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Alcohol inhalation

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Alcohol inhalation is a method of administering ethanol or alcoholic beverages directly into the respiratory system, with aid of a vaporizing or nebulizing device. It is chiefly applied for recreational use, when it is also referred to as alcohol smoking, but it has medical applications for testing on laboratory rats and treatment of pulmonary edema in humans.

Recreational use

To inhale alcohol, it must be first converted from liquid into gaseous state (vapor) or aerosol (mist). For recreational use, a variety of methods have been invented. Alcohol can be vaporized by pouring it over dry ice in a narrow container and inhaling with a straw. Another method is to pour alcohol in a corked bottle with a pipe, and then use a bicycle pump to make a spray. Alcohol can be vaporized using a simple container and open-flame heater.[1] Medical devices such as asthma nebulizers and inhalators were also reported as means of application.[2]

The practice gained popularity in 2004, with marketing of the device dubbed AWOL (Alcohol without liquid), a play on the military term AWOL (Absent Without Leave).[3] AWOL, created by British businessman Dominic Simler,[3] was first introduced in Asia and Europe, and then in United States in August 2004. AWOL was used by nightclubs, at gatherings and parties, and it garnered attraction as a novelty, as people 'enjoyed passing it around in a group'.[4]

AWOL was gimmicked as an alcohol "vaporizer", implying that it would heat the liquid until it entered a gaseous state, but is in fact a nebulizer, a machine that agitates the liquid into an aerosol. AWOL's official website, states that "AWOL and AWOL 1 are powered by Electrical Air Compressors while AWOL 2 and AWOL 3 are powered by electrical oxygen generators",[5] which refer to a couple of mechanisms used by the nebulizer drug delivery device for inhalation. Although the AWOL machine is marketed as having no downsides, such as the lack of calories or hangovers, Amanda Shaffer of Slate describes these claims as "dubious at best".[3] Although inhaled alcohol does reduce the caloric content, the savings are minimal.[6]

After expressed safety and health concerns, sale or use of AWOL machines was banned in a number of American states.[7]

The AWOL device was later followed by new products for alcohol inhalation, such as "Vaportini", created in 2009, which uses simple thermal vaporization.[8]

Effects and health concerns

There are possible health and safety risks of inhaling alcohol vapor. Inhalation devices make it "substantially easier to overdose on alcohol" than drinking, because the alcohol bypasses the stomach and liver and goes directly into the bloodstream, and because the user does not have a reliable way of determining how much alcohol they have taken in. Inhaled alcohol cannot be purged from the body by vomiting, which is the body's main protection against alcohol poisoning. Inhaled alcohol can dry out nasal passages and make them more susceptible to infection.[9] There is also a potential increased risk of addiction.[1][3] Direct inhalation may cause nerve damage, brain swelling and, in the long term, dementia.[4]

Medical applications

Inhalation of vapor obtained by nebulization water and ethanol in oxygen has been used in treatment of pulmonary edema in humans.[10] Alcohol vapor acts as an anti-foaming agent in the lungs, so the sputum becomes more liquid, and can be easily expelled. The method has also been used to reduce the alcohol withdrawal syndrome in patients who had intestinal tract surgeries.[11]

Regulation

In the United States, many state legislatures have banned alcohol inhalation machines.[12] Support for such legislation comes from groups fighting underage drinking and drunk driving, including alcohol companies such as Diageo[13] and industry groups such as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), among others.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Glatter, Robert (June 21, 2013). "The Dangers Of "Smoking" Alcohol". Forbes. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  2. ^ Breene, Sophia (June 12, 2013), Would You Smoke a Beer? Why People Are Inhaling Alcohol, Greatist.com
  3. ^ a b c d Schaffer, Amanda (September 8, 2004). "Vaporize Me". Slate. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Inhaling alcohol may 'harm brain'". BBC. February 16, 2004.
  5. ^ "AWOL Official page: AIR POWERED AWOL MACHINES".
  6. ^ Palmer, Brian (June 18, 2013). "Can You Inhale Calories?". Slate. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "Citing Safety, States Ban Alcohol Inhalers". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 8, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  8. ^ Richler, Jacob (July 16, 2013). "Vaportini doesn't live up to the hype". Maclean's. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Castillo, Michelle (June 5, 2013). "Inhaling alcohol vapor puts you at risk of overdose". CBS News. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Treatment of pulmonary edema". JAMA. 1 (154): 62. 1954. doi:10.1001/jama.1954.02940350064019.
  11. ^ Peng Zhang; et al. "Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor Driven by Oxygen is a Useful Therapeutic Method for Postoperative Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in a Patient with Esophageal Cancer: a Case Report". Alcohol and Alcoholism. 46 (4): 424–426. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agr037.
  12. ^ "Citing Safety, States Ban Alcohol Inhalers". AP. New York Times. October 8, 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Diageo Supports Ban on 'Alcohol Without Liquid' (AWOL) Machines". Diageo/PR Newswire. January 26, 2005.

Further reading

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