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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. Interventions are about providing information and support to the person struggling with alcohol and/or depressant abuse. This includes finding and explaining a potential plan for treatment. Friends and family members should research detox and rehabilitation facilities beforehand, including those that specialize in treating polydrug abuse, alcohol withdrawal, and prescription drug abuse. Mark’s natural leadership skills as well as his creative thought process to generate new revenue strategies make him one of the most sought-after professionals in healthcare.
In larger quantities, alcohol switches from a stimulant to a depressant. It slows down your nervous system, blood pressure, and heart rate, leading to mental fogginess, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. It can increase your heart rate, aggression, and impulsiveness, as well as cause a surge in dopamine levels. Furthermore, some people may experience more stimulating effects from alcohol, while others may experience more depressant effects.
What Is a Stimulant?
These parts of the brain react to low levels of alcohol and showed a decrease in activity after alcohol consumption. Lower activity in these regions of the brain may result in memory loss, decreased motor activity, and impaired judgement, which are all common side effects of depressants. Although stimulant and depressant drugs have opposite effects, both are physically and mentally addicting.
Is Coffee a stimulant or a depressant?
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it increases activity in your brain and nervous system. It also increases the circulation of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline in the body.
The depressant effect of alcohol can get worse if you drink to excess. Both alcohol and antidepressants can make you tired, less alert, and uncoordinated. So unless you really want to be stumbling around before you keel over into bed, mixing alcohol and antidepressants is a bad idea. The authors suggest that that this potentially increases the possibility that all alcohol works in a similar way.
So is alcohol really a depressant?
On the note of body chemistry, what’s interesting to note is that researchers have come up with a theory. They think that those who experience more stimulant effects are more susceptible to alcoholism. Based on the name, many people think that depressants make you feel depressed. “Depressant” sober house refers to the effect that these substances have on your central nervous system, not how it’d impact your mood. When taken as prescribed, stimulants like amphetamines do not cause those extreme reactions. But these types of stimulants are often abused for recreational purposes.
- A lot of the team does not know, but I love learning from them.
- Marketing companies spend a lot of time making alcohol look like a lot of fun.
- Stimulants and depressants both affect your nervous system and brain function, although in opposite ways.
- There is no “one size fits all” approach to potential health benefits from alcohol.
- Alcohol’s categorization of depressants does not mean that it directly creates depression, but drinking alcohol and depression are closely related.
Note that when it comes to alcohol, moderation is key to avoiding negative health effects. How alcohol affects you personally depends on your body chemistry, how much you drink, and your alcohol tolerance. To get a rough understanding of how many drinks it would take you to reach these BAC levels, there are many calculators available online. Stimulants and depressants both affect your nervous system and brain function, although in opposite ways.
How can I stop using stimulants or depressants?
This makes them think alcohol is a stimulant, and there is a reason for this. This is the same brain chemical that gives stimulants like cocaine and meth the energetic, euphoric, and “up” qualities people experience when they take these drugs. Many people believe alcohol is a stimulant, so you may find it surprising to learn that alcohol is a depressant.
On the other hand, depressants slow you down by decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure. They can help you feel relaxed and, on the extreme end, completely sedate you (2). Do note that the depressant effects (as well as the stimulant effects) can be different for everyone. You might feel giddy and alert after one beer while your friend is sulky and incoherent on the same amount of alcohol.