You can buy it at the grocery store. You can fuel up your car, walk inside the gas station, and pick up a six-pack. So, is alcohol a drug? Yes, in fact, it’s the drug that the world currently accepts the most.
Understanding the Makeup of a Drug
Because of alcohol’s widespread popularity across virtually all demographics, few people think about the potential for danger. When you consider that a drug’s hallmark is its ability to create a physiological effect, it’s clear that it qualifies. People typically think of prescription medications that require a visit to a doctor’s office or illicit street drugs. For this reason, very few associate alcohol with this definition.
So, is Alcohol a Drug?
Physicians classify alcohol as a depressant. It moderates and slows down the central nervous system’s functioning. You see this when someone has a difficult time walking a straight line or speaking without slurring words. But its effects go even further.
In addition to changing motor skills temporarily, alcohol also inhibits clear judgment. You might feel okay to drive a vehicle even though you aren’t. Others get involved in altercations they would never have joined had they not been drinking. The effects of alcohol taper off, and they’re left feeling slightly worse for the wear.
Because this drug counteracts the presence of vitamins B1 and C, frequent use results in health problems. Ironically, the B complex of vitamins also regulates stress responses, which becomes more difficult when you drink. As a result, alcohol may not be relaxing you the way you think. Therefore, you drink more in the hopes of having the drug work its magic.
How to Get Help for an Alcohol Problem
If you notice that you’re relying more and more on alcohol for relaxation and stress relief, you might try to stop. Should your body respond with withdrawal symptoms, you know that your drug use has resulted in addiction. But there’s good news! No matter for how long you’ve been using alcohol, you can quit today.
Detox is the first step, and a medically supervised program keeps you safe and comfortable. From there, you go to rehab to break the psychological addiction. Therapists work with a variety of modalities such as:
- intensive outpatient treatment programs that meet your needs and provide a suitable framework for your care
- Women and men’s rehab, which focus on your unique needs, backgrounds, and emotional makeup
- Extended care treatment ensures that you get the help you need for overcoming the psychological aspects of an alcohol addiction
- Rehab aftercare goes hand in hand with the relapse prevention that is part of every program portion
- A family program ensures that loved ones of program participants are on board with supporting efforts at a sober lifestyle
During your alcohol addiction treatment, we will use a variety of therapy programs, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Acupuncture therapy
- Aquatic therapy
Is alcohol a drug that’s ruining your life? If you’re thinking of getting help for an alcohol problem, discuss a customized treatment plan with the experts at Crestview Recovery. Overcoming drug and alcohol addiction calls for a combined effort of therapists and program participants. Don’t suffer for another day in silence. Call 866.262.0531 today for immediate assistance.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
