What Do They Mean When They Call Alcohol a Depressant?

Alcohol is the most widely used and consumed drug in the entire world. Alcohol is all around us, and many times our society conditions us to view alcohol as a fun party boosting activity. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption can become excessive and eventually lead people down a dark path. 

With alcohol being considered a drug, it is often referred to as a depressant. But what does that mean exactly? At Go Sober, we understand the negative impact that alcohol can have on your life. If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive alcohol consumption, we’re here for you. We’ve spent years working with top neuroscientists, medical professionals, mental health experts, and addiction specialists to create an alcohol treatment program with an extremely high success rate. Our goal is simple: to help you go sober forever. 

Alcohol is classified as a depressant. This means that it slows down the vital functions which can result in slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perceptions, and an inability to react quickly. Depressant drugs also affect the mind and can be best understood as a drug that reduces a person’s ability to think rationally. Depressants are also known as “downers” and can have intense short-term and long-term effects. 

Short Term Effects 

Depending on the amount of alcohol that a person has consumed, the short-term effects may be seen in different or a variety of ways. It’s also important to note that some people may experience the opposite intended effect. While a typical effect is to feel fatigued, some people may respond with aggression and agitation. 

Some of the short term effects can be seen as:

  • Slowed brain function
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Poor concentration
  • Confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Disorientation
  • Depression

Long Term Effects  

When looking at the long-term effects, tolerances can be built with depressant drugs which is why alcohol may hit people with the effects at various times throughout the period of drinking. Long-term use of depressants can produce mental and physical effects such as:

  • Depression
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Sexual problems
  • Sleep issues

If the dependency goes further the person may experience extreme cravings, anxiety, and panic. The long-term usage of alcohol can also increase a person’s risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain — instances of up to 100 pounds have been reported when taking depressant drugs. Liver failure and other heart problems can also result. 

The consequences that arise from excessive drinking are serious, which is why we are here for you at Go Sober. With two locations in Colorado, Longmont, and Centennial, we focus on helping you regain your life. We even offer a free consultation where you can sit with a trained specialist who will be there to understand what your struggles with alcoholism are. This is a no-obligation, confidential session that can help us craft a plan for you that will let you live a sober lifestyle. Taking the first step is scary, but it is well worth it. Contact us today to get started and take control of your life.

More From This Category

The Relationship Between Alcohol and Mental Health

There is a direct correlation between alcoholism and a decrease in mental health. This is something we know and have heard many times before. However, many do not know what that exactly means and how alcoholism specifically affects the brain. With over three million...

Why Can’t I Stop Drinking?

You have tried to quit before, but it never seems to stick. You may go a few days or even a couple of weeks without drinking, but inevitably, you pick up the bottle again. You may feel overwhelmed with anxiety, or even have physical symptoms that make it difficult to...

How To Know If You Have Alcohol Use Disorder

In our last blog, we discussed what alcohol use disorder, or alcohol dependence, is and what some of the signs are. We are going to continue with this topic, but in this blog, we will be going over what questions you can ask yourself or a loved one to figure out if...

Breaking The Cycle: The Go Sober Difference

On average, those who struggle with alcohol dependence go through typical treatment about six times before they are able to fully get rid of that dependence. At Go Sober, 80% of our patients go through our program once and are then alcohol free for the rest of their...

Depression and Alcohol

While it probably won’t hurt to have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner occasionally, turning to alcohol in order to get through your day could be a sign of a more serious problem. Alcohol use, and abuse have continued to have a strong link to depression. Nearly...

COVID-19 Quarantine Poses Serious Threat to Those Struggling With Alcohol Abuse

The recent call to stay at home and isolate to halt the spread of Coronavirus hits those struggling with alcohol abuse harder than most. Keep reading to hear from Go Sober co-founder, Greg Hoffman, to learn about how the quarantine can impact those individuals...

What is Alcoholism?

Alcohol is not a new substance. Since the beginning of time, almost every single culture has used some type of alcoholic beverage. We even know that alcoholic beverages like wine and beer were considered healthier alternatives since they did not have the knowledge or...

New Year, Better You

While we’re already a few weeks into the new year of 2020 and you may have skipped out on your resolution to hit the gym more, keep your resolution of living a sober life with Go Sober. Many times, people don’t end up following through with their new year's...

Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

Many people don’t realize that they have a troubled relationship with alcohol until something happens that forces them to face reality. They lose their job, face DUI charges, or a significant relationship falls apart. Suddenly, they can’t deny the impact alcohol has...

The Life-Threatening Dangers of Alcohol

From the years of 1999 to 2017, there have been almost one million people who have died from alcohol-related incidents or causes. This statement is shocking and may even cause you to take a step back and evaluate your own choices when it comes to alcohol. There have...

0 Comments

0 Comments