Is alcohol a drug? Yes, alcohol is a drug with depressant effects. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), long-term consumption of the substance can lead to damage to your organs, many forms of cancers, and a weak immune system. Statistics reveal that alcoholism is an epidemic as alcohol-related deaths in the US between 1999 and 2017 hit nearly one million.
In 2017, an estimated 2.6% of all death cases nationwide had a link to alcohol use. If you struggle with alcohol addiction, it’s vital to seek treatment.
Contact TruHealing Centers today at 833.631.0525 for alcohol addiction treatment.
Insight Into Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol hinders your analytical thinking ability and distorts your judgment. The substance weakens vital functions, leading to unsteady movement, poor perception, slurred speech, and a slowed reaction. Furthermore, the feeling of misery, vomiting, spasms, aches, and nausea accompanies binge drinking.
However, when one suddenly withdraws from chronic alcoholism, severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms can lead to death. Even with the imminent risks of alcoholism, life challenges still push people into addiction. The most common causes of alcoholism include:
- Demanding careers and bosses
- Personal or financial problems
- Mental health conditions
- A family history of drinking
- Issues in an intimate relationship
- Genetics
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Alcohol can alter your consciousness. If you pass out while drunk or experience an alcoholic blackout at a party, you might find yourself in bed without any memory of how you got home.
People who suffer from an opiate overdose like heroin experience severe physical injuries, some of which lead to death. Opiate interferes with proper respiration, hence depriving the body of oxygen. The same thing takes place when you engage in binge drinking.
Alcohol hinders the proper functioning of the brain region that controls heart rate, breathing, and consciousness. Withdrawal symptoms of alcohol include hallucinations, chest pains, hypertension, insomnia, and shivering.
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol is as dangerous as opiates when you consume too much of it. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 2,200 alcohol poisoning related deaths in the US every year. Men account for 76% of these deaths.
If you have a strong vomiting reflex, you can succeed in vomiting the alcohol. Otherwise, you can fall into a coma and eventually die. If you sleep during your extreme drunk state, you might vomit and inhale the regurgitated material, which can suffocate you to death. In most cases, the liquor stops your breathing and slows your heart until you die.
Alcohol and Children
The extent of exposure of alcohol to youngsters varies with the environment, family, and culture. So, is alcohol a drug that poses a danger to children?
Yes, alcohol hinders the proper growth of your child’s brain. The effects of alcohol on teenagers impact the entire family. Puberty is a challenging stage in a child’s life, and children in this stage need deep understanding and care. Alcohol exacerbates these typical social and psychological challenges that your teen is experiencing. Typical teenage-deviant behaviors that many parents experience include depression, mood swings, defiance, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Alcohol and Adults
The effectiveness of your excretory system deteriorates with age; thus, your body’s capability to endure the side effects of alcohol decreases as you age.
As you become older, you experience a decline in the water content in your body. This condition causes the volume of your blood to decline. Therefore, adults are more susceptible to the dangers of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) than young people are.
The BAC effects include:
- Slurred speech
- Passing out
- Blackout and memory loss
- Alcohol poisoning and death
Older adults have decreased bone mass. Usually, women are more likely to have thinner bones after menopause. Alcoholism can worsen the problem and increase your chances of getting osteoporosis, which is a condition that weakens your bones, making them more likely to break.
Recovery from alcohol addiction requires a combination of several rehab programs. Your recovery will primarily depend on your health status, motivation, the severity of the addiction, support system, and medical history.
Alcohol treatment options include:
- Family therapy program
- Alcohol rehab program
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Psychotherapy program
- Group therapy program
Get Alcohol Addiction Treatment At TruHealing Centers
So, is alcohol a drug? Yes, it is, and a dangerous drug for that matter. If you feel as though you may have an addiction to alcohol, seek professional treatment for your alcohol use disorder now at TruHealing Centers. Don’t let alcoholism ruin your life. Contact us at 833.631.0525 to speak to a therapist.
