A drug is any substance that alters how a person’s body and mind work. Since alcohol fits this definition, it is considered a drug.
While alcohol may not be what comes to mind when you think of drugs, it actually is. A drug is technically a substance that creates a physiological effect when introduced into the body. Alcohol fits this description, making it a drug.
Alcohol – Is It Considered a Drug?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “A drug is any substance that can change how a person’s body and mind work.” Alcohol fits this description, altering your mind and body’s function. Because alcohol creates chemical changes that disrupt your body’s normal functioning, it is technically considered a drug.
If It’s a Drug, Why Isn’t Alcohol Illegal?
Not all drugs are illegal, and many are used legally for medicinal purposes. Alcohol (and increasingly marijuana) is unique because it is legally used primarily for recreational purposes. While most recreational drugs are illegal due to their high propensity for creating addiction, alcohol is not.
Legalizing recreational drugs has always been a contentious issue, as seen in efforts to legalize marijuana. The legal status of alcohol used to be a controversial issue, and during Prohibition, alcohol was legally outlawed in the U.S. between 1920–1933.
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What Is the Definition of a Drug?
When we look at the definition of a drug as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, it is referred to as: “something, often an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation or a marked change in consciousness.” When approached by pure definition, alcohol clearly fits the bill of a drug in all classifications.
Why Is Alcohol Addictive?
Alcohol stimulates the release of chemicals in the brain called endorphins. These chemicals cause a sensation of pleasure and are released naturally by the brain to reinforce behaviors necessary for survival. This promotes eating high-energy food, reproducing and socializing with others.
Endorphin release by using alcohol is entirely artificial, caused solely by a chemical reaction in the brain. Additionally, the amount of endorphins is much higher than what would be released naturally. This artificially high quantity of endorphins affects the brain, strongly reinforcing it to seek alcohol again. When you use alcohol again, it further supports it, leading to an ever-building cycle that causes addiction to develop.
Comparisons of Alcohol With Other Drugs
Compared to other drugs, alcohol can, in some ways, be even more dangerous. Some important facts about alcohol compared to other drugs include:
- Alcohol is the most widely used addictive drug in the U.S.
- Alcohol withdrawal is more hazardous than any other form of drug withdrawal.
- Alcohol is the most socially acceptable addictive drug in the U.S.
- Like other drugs, fatal overdoses are possible with alcohol use.
While alcohol is legal and a commonly used social drink, it is still an addictive drug and carries many of the same dangers as other addictive drugs.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?
Alcohol absorbs into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine, then it makes its way to the brain as it affects the central nervous system. According to California State, about 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach, and most of the other 80% is absorbed through the small intestine.
Once alcohol hits the brain, it interrupts the part of the brain that controls consciousness, heart rate and breathing patterns. This can cause slower reaction times and loss of coordination.
As the body starts to try to metabolize alcohol through the liver, the liver becomes unable to keep up as it can only process so much at a time. Drinking steadily or heavily creates a high blood alcohol concentration in the body, making a person feel drunk.
The depressant effects of alcohol can entirely overwhelm the body and its defense system, causing people to be unable to think or move clearly.
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
- Impaired judgment
- Loss of inhibition
- Slurring speech
- Loss of balance
- Blackout
- Alcohol poisoning
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Delirium Tremens (DTs)
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
- Depression
- Brain damage
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- Liver Disease
- Sexually Related Disorders
- Cancer
Alcohol Addiction and Dependency
Addiction and dependency are related but separate potential consequences of long-term alcohol use. Addiction happens when the chemical effects of alcohol use cause a cycle where drinking alcohol causes an increased desire to use alcohol again.
Alcohol dependency often occurs when addiction is present but can develop even when someone doesn’t have an addiction but still uses alcohol heavily. When alcohol is constantly present in the bloodstream, your brain will eventually become more hyperactive to balance out the suppressing effect of alcohol.
The increased hyperactivity of the brain restores normal function when alcohol is present but makes the brain “dependent” on alcohol. When alcohol’s effect is suddenly removed, the hyperactivity of the brain is no longer balanced and creates many symptoms until the brain can readjust. Dependency is what ultimately leads to withdrawal symptoms.
Risks of Alcohol Overdose
Like other drugs, it is possible to overdose on alcohol. Often called “alcohol poisoning,” an alcohol overdose is a life-threatening event that can occur when you drink too much within a short period, alcohol is combined with other drugs or your body doesn’t process alcohol quickly enough.
Symptoms of an alcohol overdose can include:
- Confusion
- Difficulty remaining awake
- Vomiting
- Inability to gag
- Seizures
- Slow breathing
- Irregular breathing or long pauses between breaths
- Slow heart rate
- Clammy skin
- Extremely low body temperature
- Bluish skin color
- Paleness
An alcohol overdose is a life-threatening event and requires immediate medical attention. If you are with someone who may have overdosed on alcohol, it is very important that you call 911 immediately. Delaying seeking help can allow the person’s condition to deteriorate and can lead to their death.
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