Alcohol is a depressant. Overall, ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is generally considered to be a depressant. Alcohol acts to slow or depress basic functions of the central nervous system (CNS). Yes, drinking alcohol releases us from our inhibitions at first. But then, as alcohol slows the activity of the central nervous system, our reaction time slows, our impaired coordination makes physical movement more difficult, and we may say or do things we regret later.
Alcohol is often Mistakenly thought of as a Stimulant
Alcohol is often mistakenly thought of as a stimulant because it can make people feel happy and relaxed at first. However, it is actually a depressant because it eventually causes sleepiness and sedation. In large amounts, alcohol can lead to unconsciousness, coma, or even death.
Ethanol is also the intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Ethanol is also an industrial chemical used as a solvent in the making of other organic chemicals. It is an additive to automotive gasoline.
When we first take this chemical compound into our systems, it acts as a stimulant. Anyone who has taken a drink or two has experienced these stimulating effects, which are due to the brain releasing dopamine, the hormone that gives us a feeling of well-being.
However, as we continue to drink, this effect reverses. Alcohol then begins to act as a depressant. How can this be? How can a substance act as both a stimulant and a depressant? The answer is complicated, and this article is to explain what happens when we consume alcohol.
Stimulants and Depressants Affect the Central Nervous System
Low doses of alcohol can temporarily improve our sense of well being. At first, alcohol triggers your brain to release dopamine, which is why the first few drinks can make us feel happy, talkative, and sociable. Our increased blood pressure can make us feel more energetic. However this state is generally brief, we then begin to experience the opposite effect.
Drinking more alcohol than our bodies can metabolize produces euphoria at first. However, after a few drinks, alcohol’s depressant effects inevitably begin to set in.
Understanding the Depressant Effects
Depressants slow our brain function, and we can experience slurred speech. Intoxication also makes it difficult to think clearly. After the euphoric effect of alcohol has worn off, our ability to perceive our immediate surroundings is diminished, and whether we realize it or not, our judgment is also impaired.
Individuals tend to process alcohol differently; for instance, women take longer than men to metabolize alcohol. In men, the depressant effects of alcohol may take longer to become apparent.
Not only is alcohol a central nervous system depressant but if we later develop an alcohol addiction, there can be many more serious and long-lasting negative effects on the body itself. Of course, the physical harm alcohol can do to our bodies depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and if we continue over an extended period of time. Alcohol consumption can exacerbate symptoms, creating the cycle of alcohol addiction where one drinks to alleviate pain or negative feelings and never really accomplishes the task.
Central Nervous System Activity, Alcohol Addiction, and Alcohol Tolerance
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system consists of all the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body. These systems work together to allow us to move and sense the world around us. They also keep our hearts beating and our blood flowing and warn us of danger.
Taking in too much alcohol affects many areas of the brain negatively. Over time, one can develop an alcohol tolerance that can actually lead to drinking more, creating alcoholism. An alcohol addiction causes a person to drink too much, and this can actually cause the brain to shrink.
Heavy drinking destroys brain cell dendrites, which carry and receive messages from the environment. Because of this damage, drinking excessively over a prolonged period can contribute to problems with cognition and memory.
Drinking Alcohol and Impaired Judgement
Drinking alcohol impairs central nervous system activity, as well as the function of other systems we rely on every day. When you first begin to drink alcohol, you experience the stimulant effect as dopamine is released. We experience a rise in our mood, increased energy, and elevated heart rate, which causes a rise in blood pressure.
After the initial stimulant effects wear off, the depressant effects of alcohol take over, and we begin to experience the opposite effect. Alcohol begins to suppress dopamine production and slow brain activity. And because depressants slow activity in the central nervous system, which can, among other things, cause slower reaction times, which can contribute to injuries by falling when we lose our balance, for instance.
Additionally, during intoxication, a depressant substance such as alcohol can frequently cause individuals to experience impaired judgment. We may believe that we are OK to drive when we plainly are not.
Alcohol Consumption and Depressant Drugs
It isn’t understood why some individuals can drink more than others or why some individuals cross the line over to chronic alcohol abuse. A person’s metabolism and body chemistry can, of course, be a factor. Some people don’t like the effect produced by being intoxicated. Others may like alcohol so much they do not pay attention to their “BAC” blood alcohol count and could be in danger of alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol Poisoning and Overdose
If you exceed a BAC level of 0.2 mg/l, the depressant effects of alcohol can be so extreme that you could be poisoned by the alcohol consumed.
For those who have trouble controlling how much they consume when drinking, there is another danger, especially for individuals who binge drink or take in too much alcohol too quickly: overdose.
When a person drinks alcohol too quickly may be in danger of an alcohol overdose. Individuals who engage in binge drinking are at risk. Binge drinking is a pattern defined by drinking that causes one’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to be 0.08% or higher, typically occurring after a woman consumes 4 drinks or a man consumes 5 drinks in about 2 hours.
Young people who drink may be at particular risk for overdose. Drinking large quantities of alcohol can overwhelm the body’s ability to break down and clear alcohol from the bloodstream. This leads to rapid increases in BAC and significantly impairs brain and other bodily functions.
Alcohol Abuse
The term alcohol abuse means a pattern of drinking that interferes with activities of daily living. Consuming alcohol in order to deal with or treat anxiety can exacerbate the very symptoms we are experiencing and end up causing us more anxiety.
Chronic alcohol abuse is defined as uncontrolled drinking combined with an obsession with getting and consuming alcohol. Besides experiencing emotional and mental issues from abusing alcohol, long-term chronic alcohol abuse has negative effects on the body as well. Functions of our respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and internal organs such as the liver and pancreas suffer. We additionally suffer severe negative consequences regarding relationships and employment.
The Effects of Alcohol on Mental Health
There is yet another consequence of chronic abuse of alcohol to be aware of, which is commonly referred to as Wet Brain. The more formal name for this condition is Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome. This condition is caused by a vitamin deficiency due to a poor diet and is found mostly in people who have chronically abused alcohol for a long period of time.
Symptoms of a wet brain include low blood pressure and vision problems such as double vision or droopy eyelids. Additionally, hallucinations and severe memory impairment can also occur, causing loss of memory. This can also affect our ability to form new memories. The onset of these symptoms is considered to be a medical emergency.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obviously, excessive alcohol consumption can contribute a multitude of problems – physically, mentally and emotionally. On the low end, the stimulating effects of alcohol can sometimes cause us to say and do things we may regret later or cause us to make decisions that affect us and our loved ones negatively.
However, a more serious consequence of relying on mood-altering substances to cope is the symptoms of an actual mental health or personality disorder may be hidden or masked due to the influence the abuse of alcohol or other substances can have on us.
Chronic Alcohol Use of the Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The primary job of the CNS is to receive, process, and react to outside stimuli. Our CNS enables physical movement, thoughts and emotions, and various other functions to occur in our bodies via electrical signals.
Chronic alcohol use, or abusing almost any substance, can have very harmful effects on us that manifest slowly and may not become apparent until much later.
Alcohol Dependence
Some of the harmful physical effects of long-term alcohol dependence occur in vital organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas. Additionally, we can be setting ourselves up for cancer: The US Department of Health and Human Services lists the consumption of alcoholic beverages to be a “known human carcinogen.”
Overconsumption of ethanol/alcohol weakens our immune system, which can then put us at risk for diseases like the Flu, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.
Depressed Cognitive Function
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states there are more than 11,000 deaths caused by drunk drivers every year. The depressant effects of alcohol not only harm the drinker but obviously can have a devastating impact on others, as well.
Take the stimulant effects of ethanol combined with the depressant effects and add impaired judgment and slower reaction times due to slowed brain activity, and you have a recipe for catastrophe.
Get Help for Alcohol Addiction Today
If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction to alcohol or any illicit drugs, please consider getting some help.
Abuse of any mood-altering substance, even if prescribed, can also be masking a serious mental health disorder. If you find that you suffer from withdrawal symptoms when you are unable to drink, such as anxiety, fatigue, depression, or behavioral changes – it may be time to seek help. Even if the substance you are addicted to is a prescribed medication.
Turning Point of Tampa
Turning Point of Tampa offers a full continuum of care with Medical Detox, Residential Treatment, Day Treatment with housing (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) for alcohol and drug addiction. Additionally, we offer treatment for eating disorders and dual diagnosis.
Services at Turning Point of Tampa include Expressive Arts Therapy groups, Equine Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Trauma Therapy, Psycho Drama Therapy, and Group Therapy. These services provide concurrent treatment for mental health, addiction, and eating disorder issues.
Turning Point of Tampa’s goal is to provide a safe environment and a solid foundation in 12-step principles, quality individual therapy, and group therapy. We have been offering Licensed Residential Treatment for Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis in Tampa since 1987.
If you need help or know someone who does, please contact our admissions department 24 hrs per day.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20360
https://www.theiacp.org/7-drug-categories
https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/475
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
