves are toxic to the body.
The ethanol-containing group includes:
- denatured alcohol,
- cologne,
- butyl alcohol,
- wood spirits,
- stain,
- varnish.
The surrogate is much more toxic than ordinary alcohol, for example, there is aldehyde in denatured alcohol, methanol in wood, a whole “bouquet” of toxic alcohols in polish, and dyes in stain.
The group of false surrogates includes:
- glue bf,
- methanol,
- dichloroethane.
The toxicity of alcoholic surrogates is determined by the presence of technical alcohols in their composition. Although ethanol is a drinking liquid, in combination with other chemicals it becomes deadly to humans.
When an ordinary drink containing alcohol enters the body, the latter goes through a series of breakdowns, eventually turning into carbon dioxide and water. They are safely excreted by the lungs and the liver, which uses its carbohydrate reserves for this process.
With industrial alcohols, everything is not so simple, because they break down much longer than their "edible" counterparts, circulating in the blood and destroying internal organs. For example, amyl alcohol is not excreted for about two days, significantly undermining the work of the heart muscle, from which a person can die.
When alcohol surrogates are consumed regularly, vascular tone decreases, microthrombi are formed, which together provokes hypertension. Kidney and liver failure also occurs, because these organs remove toxins, due to which their tissues gradually die.
Toxic doses of false surrogates
The danger of a false surrogate for the body is that even a small amount of it can lead to death. The toxic dose of a substance depends on its composition:
- isopropanol - 0.5-2 ml / kg of weight,
- dichloroethane - 5 ml,
- methanol (methyl hydrate) - 7-8 ml,
- butyral-phenolic glue (BF) - 20-50 ml,
- acetone - 30 ml,
- polyura - 50 ml,
- ethylene glycol - 50 ml.
Severe intoxication occurs when 0.5 ml/kg of isopropanol is ingested. A person falls into a coma or he has a strong decrease in pressure and serious disturbances in the digestive tract. If 240 ml of this substance is drunk, death occurs.
Dichloroethane is the most toxic of these substances. 5 ml or even less is enough for it to hit all the internal organs, lead to convulsions and loss of consciousness. A dose of 20 ml is lethal.
As a result of the breakdown of methanol in the body, formaldehyde and formic acid are obtained, which are highly toxic and cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system. For an adult, 7 ml is enough to lose sight and lose consciousness, and 50 g of this substance causes instant death.
BF glue contains acetone, ethanol and chloroform. However, these are not permanent ingredients in its composition, but the toxic dose of the liquid depends on them. Usually 20 ml is enough for a person to feel a serious deterioration in well-being.
If acetone has entered the body, it strongly irritates the mucous digestive tract causing inflammation. To get poisoned, it is enough to drink 30 ml of this liquid. Exceeding this "limit" leads to death.
The polish combines acetone, ethanol, other impurities and alcohols, sometimes there are aniline dyes. 50 ml of this substance, getting inside the body, affects all systems and organs, leading to coma. Instant death causes the use of 150 ml of polish.
Ethylene glycol is broken down in the body into highly toxic oxalic and glycolic acids. 50 g of this liquid, taken internally, causes convulsions, impaired consciousness, difficulty breathing. If you drink 100 g - this is guaranteed death.
Symptoms of intoxication with true surrogates
Quite often, the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and its true surrogates are similar. However, depending on which components were included in the alcohol-containing drink, the signs may be supplemented by new factors or severity.
When hydrolysis alcohol is present in alcohol, it, like ethyl alcohol, provokes:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- dry mouth
- headache,
- dizziness.
If a person abuses alcohol-containing heart drugs, he develops bradycardia, since these drugs contain cardiac glycosides. When they are taken systematically and in large doses, this can lead to the development of acute heart failure.
When an alcohol-containing agent for external use is taken internally, it causes oxygen starvation of tissues. internal organs. Since anesthesin is often added to such substances, which prevents the delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs.
Signs of surrogate alcohol poisoning can be supplemented by:
- palpitations,
- bluish mucous membranes,
- the development of hepatitis
- gastritis.
When moonshine is abused, its fusel oils have a strong destructive effect on the liver, causing liver failure and cirrhosis.
Symptoms of intoxication with false surrogates
The composition of surrogate alcohol may include, which does not differ from ethyl alcohol in either taste or smell. However, just 100 ml of this liquid is enough to be fatal. Depending on individual sensitivity, this dose may vary downwards. And if a person also took ethanol, which is an antidote to methanol, the picture of intoxication can generally be blurred.
For this reason, alcoholics often interfere with these two types of alcohol. However, such "chemistry" is dangerous to health because, splitting in the body, methanol forms formic acid and formaldehyde. If they accumulate too much, it causes inevitable death.
How does it feel to replace ethyl alcohol with some technical one:
- pain in the stomach,
- nausea,
- prolonged vomiting,
- headache,
- visual impairment ("flies", "fog").
This is a mild form of intoxication. Symptoms can persist for up to several days, gradually fading away if the person no longer drinks surrogate alcohol.
The average severity of surrogate alcohol poisoning is accompanied by the same symptoms, but in a more pronounced form, and on the second day the person loses his sight. After a while, it can partially recover, and then again the abyss. For life, the average degree of intoxication does not pose a threat, but it is quite possible to become visually impaired.
A severe form of poisoning is supplemented by the following signs:
- stunned,
- drowsiness,
- intense thirst,
- temperature rise,
- dryness, bluish mucous membranes,
- skin hyperemia,
- leg pain,
- tachycardia followed by bradycardia
- shortness of breath,
- sudden rise and fall in blood pressure
- confusion,
- psychomotor agitation,
- convulsions.
With very severe intoxication with surrogate alcohol, a person has literally 2-3 hours between the appearance of the first signs of poisoning and irreversible damage to internal organs. If during this time the correct assistance was not provided, there is a violation of the work of the heart, lungs, the patient falls into a coma and dies.
How to help a person who has been poisoned by a substitute for alcohol
First aid poisoned by surrogate alcohol depends on his condition. If he lost consciousness, it is necessary:
- lay the victim on a hard, level surface,
- turn his head to one side so that he does not choke in case of vomiting,
- call the doctors.
If a person stops breathing, first you need to call an ambulance, and then carry out resuscitation procedures.
When the patient is conscious before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to give him:
- sorbent,
- saline laxative,
- jelly or other enveloping decoction.
After that, you need to take care of urgent hospitalization.
The hospital will take the following steps:
- Wash the stomach with a tube. If it is found out that the intoxication was due to methanol, this washing will be repeated for three days.
- They will give sorbents and an antidote, for example, a liquid with a strictly defined concentration of ethyl alcohol (intravenously or orally).
- When the poisoning was due to false surrogates, calcium gluconate will be administered to neutralize the decay products.
- Conduct forced diuresis, if there is no violation of the kidneys.
- With severe intoxication with a false surrogate, a kidney transplant may be required.
- If necessary, toxins from the blood will be removed by hemodialysis.
- To support the work of the body, various drugs and vitamins are administered intravenously.
- When intoxication was due to methanol, a spinal puncture is taken for testing.
Consequences of surrogate alcohol poisoning
Even if surrogate alcohol contains ethyl alcohol, to which the human body does not react so sharply, the consequences of intoxication even from this substance are often quite serious. What can we say about when people intentionally or mistakenly drink industrial alcohol.
The consequences in most cases are determined not by the amount of alcohol consumed, but by the timeliness and literacy of the assistance provided. There are more deaths among alcoholics, because their poisoning is much more severe than those who do not suffer from such an addiction.
With methanol intoxication, a person can become completely blind. Even after removing the poison, vision will not be restored. Also, false surrogates cause kidney failure. Those who are poisoned often die.
It is not difficult to protect yourself from surrogate alcohol poisoning. It is enough to buy certified products in trusted stores. In no case should you consume non-edible liquids, drink what is bought from your hands, or moonshine brewed at the nearest “point”. It is highly likely that in order to reduce the cost of the product or give it special properties, something that cannot be taken orally was added to it.
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