Alcohol is a substance which has been consumed by people for centuries, and its importance lies in social, religious and cultural settings. However, the consumption of alcohol is taken in a restricted manner because it has certain repercussion for the user when they take the drug in large amounts (NCBI, 2016). According to the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA), alcohol is not exactly listed under any of the schedules as other drugs partly because it falls in the range of spirits and liquefied drinks which are not equated with other drugs that are of a different capacity (DEA, 2016). Alcohol is classified as a psychoactive drug because it directly affects the nervous system, suppressing it and making a person feel relaxed and calm. It is, therefore, a depressant, because it slows down the nervous system, also slowing the heart rate and breathing of a person and reduces the person’s alertness (Guides, 2016).
Alcohol is manufactured as beer, wine and spirit form. It depends on the amount of alcohol which is present in the drink which makes its intoxication effect stronger. Beer is made from grains, malt and yeast along with other ingredients, having an overall low intoxication effect. Wine is made with fruits like grapes, peaches or berries. Usually, yeast is added and the longer it is kept, the stronger the intoxication. Distilled spirits are the next category. These are also called hard liquor. As the natural fermentation process halts when alcohol level reaches 14%, new methods of production can increase the amount of alcohol in the natural production which can increase the level of intoxication (Public Health, 2016).
The most common method of administrating the drug is oral as most people will simply drink alcohol bought from the store or in hotels and bars that supply it to those of legitimate age. Usually, this is the most common way of taking in the drug without any hassle. At times, it is inhaled as well in the form of ethanol as in spirits in hand sanitizers, etc. (NCBI, 2016).
There are short term and long term effects of alcohol consumption. It is an addictive drug which makes a user always ask for it when they are troubled or tense. When taken in low doses, the short term effects are feeling relaxed with lower inhibitions and a slowed brain activity which simply feels soothing (NIH, 2016). In medium doses of alcohol, the speech may be distorted and slurred, vision can blur, sleepiness may overcome a person, the skin can flush with more blood coming to the surface and a lower core body temperature (NIH, 2016). In high doses, the short term effects are nausea and vomiting, passing out, uncontrolled urination and defecation, difficulty in breathing and even slipping into a coma. The long term effects of alcoholism include liver cirrhosis and permanent damage to the liver, disrupted normal brain development, the death of brain cells, ulcers in the stomach, increased blood pressure and heart rate with an increased risk of a heart attack and stroke. It can also cause anemia, drug dependence and even death in worst cases (NIH, 2016).
Alcohol directly affects the nervous system by depressing it. In the medium to high doses in just one go of binge-drinking, person experiences slurred speech and blurred vision. When drunk in large amounts, especially on an empty stomach, a person may experience blackouts or experience events they might not recall the next day (NCBI, 2016). Brain cells can die with a continuation of the series of blackouts or high alcohol levels in the bloodstream. Persistent changes in the brain’s structure can also occur. A deficiency of Thiamine can occur in alcoholics. This can lead to the Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which can lead to encephalopathy (NCBI, 2016). The CNS is suppressed which leads to slowed speech, memory impairment, slowed reflexes and lack of activeness and alertness of the body and mind (NCBI, 2016).
Alcohol can react negatively with other drugs when taken by a user. For example, when taken with analgesics, the chances are that alcohol uptake will be increased in the body which will cause liver damage. When taken with antibiotics, alcohol increased the risk of faster absorption in the small intestine, causing liver damage. When taken with muscle relaxants it can cause sedation and slowed impulses with impairment of physical abilities. When taken with opioids for pain relief, it can increase the effect of relaxation and act as a depressant, causing decreased motor skills. If taken with sleeping pills, it increased the effect of sedation, causing drowsiness which is mainly the effect of the sleeping pills (Weathermon and Crabb, 1999).
There are certain surprising health benefits of drinking alcohol which have been proven in certain countries where it is consumed on a daily basis. There has been discovered, an inverse relation between coronary heart disease and alcoholism. In fact, the risk of getting a stroke, sudden heart attack, and death from any kind of cardiovascular disease is greatly reduced because of consuming alcohol (NCBI, 2016). In about a 100 studies, 25-40% reduction in heart problems was seen. Also, moderate levels of alcohol in the blood help in producing good cholesterol for the body which protects against heart problems. Moderate drinking also showed better sensitivity to insulin and other components in the blood which help protect the heart against disease (NCBI, 2016).
As of 2014, the normal users of alcohol are reported to be 18 years and above. 71% reported of drinking. 25% reported binge drinking, where the age was 18 and above. 16.3 million adults in the U.S have a substance abuse disorder of which 10.6 million are men, and 5.7 million are women (NIH, 2016).
As far as cultural views are concerned, alcohol is used as a symbol of social status and celebration. It can be drunk in times of sadness and also in times of jubilance. It shows affiliation, social status, and can also label social events. A high-end meeting of officials will contain the best wine, but a secret meeting might have spirits involved (NIH, 2016).
There are certain myths that alcohol only affects the user. However, it also affects the families of the users (NIH, 2016). It is also believed that a weak person drinks but people also get addicted b peer pressure and the habit of drinking in celebration (NIH, 2016). Also, to think alcohol is good for the health is a myth because it is addictive and a person can damage their internal organs because of it (NIH, 2016).
Works cited
DEA. (2016). Drug Schedules. Retrieved from http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
Guides. (2016). Drug and Alcohol information for PDHPE students. Retrieved from
http://guides.sl.nsw.gov.au/content.php?pid=383178&sid=3160739
NCBI. (2016). Information about Alcohol. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20360/NIH. (2016). Alcohol’s damaging effects on the brain. Retrieved from
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
NIH. (2016). Alcohol facts and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-
health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
Public Health. (2016). Types of alcoholic beverages. Retrieved from
http://publichealth.hsc.wvu.edu/alcohol/what-is-alcohol/types-of-alcoholic-beverages/ Weathermon, Ron and Crabb, W. David. (1999). Alcohol and Medical Interactions. Alcohol
Research and Health. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-1/40-54.pdf
