Is alcohol a drug? Yes. Alcohol belongs to a family of drugs known as depressants. Depressants slow your heartbeat and other body functions. When you drink alcohol, you may feel pleasantly ‘buzzed’ or sleepy. Your speech may become slurred, and your thinking may become confused. Though many people drink socially without problems, others become dependent on drinking alcohol. Alcoholics suffer severe cravings and withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking it for a day or two. However, even those who can handle their liquor damage their organs over time if they drink too much. Read on to learn more about alcohol and its effects as a drug and how our residential treatment program at Ethan Crossing Recovery can help.
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The Medical Effects of Alcohol
Physically, alcohol causes mood changes. Initially, it may lift you up and make you feel good. It slows your heart rate and breathing, which makes you feel calm and uninhibited. However, alcohol has negative effects on your brain. For instance, scientists think it can prohibit the growth of new brain cells and cause a whole range of cognitive deficiencies and organ damage over time, including:
- Thiamine deficiency
- Liver disease
- Brain disorders
- Psychosis
- Permanent brain damage
The effects of alcohol over a long period may include memory loss, blackouts, confusion, and fetal alcohol syndrome in babies. Alcohol is, in fact, a drug, and becoming dependent upon it can wreak just as much havoc as any other substance and requires the need to seek help at a substance abuse treatment center. In fact, alcohol may be more damaging to your brain over time than opioids.
Get the Alcoholism Facts
Alcohol use disorder occurs when you can longer control the amount of alcohol you ingest. You may want to stop drinking, but you will be unable to. Even though your quality of life may begin to decline, you will still choose to drink. At this stage, you need professional help to recover from the disease. Not surprisingly, there are some revealing statistics on alcoholism, including:
- More than 14 million adults suffered from alcohol use disorder (AUD) in America in 2018
- This disease is more prevalent among men
- Roughly 401,000 youths suffered from AUD in America in 2018
- Less than 10 percent of adults with alcoholism sought treatment last year
- Only five percent of addicted adolescents received treatment
- Alcohol is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the nation
If you or someone you love currently struggles with alcohol use disorder, today is the day to reach out for help. Ethan Crossing Recovery is a top drug and alcohol treatment center in Springfield, OH. Our experienced staff can guide you gently through detox and into the light of recovery.
Is Alcohol A Drug? Get Treated At Ethan Crossing
If you can no longer control how and when you use alcohol, we can help. The Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) program at Ethan Crossing Recovery uses medically assisted detox at our drug detox center to get you through the rough beginning. During medically assisted detox, we use replacement drugs such as naltrexone to block uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, nausea, and more. Because medication blocks the worst of the symptoms, detox becomes much more comfortable. As a result, alcohol leaves your body without making you sick, and you are free to begin the next segment of your recovery.
At Ethan Crossing Recovery, we treat AUD using a variety of evidence-proven, therapeutic approaches. These may include combinations of behavioral counseling and medication. We also use an individual therapy program and a group therapy program. Most importantly, at Ethan Crossing Recovery, we include a family engagement program. Because addiction is a family disease, we welcome close members of the family to become active participants in your recovery. When you or your loved one is ready to begin healing from alcohol use disorder, call Ethan Crossing Recovery at 833.691.0736. We have the specialists, the therapies, and the tools you need to succeed.
