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EtOH is a medical abbreviation for ethyl alcohol and is also used to talk about regular alcoholic drinks as a way to avoid using the actual term. Interestingly, the term represents the chemical name for ethanol, but it is being used to describe a blend of beverages we have labelled alcoholic drinks.
The abbreviation is used by medical professionals and emergency responders. However, it has also been increasingly a slang term for alcoholic drinks and, more commonly, alcohol abuse.
Some people are using it as a fun slang term but there is also a trend of using it to cover up or avoid using upsetting or socially unacceptable terms such as alcoholism or alcoholic.
The expression EtOH is mostly used to talk about the EtOH test used to determine how drunk a person is or to discuss alcohol abuse.
This is a useful way to hide or 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 with maintaining privacy.
There are advantages and disadvantages to these methods of hiding alcohol misuse from sight. Many people who struggle with alcoholism and their families are ashamed of having the 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 find better ways to hide the issue.
There is a serious current of social anxiety and stigma around alcoholism and particularly serious cases of addiction. Many people choose to stay in a residential rehab to avoid the social exposition that comes with public outpatient services.
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 also comes from an EtOH test, which checks how drunk someone is by measuring the ethanol level in their body. It is also called a blood alcohol test. It is used by medical and law enforcement to determine how intoxicated a person is. This can be done for various reasons, such as drunk driving, disorderly behaviour and performing restricted activities while under the influence of alcohol.
Another group that uses this expression is the EtOH database, a widespread resource used in the USA on the subject of 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 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, which represents 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.
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 is 96% ethanol alcohol. It is not drunk 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.
Alcohol use may be decreasing, but 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 phrase to avoid stigma and its use in law enforcement could be a sign that more people are concerned about high levels of alcohol use and illegal behaviour as a result.
