Menu
close
24 Hour Crisis Care
Services
Did you know that our reaction time is built into us? Just like our fight-or-flight response, our reaction time to particular stimuli saved our lives back in the early days of man. Back then, our survival depended on catching food, avoiding predators, and saving our children from harsh environments. Today, that reaction time is just as important as it ever was. We need it to drive, to be good at our jobs, and to continue to protect our families.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, there are many outside factors that influence the strength of that reaction time, and there are more accidents, injuries, and deaths because of it. The largest thing impacting our precious instincts? Alcohol. But why? How does alcohol affect our reaction time?
As of 2020, over half of Delaware’s population drinks alcohol at least once a month. While one drink for women and two drinks for men per day is considered safe, consuming more than that puts people at risk for delayed reaction times. At SUN Behavioral Delaware, we’ve seen the consequences that stem from this firsthand.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it works to slow parts of the brain and our cognitive functioning. It does this by depressing the central nervous system, which causes changes in the way we move, our inhibitions, and even our speech. Because of this, alcohol poisoning (or having too much alcohol in your system) can cause respiratory failure and even death. Alcohol might give us the rush of dopamine (the chemical messenger that makes us feel happy) in the moment, but too much of it isn’t good for the brain or the body.
Imagine the brain as a collection of roads (or pathways) and your thoughts are cars. These roads help your thoughts tell your body what to do, whether that’s scratching your head, walking, sitting down, sleeping, and more. Metaphorically speaking, alcohol makes these roads slippery, so your thoughts become reckless drivers. In other words, the communication between your brain and your body becomes unpredictable. This is what creates things like slurred speech or lower reaction times.
Metaphors aside, most of us know it’s not okay to drink and (actually) drive. Not just because it’s illegal, but because of how dangerous it can be. In Delaware, 30% of all fatal car accidents are connected to drinking and driving. This is happening for two reasons. The first reason is that alcohol lowers our inhibitions and judgment. Someone might be against drunk driving when they’re sober, but when they become intoxicated, they choose to drive.
The second reason is that, once they’re on the road with alcohol in their system, they can’t react to things like quick lane changes, someone cutting them off, or merging on time. They’re also more likely to speed or violate traffic laws while intoxicated. The combination of lowered inhibitions and slowed reaction time causes car accidents, severe injuries, and even death.
If someone is a high-functioning alcoholic, they may be so accustomed to working or living their lives while intoxicated that they’re unaware of how alcohol has affected their reflexes. This could mean they’re more likely to drive a car while under the influence. This is just as dangerous as someone who is “obviously” drunk getting behind the wheel.
Most of the time, we react immediately to dangerous stimuli – especially while driving. It’s what allows us to avoid accidents. Sure, there are other things that play a small role in our driving instincts, like hunger, fatigue, or even a caffeine crash, but nothing impacts reaction time the way alcohol does. And it doesn’t take a lot, either.
In order to be legally allowed to drive, someone’s blood alcohol limit needs to be under .08%. After .08%, our reaction time slows down by 120 milliseconds. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s enough to cause someone to drift from their lane or fail to slow down when another car cuts them off. The more a person drinks, the longer their reaction time becomes. Driving after binge drinking is especially dangerous.
If you or someone you love is having a hard time controlling how much alcohol you drink (or how often you drink), it might be time to seek treatment. At SUN Behavioral Delaware, we know that every patient’s healing journey is unique. That’s why we offer a large variety of treatment programs for alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol detox happens in the first 72 hours after your last drink. It’s the process your body goes through to flush the alcohol out of its system. During this time, your body works hard to rid itself of any toxins left behind. This is when withdrawal symptoms usually start, peak, and subside.
SUN Behavioral Health’s Alcohol Detox happens during this time. You’ll come in and meet with one of our clinicians to be assessed for your needs and to create some goals for yourself. People who choose detox stay in our facility so we can monitor their condition, treat their withdrawal symptoms, and help them heal safely and efficiently.
Inpatient treatment provides patients with a stable and supportive environment. Here, they can focus on their recovery while being surrounded by trained and licensed professionals and others who are going through the same thing.
During inpatient treatment, patients stay on sight at the rehab facility 24/7. They get to experience a wide variety of activities and programs during their day from individual therapy sessions and group sessions to activities such as yoga or hobbies that help rebuild new habits and focus the mind on healing.
If inpatient treatment doesn’t work for your schedule or lifestyle, outpatient and PHP can help. Outpatient programs can also act as a stepping stone between inpatient and the end of treatment. This type of care usually does not require patients to stay at the facility while being treated. When visiting the facility, patients spend time in customized sessions throughout the day. This can be beneficial for full-time employees seeking treatment because it allows patients to continue to maintain a life outside of treatment.
If you or someone you know is living with an alcohol use disorder and is experiencing the side effects of alcoholism, SUN Behavioral Health Delaware can help. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our available treatment options, call us today at 302-604-5600 so we can help you get your life back.
The first reason is that alcohol lowers our inhibitions and judgment. Someone might be against drunk driving when they’re sober, but when they become intoxicated, they choose to drive.
The second reason is that, once they’re on the road with alcohol in their system, they can’t react to things like quick lane changes, someone cutting them off, or merging on time. They’re also more likely to speed or violate traffic laws while intoxicated. The combination of lowered inhibitions and slowed reaction time causes car accidents, severe injuries, and even death.
Reaction time can be impacted after as little as one alcoholic beverage. This means 12 oz. of beer, 1.5 oz. of spirits, or 5 oz. of wine.
The communication between your brain and your body becomes unpredictable when alcohol is present in your system. This is what creates things like slurred speech or lower reaction times. It’s also what can cause you to think time is moving more slowly.
21655 Biden Ave
Georgetown, DE, 19947
Open 24 hours
SUN Delaware
