Alcohol Addiction

Perhaps there is nothing that is as closely intertwined with human consciousness as alcohol right from the dawn of time. Alcohol has been consumed across culture and nations, and is largely sanctioned socially. At the same time it has also been a hugely abused substance causing whole societies to suffer because of its ill-effects. Here are a few facts about it:

• What is alcohol?
• What are some effects of alcohol?
• Is alcohol addicting?
• What are side effects of alcohol?
• Withdrawing from alcohol

What is alcohol?
Alcohol is a clear drink that is made by the process of fermentation. In this process the yeast fungus feeds on the sugar component of some plants like grapes or barley and produces alcohol and CO2 in the process.

What are some effects of alcohol?
When alcohol is consumed it gets absorbed into the bloodstream of the body, later gets broken down by the liver and finally excreted. However, since liver can break down some amount at a time, alcohol continues to flow within the bloodstream. So it continues to affect the body. Alcohol has a tendency to get quickly absorbed by the brain and so a person feels “drunk”. In a drunken state, he or she loses reasoning ability as alcohol acts like a sedative and slows muscle coordination, movement and speech.

Is alcohol addicting?
Alcohol addiction or alcoholism involves strong craving to consume alcohol. Addicted cannot limit or control his or her drinking.

Withdrawing from alcohol
Find a drug rehabilitation center near you in our drug rehabilitation centers list and contact a drug rehab counselor immediately.

For a less severe drug addiction, use our First Step drug withdrawal book to help make coming off drugs easier and less painful.

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