Alcohol affects many different organs within the body and can be harmful to the body on many levels if consumed heavily on an ongoing basis. But when it comes time to detox the body of alcohol, it’s not always a simple endeavor. Many negative side effects, including hazardous ones like delirium tremens, can happen as a result of unhealthy detoxification from alcohol.
Whether it’s to completely detox from alcohol or to know when the effects of one night will wear off, it’s important to know how long alcohol can and will stay in your system. Like other addictive substances, alcohol is stored in the body and requires time to fully purge. This is why it’s most commonly recommended that anyone looking to detox from alcohol should pursue medical assistance.
How Long Will Alcohol Stay in Your Body?
A typical, healthy human liver will digest one drink per hour. A drink is defined as:
- One 1.5 ounces “shot” of hard liquor or distilled spirits (40% alcohol content)
- 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)
- 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content)
However, these numbers often don’t reflect the reality of a lot of alcoholic beverages. The ratios may be off based on the beverage, and every additional drink adds another hour to the time when the liver is finished processing the alcohol.
In regards to testing for alcohol in the body, the standards are a bit different. Alcohol stays in different parts of the body (sometimes in trace amounts) much longer than one hour.
Alcohol stays in different parts of the body at the following rates:
- Blood: One hour per drink, as processed by the liver.
- Urine: Around 80 hours.
- Breast Milk: About two to three hours per drink.
- Hair: About three months.
These disparate amounts of breakdown all have to do with how alcohol works through the body. When asking how long alcohol stays in your system, the answer depends on how much alcohol and how frequently the drinking took place.
When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. From there, it is transported to the liver, where the majority of alcohol metabolism and breakdown occurs.
In the liver, enzymes break down alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct. Acetaldehyde is further metabolized and then broken down into carbon dioxide and water. This is finally eliminated from the body through urine, breath, and sweat. The rate at which alcohol is metabolized is influenced by factors such as age, gender, body weight, liver function, and the presence of other substances in the body. Excessive alcohol consumption can overwhelm the liver’s capacity to metabolize alcohol, leading to elevated blood alcohol levels. This raises the chances of lingering damage to the body, which can be very visible in end-stage alcoholism.
The process of alcohol leaving the body involves several stages of metabolism and elimination. This is all influenced by factors like the amount of alcohol consumed, body weight, a person’s gender, age, liver function, and if/how much food is in their stomach. For example, larger individuals may metabolize alcohol more quickly than smaller individuals due to differences in body composition and liver size. Men typically metabolize alcohol more efficiently than women, as women tend to have lower levels of the enzymes necessary to break down alcohol (and tend to be smaller in size than men).
Typically, the body metabolizes alcohol at a relatively constant rate of about 0.015 grams per deciliter (g/dL) per hour, which is equivalent to approximately one standard drink per hour for most individuals. This means that it takes about one hour for the body to metabolize one standard drink, which is equivalent to approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol. Therefore, if a person consumes two drinks, it will take about two hours for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to return to zero. It typically takes the body several hours to completely metabolize and eliminate alcohol from the bloodstream.
However, it’s essential to note that individual variation can significantly affect alcohol metabolism and elimination. Factors such as liver function, hydration levels, and the presence of other substances in the body can all influence the rate at which alcohol is processed and eliminated. If a person has an alcohol addiction, their body will process things differently than if they’ve never drank before.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?
Alcohol affects nearly all systems of the body but in very different ways. When people say that alcohol is a depressant, this doesn’t just refer to how it affects mood. Alcohol also has this effect on the central nervous system, slowing down brain function and altering neurotransmitter activity. This is what leads to effects such as relaxation, impaired judgment, and reduced coordination. But this can also lead to adverse effects when trying to detox from alcohol, including the neurological phenomenon of delirium tremens.
Drinking alcohol increases the release of dopamine, producing feelings of pleasure and euphoria. But this also affects other neurotransmitters, which can contribute to mood swings and cognitive impairment. Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration, disrupting electrolyte balance and impairing kidney function. It can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting, and inflammation of the stomach lining.
But alcohol also affects the body over time, and sometimes in even more severe ways. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver damage, cardiovascular problems, weakened immune function, and an increased risk of various cancers. Alcohol consumption can also impair sleep quality, disrupt hormone balance, and contribute to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic condition characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption despite negative consequences on physical health, mental well-being, and social functioning. Individuals with alcoholism may experience cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms when attempting to cut down or stop drinking. The disorder often progresses in severity over time, leading to significant impairment in various areas of life, including work, relationships, and daily activities. Alcoholism is associated with a range of health risks, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and mental health disorders.
Treatment for alcoholism typically involves a combination of individual therapy, medication, and support groups (sometimes in the form of group therapy) to help individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. Early intervention and support are essential for preventing its long-term consequences. Relapse prevention should also be addressed to ensure there’s no chance of recurring damage.
Signs of Alcoholism
As someone becomes more of a chronic drinker, they will likely develop a tolerance for alcohol’s effects. This is just one of many signs that someone is developing an addiction to alcohol.
Some symptoms of heavy drinking, such as regular headaches, differ by the individual and their body’s reaction to alcohol. But in terms of behavior, there are a few universally accepted signs of alcohol addiction:
- Increased consumption of alcohol to feel the same effects
- Withdrawal symptoms (such as shaking hands) when taking breaks from drinking
- Defensive attitude when confronted about drinking
- Hiding evidence of drinking (such as empty containers)
- Using alcohol to alter mood
- Continuing to drink despite acknowledging adverse effects on their life
- Drinking more or for longer than originally planned
- Inability to stop using alcohol (despite desiring to do so)
- Using alcohol to cope with stress or circumstances
- Drinking alcohol during risky situations, such as driving
- Not meeting personal, relational, or professional obligations
If you feel like you can’t stop using alcohol despite your best efforts to do so, it’s important to reach out and ask for help. It’s best to pursue medically-assisted detox to purge alcohol out of your system — it’s not safe to quit drinking alcohol “cold turkey.” Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal if not conducted properly and under medical supervision, especially if the person looking to quit is a chronic heavy drinker.
Recover From Alcoholism with Principles Recovery Center
Alcohol can stay in the human body for a long time, which is one reason why alcohol use disorder is so harmful to the body. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, there is hope for recovery. Here at Principles Recovery, we work to create specialized treatment plans to help empower your journey to sobriety. Evidence-based therapy and relapse prevention work together to affirm your journey.
Contact us today to learn more about how to recover from alcoholism and start a new life of sobriety.
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