Alcohol is so common in society that many people don’t know what it is anymore. In fact, many people can’t answer the question, “is alcohol a drug?” It shocks many teens and some adults to learn that alcohol is, indeed, a drug.

Is Alcohol a Drug? If So, What Kind?

The short answer is yes, alcohol is a drug and a very dangerous one at that. It’s a type of depressant, which means that alcohol slows down vital bodily functions. Because of this effect, people often slur their speech and stumble around when they’re drunk.

Of course, alcohol doesn’t just impact physical functions. It also has a huge impact on people’s mental processes. Drunk people have a harder time making good judgments and thinking rationally. Alcohol distorts the mind and can lead to blackouts, causing people not to remember anything.

How Much Is Too Much?

Just because people drink occasionally doesn’t mean that they suffer from alcoholism. People who have a drinking problem usually drink too much. Experts suggest that many different factors play a role in determining if people drink too much or not. Some of these include:

Determining if people drink too much is important because drinking itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Having a couple drinks during a social event or a glass of wine with dinner is fine for most. It’s when people start abusing alcohol that it becomes a problem.

From Abuse to Addiction

Most people don’t simply start off with an addiction. They have a substance abuse problem first. Alcohol abuse differs from addiction because people still have control over their actions. When they abuse alcohol, they do it out of choice regardless of their reason for doing it.

Addiction, on the other hand, is a mental disease. People no longer have control over their actions when they suffer from addiction. Also, it’s not uncommon for people with addiction to have co-occurring disorders or multiple mental illnesses. For example, those with addiction commonly also have anxiety or depression.

Unfortunately, crossing the line between abuse and addiction is very easy. People who suffer from abuse or addiction need to seek professional help. Rehab centers can help them get their lives back on track. They often use therapy to uncover the root cause of their addiction and address it.

Put an End to Alcoholism

Is alcohol a drug that has taken over your life? Alcoholism is hard to overcome, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do it. With the help of 1st Step Behavioral Health, you can overcome your addiction. Some of the different addiction programs that we offer include:

Take control of your life again with help from our caring staff. Let us show you the road to recovering your freedom from alcoholism. Contact us today at (855) 425-4846 for more information about the services that we provide.

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