Ethanol increases opioid activity in plasma of normal volunteers.

The effect of acute ethanol administration on plasma levels of beta-endorphin-immunoreactivity and opioid activity was measured in 4 normal volunteers. 60 min following ethanol consumption opioid activity levels, measured by radioreceptorassay, increased significantly with peak rises of more than 400%; levels of beta-endorphin-immunoreactivity did not change significantly. These results are compatible with the effect of the opiate-antagonist naloxone, reversing ethanol-induced coma.