Many people believe that when they consume alcohol, they become livelier. And they are right. Alcohol can act as a stimulant in lower doses. However, if you consume too much alcohol, you will notice its impairment effects. At this stage, it is quite easy for someone to lose their awareness and engage in activities they might regret later. So, is alcohol a depressant when you consume it? At Blueprint Recovery Center, we will help you understand how alcohol works in the body. We also offer treatment for any alcohol-related addictions.
Is Alcohol a Depressant?
Depressants affect the central nervous system of a person and slow down the neural activity and the brain’s rate of functioning. As a result, they make users have unsteady movement, exhibit slurry speech patterns or reduce their reaction speed.
If you are a consumer of alcohol, you may be familiar with the effects listed above. Alcohol is a depressant. When people consume alcohol, the chemicals in the drink affect GABA neurotransmitters. The effect of alcohol is to enhance the abilities of these neurotransmitters. This action can lead to irrational or distorted judgment.
Much as alcohol is a depressant, it also has the stimulant effect. Clinically, we consider alcohol to be a depressant. But the level of consumption determines whether it will act as a stimulant or a depressant. Moderate consumption of alcohol produces the stimulant effect. What people normally refer to as “loosening up”. If you continue drinking past this point, you will experience the depressant effect of the alcohol.
Effects of Depressants
Is alcohol a depressant or not? We have established a criterion to determine and answer that question. Common effects of depressants include:
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Impaired motor skills
- Slurred speech, vomiting, and fatigue
- Slowed heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Unconsciousness, seizures or even death
If you experience these effects after consuming alcohol, know that its depressant effects have kicked in. These effects should act as a pointer that you have exceeded your alcohol consumption limit. If you continue drinking, you risk overdosing on alcohol. Substance abuse treatment programs can help you to manage your drinking habits if you so wish.
Treatment at Blueprint Recovery Center
Blueprint Recovery Center understands that each addiction case is unique. The center, therefore, has a variety of treatment programs that can help you with your addiction. A separate men’s rehab center and a women’s rehab center exist for patients who wish to focus solely on overcoming their addiction. Such patients may not want the distraction from the opposite gender to derail their recovery.
Other programs include:
- Partial hospitalization program: This is a very flexible program. It gives you the option to choose the time that you are comfortable to come and get treatment. You won’t have to stay at the facility on a full-time basis for you to make a recovery.
- Alcohol addiction treatment program: This program target alcoholics for specialized treatment. It will help you to detox safely from the alcohol before you get treatment for the addiction.
- Drug addiction treatment program: You may be suffering from addiction to other substances in addition to alcohol. This program can handle such multiple addiction cases and give you a shot at a healthier life.
- Alumni program: The program will connect you with other recoverees after you get treatment. This will help you to stay sober as the program reassures you are never alone.
Contact Blueprint Recovery for Help Today
The answer to is alcohol a depressant can have two solutions. It all depends on the quantity of alcohol you consume. However, you can still develop an addiction even if you consume moderately for a long period. Luckily, a mental health facility can treat the condition. If you or your loved one needs help with addiction, contact Blueprint Recovery at 833.654.1004. We are ready to help.
