What is Ethanol: A Guide to Its Usage in Alcohol and Medicine
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Understanding what is ethanol can provide clarity on many discussions surrounding alcohol. EtOH is a medical abbreviation for ethyl alcohol and is often used to reference regular alcoholic drinks. This terminology is a practical way to avoid directly using the term ‘alcohol’. While EtOH denotes the chemical name for ethanol, it’s interesting to note that it is commonly used to describe a range of alcoholic beverages we normally consume.
Who is using the term EtOH?
The abbreviation is used by medical professionals and emergency responders. However, it has also become a slang term for alcoholic drinks and, more commonly, alcohol abuse.
Some people are using it as a fun slang term, but there is a trend of using it to cover up or avoid using upsetting or socially unacceptable terms such as alcoholism or alcoholic.
How is EtOH Being Used by the Public?
The expression EtOH is mostly used to discuss the EtOH test, which determines how drunk a person is or addresses alcohol abuse.
This is a useful way to disguise discussions about alcoholism and alcohol abuse. In a world where our search history and interests are often shared, using a discrete word like EtOH can help maintain privacy.
There are advantages and disadvantages to these methods of concealing alcohol misuse from sight. Many people struggling with alcoholism and their families feel ashamed of their problem. Shielding their issues and treatment from public view can offer respite and avoid stigma.
On the other hand, 64% of people with alcoholism report feeling lonely or isolated by their condition. Considering this, it may be more important to tackle the social bias against people with alcohol problems than devise ways to hide the issue.
What is EtOH Rehab?
There is a serious current of social anxiety and stigma around alcoholism, particularly in severe cases of addiction. Many people choose to stay in a residential rehab to avoid social exposure that comes with public outpatient services.
How is EtOH Used by UK Medical Professionals?
EtOH is a medical abbreviation, but it can be used in multiple ways. Not only to describe ethanol alcohol, which is widely used in medical settings, but also intoxicated patients. Paramedics, nurses, doctors and other emergency responders use several ‘code’ words to refer to controversial or sensitive situations on charts.
This is not just a way to avoid making embarrassing or uncomfortable descriptions but also a way to avoid stigma. It might come up on a chart or report as EtOH positive or EtOH on board to mean the person has alcohol in their system.
It emerges from an EtOH test, checking how drunk someone is by measuring the ethanol level in their body. Also called a blood alcohol test, it is used by medical and law enforcement to determine how intoxicated a person is. This is conducted for various reasons, such as drunk driving, disorderly behaviour and performing restricted activities while under the influence of alcohol.
The Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database
Another group that uses this expression is the EtOH database, a widespread resource used in the USA about alcohol and alcohol-related problems. It offers a way for people to search for journals, books and studies about alcohol. The issues addressed include psychological, physiological, social, legal, and scientific concerns.
EtOH in Science
EtOH is a chemical abbreviation similar to H2O that has gained popularity outside of scientific and medical circles. The short form of ethanol consists of a compound of Et, representing ethyl, and OH hydroxyl. It is a colourless liquid used in its purer form for fuel. It is used in a wide range of ways in its stronger forms but also diluted to make alcoholic drinks across the world.
What Kind of Ethanol Is Used in Drinks?
The EtOH in alcoholic drinks is distilled or fermented. The world’s strongest alcoholic drink is Polmos Spirytus, a Polish spirit used to make vodka and consists of 96% ethanol alcohol. It is not consumed straight, as it would be dangerous, but diluted with other beverages. The lowest alcohol drinks are 0.5-1.2 alcohol volume and are usually sold as low alcohol versions or are fermented drinks where the low level of EtOH is the result of fermentation, such as ginger beer.
Why Should We Be Concerned About EtOH Abuse?
Although alcohol use may be decreasing, addiction and deaths from alcohol misuse are increasing. Statistics show that in the UK, young people are drinking less overall. However, this doesn’t coincide with a drop in the number of people seeking help for alcohol addiction or the volume of alcohol-related deaths, which is up by 18.6%. Familiarity with EtOH as a medical term, and as a phrase to avoid stigma and its use in law enforcement, could suggest more people are concerned about high levels of alcohol use and illegal behaviour as a result.
