Alcohol the Drug

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Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the world, yet even the habitual user does not understand the affects it has on them. When asked to describe the affects of alcohol even alcohol specialist will say it is a "sedative", and most users and specialist would say alcohol is "addictive".

Both answers are partially true, but initially in small amounts alcohol is a "stimulant" directly to the nerve tissues. A shot of whiskey or a bottle of beer will trigger a large amount of stimulating responses through out the body. Many studies have reported that in low doses alcohol will increase blood flow, accelerate heart rate, excite simple brain stem and spinal reflexes and speed up the conduction and transmission of nerve impulses. With low doses of alcohol complex problem solving tasks are improved, memory and concentration are sharpened even creative thinking is enhanced. As far as the addictive qualities of alcohol it is addictive to a minority of its users, it is addictive to those who are physically susceptible.

Anyone who drinks can attest to the stimulating affects of low doses of alcohol, the warm sense of well-being, ideas multiply, confidence increases and contentment grows. For most people, the world seems to be a better place after a drink. If it were not for these stimulating effects most people would quickly lose interest in drinking. The fact is that when alcohol's sedative effects take over after several drinks the pleasure and excitement of of drinking is gradually cancelled out, and the average drinker stops drinking. For alcoholics however their tolerance builds and the stimulating and pleasurable effects of the alcohol remain far beyond the non-alcoholic's limits.

The physical addiction is the selective part of alcoholism and the part that still bewilders both the specialist and the alcoholic. About 10% of alcohol users become addicted, unlike heroin that when used on a daily bases for as short of time as 3 weeks nearly 100% of the users become addicted. There are many questions about this fact and few answers, the World Health Organization does not consider alcohol an addictive drug because only a minority of its users become addicted. They do call it "habit forming" because many people feel they need a drink after a long day at work or a cold beer if it is hot outside, so habit forming yes addictive no. So as far as W.H.O. is concerned alcohol is someplace in a gray area, not addictive but habit forming but the minority of the people that do become addicted can go through the worst drug withdraw of any drug.

For help with alcohol abuse or addiction please call; 1-877-744-3536

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