Alcohol

General Information

Alcohol is a CNS depressant that acts through the GABAa receptor, and is one of the most common strong psychoactives used by humans. It has a long history of use and its intoxicating effects are well-studied and -documented.

Effects

Positive

• Relaxation
• Mood lift, happiness, giddiness
• Increased sociability
• Lowered inhibitions & reduced social anxiety
• Analgesia (kills pain)

Neutral

• Slurred speech
• Flushed skin
• Drowsiness, sleepiness
• Nystagmus, difficulty focusing eyes
• Changed (often increased) response to sexual stimuli
• Tolerance with repeated use within a few days
• Changed aesthetic appreciation: Normally beautiful things can seem *ugly, things normally seen as ugly judged beautiful
• "Beer goggles" — Others appear more attractive
• Mild visual distortions at high doses

Negative

Negative side effects increase with higher doses

• Decreased coordination
• Nausea, vomiting (vomiting while unconscious can be fatal)
• Reduced impulse control
• Emotional volatility (anger, violence, sadness, etc)
• Reduced ability to attain/maintain erection in most males
• Increased difficulty in achieving orgasm in some females
• Frequent urination (more with beer or wine), diuretic effect
• Dizziness and confusion
• Blackouts and memory loss at high doses
• Coma and death at extreme doses
• Brain and liver damage (cirrhosis) with heavy use
• Lowered inhibitions and increased confusion can lead to unwanted and *negative sexual encounters (date rape)
• Hangover, lasting 12-36 hours, from mild to severe after heavy use
• Fetal damage in pregnant women at high dose or frequency

Harm Reduction

• Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery.