It Begins Damaging the Body Within Six Hours!
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın, Vice Rector of Yeditepe University and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, highlighted the serious risks posed by counterfeit alcohol and provided essential guidance on recognizing and responding to poisoning cases.
"Counterfeit Alcohol May Still Carry a Tax Stamp"
İçkinin renginden, kokusundan veya tadından sahte olup olmadığının anlaşılamayacağını belirten Prof. Dr. Aydın, şu açıklamaları yaptı:
“Sahte içki, yasal üretim süreçleri dışında, etil alkol yerine metil alkol kullanılarak üretilen alkollü içkidir. İçkinin sahte olup olmadığı, yalnızca laboratuvar testleriyle anlaşılabilir. Bu testlerle, içkinin zehirli olan metil alkol mü yoksa etil alkol mü içerdiği tespit edilebilir. Biliyoruz ki, alkollü içkiler yasal yollarla üretildikten sonra bandrollenerek piyasaya sürülür. Ancak, bir şişenin bandrollü olması, mutlaka yasal yollarla üretildiği ve sahte olmadığı anlamına gelmez. Piyasada sahte bandrol kullanımı vakalarına da rastlanmaktadır. Dikkat edilmesi gereken bir diğer riskli konu ise evde içki üretimidir. Evde yapılan içkilerde kullanılan alkolün etil mi yoksa metil mi olduğu genellikle bilinemez. Bu nedenle, farkında olmadan metil alkolle üretilen içkiler ciddi sağlık sorunlarına, hatta yaşam kayıplarına yol açmaktadır.”
"Be Wary of Cheap Alcohol"
Highlighting the risks associated with inexpensive alcohol, Prof. Dr. Aydın warned:
"Methyl alcohol, a cheaper alternative often used in counterfeit alcohol, is metabolized in the body into formic acid. This disrupts the neutral pH balance of the blood, leading to acidosis—a condition that causes severe damage to cells and organs and can ultimately result in death."
"Even Half a Glass Can Be Fatal"
Prof. Dr. Aydın emphasized that the first six hours following alcohol consumption are critical and shared the following information:
"Six hours after consuming counterfeit alcohol, symptoms such as blurred vision may begin to appear. However, the more severe signs of poisoning typically emerge 10 to 24 hours after consumption. If untreated, alcohol poisoning can lead to serious outcomes such as vision loss or even complete blindness. The severity of poisoning depends on the degree of acidosis in the body. The primary symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion, balance and motor coordination issues, headaches, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, back, arm, and leg pain, vision disturbances, blindness, and, if untreated, coma or respiratory failure resulting in death. As little as half a tea glass (approximately 30 ml) of pure methanol can be lethal. Once symptoms of poisoning manifest, inducing vomiting is ineffective. However, vomiting within the first hour of alcohol ingestion can be beneficial. In cases of poisoning, early diagnosis and immediate intervention at a hospital are vital to saving lives."
"Ensuring Antidote Supplies in Emergency Services Is Crucial for Saving Lives"
Emphasizing the critical need for immediate medical intervention, Prof. Dr. Aydın stated:
"Hospital blood tests can swiftly detect methanol in the system. Once identified, targeted treatments are initiated to counteract acidosis alongside the administration of antidotes. Emergency departments adhere to standardized protocols to ensure effective care.
Maintaining well-stocked and up-to-date antidote supplies in emergency units is vital, as they play a lifesaving role in such cases."