Alcohol is heavily embedded into American society. Abusing it has become so common that you can find alcohol in almost any setting. For example, people drink at work events, sports games, hangouts with friends, and even children’s birthday parties.
Because of how normal it is to consume alcohol, many people do not think of alcohol as a drug. However, alcohol is considered to be a drug by experts, especially organizations like the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). According to NIDA, more people in the United States abused alcohol than any other substance, including tobacco products.[1]
Alcohol is considered a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, a type of drug that slows down activity in your brain. When you drink alcohol, you will experience symptoms like lowered inhibitions, loss of coordination, slurred speech, and even behavioral changes like increased confidence or heightened emotions.
The effects of alcohol can be incredibly addictive, increasing the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. Even though alcohol is normalized, it is one of the most dangerous drugs to abuse. Long-term use of alcohol can lead to a variety of health problems including high blood pressure, liver disease, alcohol dependence, various cancers, and more.[2]
If you or a loved one struggles with alcoholism, it’s time to seek professional help. Alcohol rehab programs like First Step Behavioral Health can provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve long-term sobriety. In this article, you will learn:
- Whether alcohol is a drug
- How much alcohol is too much
- What are the short and long-term effects of alcohol
- Whether alcohol is addictive
What Kind of Drug is Alcohol?
If you are wondering whether alcohol is a drug, the easiest way to tell is by looking at how drugs are classified. Drugs are classified into seven different categories by the Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). Each category represents a certain set of symptoms that the substances have in common. The main categories include central nervous system depressants, central nervous system stimulants, hallucinogenic drugs, dissociative anesthetics, narcotic analgesics, inhalants, and cannabis.
According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant.[3] These drugs slow down your brain and body to produce symptoms like drowsiness, dizziness, feelings of euphoria, and lowered heart or breathing rates. Other than alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB, and Rohypnol are considered CNS depressants.
Taking all of this information into account, yes, alcohol is considered a drug. Since alcohol can lead to dependence, addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and long-term health risks, it is a dangerous drug as well.
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
If you drink alcohol occasionally or even regularly, you might be unsure how much is “too much.” Many people overindulge in alcohol every single time they consume it. Thankfully, there are guidelines to help you understand how much alcohol is considered excessive.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate drinking is having one drink a day or less for women, and two drinks or less per day for men.[4] They also created guidelines to help you understand the different forms of excessive alcohol consumption. The CDC defines different forms of excessive alcohol drinking, including:[4]
- Binge Drinking – Having four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men on a single occasion is considered binge drinking.
- Heavy Drinking – Having eight or more drinks for women or fifteen or more drinks for men during a single week is characterized as heavy drinking.
- Underage Drinking – Underage drinking is the act of anyone drinking any amount of alcohol under the age of 21, which increases the risk of health problems, addiction, and injuries.
- Drinking While Pregnant – Any amount of drinking while pregnant is excessive alcohol use, as it can cause irreparable damage to the baby.
It is best to refrain from drinking over three alcoholic beverages in one night. If you routinely drink more than this, you could be suffering from a problematic relationship with alcohol.
What are the Short-Term Effects of Alcohol?
Alcohol causes symptoms like dizziness and drowsiness, lowered inhibitions, slurred speech, coordination issues, and more. While you are probably aware of what it is like to be drunk, you might not be conscious of the short-term risks of alcohol. The most prominent short-term risks of alcohol use include:[4]
- Injuries like car crashes, falls, drownings, or burns
- Violence towards yourself or others
- Alcohol poisoning from drinking too much at once
- Overdosing from mixing other drugs with alcohol
- Increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases because of lowered inhibitions and impulsive behaviors
- Increased mental health symptoms like worsened anxiety or depression
One of the main risks of short-term alcohol use is alcohol poisoning, which is the same thing as an overdose. The signs of alcohol poisoning include unresponsiveness, repeated vomiting, slowed breathing, blue tint of the lips, and cold or clammy skin.[5] If you or a loved one is displaying the signs of alcohol poisoning, contact emergency medical services immediately.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol?
If you continue to abuse alcohol over a period of time, you will experience long-term health risks. The longer you misuse alcohol, the more severe the consequences will be. Understanding the scope of the long-term effects of alcohol abuse might motivate you to seek professional help. The long-term effects of alcohol abuse may include:[2]
- Neurologic issues like strokes
- Damage to the heat including arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and high blood pressure
- Liver problems including fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis
- Acute and chronic pancreatitis
- Oral cancers
- Reduced bone density
- Lung issues like pneumonia and respiratory distress
- Weakened immune system and increased infections or illness
Alcohol affects almost every organ in the body. Because your liver has to metabolize all of the alcohol you drink, usually it is the first organ to experience significant damage. It is also possible to develop various cancers due to long-term alcohol abuse, including mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast cancer, and more.[6]
Is Alcohol Addictive?
Yes, alcohol can be incredibly addictive and habit-forming. Most people who develop the long-term health consequences of alcohol abuse are suffering from alcoholism. The signs of alcohol use disorder include:[7]
- Having a hard time controlling how much you drink
- Wanting to cut back on or quit drinking alcohol but being unsuccessful
- Spending a lot of your time obtaining, using, and recovering from drinking
- Experiencing strong urges or cravings to drink alcohol
- Allowing alcohol use to interfere with your job, school, or home life
- Continuing to drink despite facing social or relationship issues
- Continuing to drink even though you are dealing with physical or mental health problems
- Getting into risky situations while drinking, such as fights or driving under the influence
- Needing to increase the amount of alcohol you drink to experience a desired effect
- Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you do not drink
If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, it’s time to seek help for alcoholism. Thankfully, alcohol rehab programs provide medical detox, therapy to address the root causes of your alcohol abuse, and the support you need to recover.
Find Help for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Alcoholism can be difficult to overcome, especially without any support. Thankfully, alcohol addiction treatment programs like First Step Behavioral Health are here to help. We offer evidence-based treatment services to help you overcome the root causes of your alcoholism. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recover from alcoholism. References:
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Alcohol
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
- The International Association of Chiefs of Police: 7 Drug Categories
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Alcohol Use and Your Health
- Stanford University: Alcohol Overdose/Poisoning
- The American Cancer Society: Alcohol Use and Cancer
- Medline Plus: Alcohol Use Disorder
