The Problem of Alcohol

By Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D. of Weimar Institute

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Those who linger long at the wine…At last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Your eyes shall see strange things and your heart utter perverse things." (Proverbs 23:29-35)

Alcohol is made by fermentation of starch or sugar by yeast.

• 100 proof=50% ethyl alcohol (in water) by volume.
• Cereals produce ales, beers, gins, and whiskey.
• Grapes produce wines and brandy.
• Apples produce ciders.

Twelve ounces of beer=3 ounces of wine=1 ounce of whiskey.

One million Americans are drinkers; 10% of these are problem drinkers and are alcohol dependent.

Chronic exposure to alcohol damages the stomach, liver, brain, and heart – the major organs it touches.

Alcohol enters the blood stream from the stomach and goes to the liver first. The liver begins to detoxify the alcohol at a maximum rate of 5 ml of alcohol/hour. While the liver is detoxifying alcohol, it may use up key energy chemicals and deplete vitamin stores. The metabolism of food is delayed and impaired. The elevated blood levels start to damage the delicate nerves.

If You Use Alcoholic Beverages, Don't Be Surprised if You…

• Get chronic gastritis and even get stomach cancer.
• Have nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Develop fatty infiltration of the liver with eventual cirrhosis.
• Get impairment of motor function and mental function.
• Suffer from fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and have delirium tremens.
• Get acute brain intoxication and even lose your mind.
• Have loss of common sense, touch and hearing.
• Have poor muscle coordination, yet don't realize it.
• Are seven times more likely to die in an accident.
• Are 58 times more likely to commit suicide.
• Suffer irreversible brain damage, Korsakoff's, and/or Wernicke's disease.
• Be admitted to a mental hospital.
• Develop high blood pressure.
• Suffer direct damage of heart muscle, get an enlarged flabby heart, and begin to get shortness of breath on exertion.
• Be unable to make economic progress.
• Lose your job.
• Abuse your spouse and family.
• End up existing on skid row.
• Go into a coma and die or suffer exposure to the elements.

Copyright © 1995-2002 Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D., Weimar Institute, Weimar, CA 95736. All rights Reserved.