If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 911.
Believe it or not — alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 28.8 million Americans ages 18 and older experienced Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in 2022. While alcohol is widely used and not always seen as a controlled substance, alcohol is a drug that can lead to addiction. However, with the right support and resources, making a full recovery is possible.
Today we’ll discuss what type of drug alcohol is, what a healthy relationship with alcohol looks like, and signs of an alcohol overdose or addiction.
What is alcohol?
In the United States, a standard drink is defined as approximately 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. A standard drink could be 12 ounces of beer, 8-9 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that it takes for someone to be legally intoxicated is 0.08% in the United States. The number of drinks for someone to become legally intoxicated varies greatly from person to person, but in general, alcohol metabolization depends on factors like gender, weight, and the genetic makeup of a person.
In general, males are able to drink more before becoming legally intoxicated or experiencing side effects of alcohol compared to women. The more you drink and the higher your BAC becomes, the more likely you are to experience side effects of alcohol consumption like impaired coordination, headache, nausea, or vomiting.
What type of drug is alcohol?
Alcohol is a powerful, addictive drug that is classified as a Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressant, which means that when used, it can affect your cognition, emotions, perception, and more. Alcohol slows the activity of the brain by slowing the communication of brain cells to one another. This puts alcohol in the same class as other CNS drugs like certain sleep medications, marijuana, cocaine, and LSD.
The dangers of prolonged alcohol abuse
A healthy relationship with alcohol is possible, but if you don’t exercise moderation, you can experience serious health consequences. The 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest that women should limit their alcohol intake to 1 drink or less per day and men should have 2 drinks or less per day. These numbers aren’t meant to be an average, but instead should be used as a guideline.
Alcohol begins to have more serious side effects at the heavy drinking stage, which is defined as 4 or more drinks per day for women and 5 or more drinks per day for men.
Signs of an alcohol overdose
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 911.
While typically safe for most people in low doses, consuming too much alcohol can lead to dangerous side effects that need medical treatment. Short-term signs of consuming too much alcohol include:
- Slurred speech
- Slow reflexes and poor vision
- Unsteady walking gait or loss of physical coordination
- Nausea, headache, or vomiting
- Memory loss
- Sleepiness or falling asleep
- Intensified emotions such as anxiety, anger, or sadness
- Changes in heartbeat, blood pressure, or breathing patterns
- Feeling lightheaded or passing out
It’s also possible to experience long-term side effects after consistently overindulging in alcohol over a long period of time. These side effects include, but are not limited to:
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Liver disease
- Mental health problems
- Weakened immune system
- Cancer
Signs of alcohol addiction
An addiction is a compulsive or chronic need for a habit-forming substance or behavior. There are many different signs and symptoms of an alcohol addiction. You may be experiencing an alcohol addiction if you:
- Feel unable or unwilling to limit the amount of alcohol consumed
- Have regular strong cravings to drink alcohol even if you know you shouldn’t
- Are unable to fulfill your duties at home, school, or work because of alcohol
- Continue to drink alcohol even if you know it’s becoming a problem
- Use alcohol in unsafe situations such as driving, at the pool, or around children
- Lose interest in hobbies or activities that are important to you
- Experience symptoms of withdrawal when you don’t drink or suddenly stop drinking
If you think you’re experiencing an alcohol addiction, recovery is possible with the right resources and support. Remember, recovery isn’t a linear process, but a gradual one.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
Like any drug, after an alcohol addiction has developed, it can be extremely hard to quit. If you drink heavily often, your body will eventually learn to adapt and become used to having a higher BAC. After your body has adapted, you are more likely to experience the symptoms of withdrawal if you suddenly stop drinking. Here are some of the common side effects of alcohol withdrawal.
- An increase in anxiety
- Feeling hot, flushed, or sweating
- Being unable to sleep or experiencing insomnia
- Increased shakiness
- Having a high fever
- Feeling dazed or confused
Recovery is possible and we can help.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. If you or a loved one are experiencing an addiction to alcohol, recovery is possible. Local organizations like Roads to Recovery, Horizon Behavioral Health, and AA of Central Virginia are here for you — and so are we.
Community Access Network is also ready and able to provide resources to help you in your recovery and healing. The Central Virginia Hope Initiative offers a network of providers that can help someone in need of alcohol recovery through detoxification programs, intensive outpatient services, sober living programs, support groups, and more.
