ALCOHOL
Facts About The Drug
What It Is
Names: Ethyl (beverage) alcohol, ethanol, booze.
Type: Central nervous system depressant
Forms: Clear absolute alcohol liquid diluted and/or blended as wine, beer, liquor(distilled spirits) or liqueur
Usage: Swallowed in drinks which may be blended or mixed with other spirits or non-alcoholic substances.
Legal Status: Legal, regulated by various state laws for purchase eligibility and distribution location
Other Forms: Small amounts used in products such as mouthwash and cough medicine. Non-beverage isopropyl and methyl alcoholics as "alley juice" drinks for street alcoholics and teenagers.
What It Feels Like
Initial relaxed and/or sociable feeling may be replaced with depression, anger, loss of control, and drowsiness. Effects vary with the individual.
What It Does
To Your Mind: Lowers ability of the brain to control behavior and impairs your ability to perform motor skills such as driving.
To Your Body: Lessens ability to move or speak effectively
Special Characteristics: Food or drink does not change on going effects. One "shot" equals one glass of wine or beer. Effects vary by size of person related to blood absorption capacity, amount of food in the stomach, built up tolerance level and other factors. There is no known cure for the next day withdrawal "hangover."
How It Can Hurt You
Memory loss. Hypothermia. Decreased sex drive, impotence, menstrual problems, liver and kidney damage. General stomach and intestine damage. Lack of ability to feel pain, coma, susceptibility to alcohol related diseases, anxiety, insomnia, socially unacceptable behavior. Brain damage, affected walk. Depletion of vitamins and nutrients.
Death from inability to breath, heart failure, severe withdrawal effects, interaction with other drugs, driving while under the influence, suicide. Aspiration of vomit leading to asphyxiation or pneumonia is not uncommon.
Dependence can be both emotional and physical.
Unborn children of drinking mothers may be affected by mental retardation, deformities, and heart defects.
When To Get Help
- Do you think you're more witty and attractive when you drink?
- Do you think about how and when you're going to drink again?
- Is your job performance affected by your drinking?
- Has your health changed?
- Are you spending more money on booze?
- Do family and friends mention your drinking to you?
- Do you stop and start drinking to test yourself?
- Are you a weekend binge drinker?
- Have you been stopped for drunk driving?
One "yes" and your common sense is all it takes to know it's time to get smart about alcohol and the rest of your life.
Fact: It's estimated that one in 20 Americans has an alcohol dependency problem. Of all the drugs in the world, alcohol and tobacco remain the top two killers.
Return to the Education Page.
