Nearly one million people died from alcohol-related deaths between 1999 and 2017. These deaths include:

• Liver disease
• Car accidents
• Heart disease
• Alcohol overdose

While many people see alcohol as a vehicle for socializing and relieving stress, it is a drug that can be easily abused and turn into an addiction or even a dependence.

Unfortunately, for those trying to kick an alcohol dependency, alcohol is everywhere. They’re constantly reminded of their vice when going to the supermarket, watching movies, and doing a plethora of other daily tasks. Without proper help, the constant exposure makes it incredibly difficult to get sober.

But what do we really know about alcohol? Is alcohol a depressant or a stimulant? When does drinking alcohol go from a social event to an alcohol use disorder and what are the warning signs?

Here’s what you need to know about alcohol, its effects, and how one can recover from an alcohol addiction.

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a drug created when yeast ferments the sugars in fruits, vegetables, and grains. The most common kinds of alcoholic drinks include:

• Beer
• Wine
• Whiskey
• Tequila
• Vodka
• Gin
• Absinthe
• Champagne

Although there is a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, they all contain the same type of alcohol: ethyl. This type of alcohol is toxic and can be addictive.

Is Alcohol a Depressant or a Stimulant?

Alcohol is a depressant. It slows down vital functions which causes people to lose coordination and control of their body.

It is a common misperception that alcohol is a stimulant. Its ability to temper our inhibitions and boost one’s confidence may give credence to this belief.

Alcohol’s depressant effect is part of the reason people may experience anxiety or a looming dread they can’t shake. Long-term abuse can even lead to worsened depression.

How Does Alcohol Work?

When you drink, the alcohol enters your bloodstream through your stomach and small intestine and then travels to the brain. The resulting calming or euphoric sensation is simply a chemical reaction.

Alcohol stimulates the production of GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), which calms the brain and stops the production of glutamate, a chemical associated with anxiety. This is why, when you have a drink or two, you get that euphoric feeling and perhaps feel less stressed in social situations.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

A couple of drinks may make you feel relaxed. A few more drinks and you may start to experience:

• Slurred speech
• Unsteadiness as you stand or walk
• Loss of coordination

Meanwhile, a full night of alcohol consumption may result in:

• Vomiting
• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Gaps in memory (blackout)

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

When casual drinking turns into an everyday event, it can become an alcohol use disorder. Drinking large quantities daily over an extended period can result in:

• Liver disease
• Pancreatitis
• Cardiovascular issues
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet)
• Ulcers
• Anxiety and depression

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you’ve spent a night out with friends and had one too many drinks, you will experience mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms, more commonly known as a “hangover.” Typical symptoms include:

• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Muscle and joint pain

Withdrawal from alcohol abuse can be quite severe and even life-threatening. Those trying to break the bonds of alcohol use disorder may experience:

• Hallucinations
• High blood pressure
• Heavy sweating
• Delirium tremens (DTs)

How to Get Sober from Alcohol

Contrary to popular belief, a few cups of coffee, a cold shower, and other “hangover remedies” will not sober you up. The only thing that works is time.

The amount of time required to get sober depends on a few factors:

• The amount of alcohol consumed
• Weight
• Biological sex
• Other food consumed while drinking
• Alcohol tolerance

When someone is struggling with alcohol use disorder, getting sober will most likely take more time and effort. An inpatient and residential alcohol addiction treatment facility is the safest and most successful way to detox, get sober and stay sober.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol addiction treatment is not a static blueprint every person follows to build a life of sobriety. Every person requires a flexible plan and the help of a trained professional who can guide them towards the path to sobriety.

Types of treatment often used include:

• Outpatient
• Partial Hospitalization
• Residential

Any one of these levels of care can including medication-assisted treatment with the use of Vivitrol.

Start Your Recovery Today

If your relationship with alcohol has gone from casual to destructive, help is available. Contact Pinnacle Treatment Centers now at 1-800-782-1520, and we will help you find the nearest location to get you started on your road to recovery.

The post What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? appeared first on Pinnacle Treatment Centers.

One of the most commonly abused substances is depressants.

People who struggle with this addiction will often show severe symptoms that put a serious strain on their daily life, including:

• Lack of coordination
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Slowed pulse and breathing problems

To help yourself or your loved ones, it’s crucial to know the warning signs of addiction. Here is everything you need to know about depressants, including their dangers and what substances count as depressants.

What Is a Depressant Drug?

Depressants are drugs that affect the central nervous system and brain activity.

These drugs do not make people feel depressed. Rather, depressant drugs are meant to reduce the following in patients:

• Arousal
• Stimulation
• Anxiety
• Stress reactions
• Sleep disorders

Types of Depressant Drugs

Depressants come in many forms, whether it be a pill, syrup, or an injectable substance. Sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics are all forms of depressants.

Most prescription depressants can be grouped into one of three drug classes.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are highly addictive. However, people can quickly build a tolerance to them, which means patients will have to take higher doses to feel similar effects, leading to hazardous side effects.

Barbiturates can reduce heart rate, regulate breathing, and destabilize blood pressure. Most commonly, they are used to treat insomnia, headaches, and seizures.

Examples of barbiturates include:

• Luminal (phenobarbital)
• Mebaral (mephobarbital)
• Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium)

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines were created to replace barbiturates because of their addictive side effects. However, benzodiazepines retain some of the same hazardous side effects seen in barbiturates.

Still, benzodiazepines can treat a lot of the same health issues as barbiturates, in addition to panic disorders, alcohol withdrawal, and premenstrual syndrome.

Common types of benzodiazepines include:

• Halcion (triazolam)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Prosom (estazolam)
• Valium (diazepam)
• Xanax (alprazolam)

Non-Benzodiazepine Sedative-Hypnotics

Non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics are psychoactive drugs that are very similar to benzodiazepines in use, side effects, and addictive potential. They are only referred to as non-benzodiazepine because the molecular structures of the drugs are completely different from benzodiazepines.

These types of depressants are generally used for short-term treatment of sleep disorders, like insomnia.

Commonly used non-benzodiazepine depressants include:

• Ambien (zolpidem)
• Lunesta (eszopiclone)
• Sonata (zaleplon)

Is Alcohol a Depressant?

Although many people use alcohol as a way to improve their mood or give them a shot of charisma, alcohol is a depressant that can negatively affect your mental and physical health.

As you drink alcohol, a portion of what you drink will go into your bloodstream to eventually be delivered to all parts of your body, including the brain. At that point, your brain releases chemicals like dopamine and serotonin to offer a sense of euphoria while also depressing your reflexes and speech capabilities.

Illegal Depressant Drugs vs. Legal Depressant Drugs

There are both illegal and legal forms of depressant drugs. Here’s a chart to help you understand the legality and limitations of common depressants.

Effects of Depressant Drugs

The main effect of depressant drugs is slowed brain activity. This is done by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity, which is a chemical that slows brain activity. This chemical process makes these drugs highly effective for treating anxiety disorders.

Depressants tend to affect everyone differently. While a lot of factors determine how you will react to depressants, here are a few of the most noteworthy variables:

• Size (weight and height)
• A person’s health
• A person’s tolerance for the depressant
• Amount of the depressant taken
• Strength of the depressant
• Other depressants taken at the same time

Short-term Effects

Short-term effects from depressant drugs can happen as side effects from the drug’s intended use or abuse. In other words, you could experience these side effects no matter how you use depressants:

• Slurred speech
• Dizziness
• Dilated pupils
• Lack of coordination
• Slowed pulse and breathing
• Lowered blood pressure
• Difficulty with concentration
• General fatigue

With higher doses, depressant drugs could also have some of the following short-term effects:

• Memory problems
• Impaired judgment
• Paranoia
• Irritability
• Suicidal thoughts

When someone takes depressants with other substances, they risk slowing down their heart rate and breathing enough to cause death.

Long-term Effects

If a person uses or abuses depressants for a long time, they’ll likely develop a tolerance for the drug, which is one path to addiction.

Long-term effects of depressants can include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Breathing problems
• Sleep disorders
• Sexual problems
• Weight gain
• Increased risk of diabetes

Dangers of Depressant Drug Abuse

Although medical professionals prescribe many depressant drugs to treat disorders, they can be dangerous if misused or used for prolonged periods.

Why Do People Abuse Depressants?

Depressant abuse can be intentional or unintentional.

Intentional abuse usually occurs when a person mixes multiple depressants, takes more than the prescribed amount, or uses a depressant without a prescription. Unintentional abuse may happen when a person accidentally uses a depressant outside of its guidelines.

No matter the motive, abusing depressants is incredibly harmful to one’s mental and physical health. It can worsen the disorders people try to treat with the depressants, including anxiety disorders.

Are Depressant Drugs Addictive?

Depressants are addictive and can lead to substance use disorder (SUD) because people can build a tolerance to depressants after using them for long periods.

Drug tolerance means the body needs more of a drug to get the desired effect. This leads people to take larger or more frequent doses of the depressant to get the same relief or euphoric feeling as they did before their tolerance developed.

Tolerance can then lead to dependency, meaning the person cannot function normally without using the drugs. Generally, you can tell if a person is addicted to or abusing depressants if they exhibit any of the following behaviors:

• Mood swings
• Decreased social activity
• Depressive episodes
• Decreased work productivity
• Secretive behavior

Additionally, once a person develops a dependence on depressants, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when not using the drugs. These symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Muscle weakness
• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Fever
• Delirium
• Hallucination
• Convulsions

Stimulants vs. Depressants

Stimulants are another family of drugs that give their users a sense of euphoria, similar to depressants. However, their means of creating that euphoric feeling are very different: while depressants slow your brain down, stimulants speed up brain activity.

By speeding up brain activity, stimulants can increase pulse and breathing rates and elevate your blood pressure. This causes some to feel more alert and energetic. But with prolonged usage, stimulants can cause:

• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Aggression

Common stimulant drugs include:

• Amphetamines
• Cocaine
• Khat
• Methamphetamine
• Nicotine (though it also works as a depressant)

Are Stimulants or Depressants More Dangerous?

It’s hard to say if stimulants or depressants are more dangerous. Both have severe risks associated with their use, and abuse of both drugs can lead to debilitating dependencies.

It should be enough to realize that abuse of either drug is harmful and should be avoided at all costs.

How to Seek Help for Depressant Abuse

If you or someone you know is currently struggling with depressant abuse or addiction, now is the time to look for help. And if you recognize you have a problem with drug abuse, you’ve already completed the first step towards recovery.

Because of the withdrawal symptoms, one can experience trying to get off of depressants and other drugs, people seeking treatment should check in to a rehab facility to detox. Rehab facilities will monitor detoxification and help ease the transitionary period.

Pinnacle Treatment Centers is ready to welcome anyone looking to travel the road to recovery. Our specialties include drug addiction and alcohol use disorders, meaning we are well-equipped to manage depressant abuse. Don’t hesitate to reach out and start your recovery as soon as possible.

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