If you have been asking yourself, “Is alcohol a depressant?” or “Is alcohol a stimulant or depressant”, today’s guide should clear up any confusion.
Why Alcohol is a Depressant
Although alcohol produces some fleeting stimulant effects like increased alertness and heart rate, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant capable of triggering biological and behavioral changes that can lead to addiction.
In small quantities, alcohol signals your brain to release dopamine. This can lead you to feel energized and stimulated.
This review of the central action mechanism of alcohol shows that alcohol has multiple actions on the central nervous system resulting in:
- Psychomotor depression
- Problems storing information
- Difficulties with logical reasoning
- Impairment of motor coordination
- Stimulation of reward system
The initial stimulant effects of alcohol manifest when BAC (blood alcohol concentration) reaches 0.05mg/l. Depressant effects are present once BAC reaches the federal limit to legally drive (0.08mg/l).
Alcohol slows down both brain functioning and brain activity. This occurs because alcohol intensifies the effects of a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain.
In heavy doses, alcohol can depress the CNS to such an extent that it causes the following impairments:
- Reduced reaction times
- Unsteady movement
- Slurred speech
- Distorted perceptions
- Lowered inhibitions
- Impaired judgment
- Problems thinking rationally
Consuming too much alcohol too quickly can depress your central nervous system so much that you suffer coma, respiratory failure, or death.
The above effects occur due to the various ways in which alcohol impacts the brain.
Firstly, alcohol binds to naturally occurring GABA receptors in your brain. GABA is a chemical messenger charged with producing feelings of sedation and calmness. Additionally, GABA causes depression in your CNS, suppressing both breathing and heart rate.
Next, alcohol inhibits the activity of glutamate in the brain. This leads to impairments in brain functionality and memory loss.
Finally, consuming alcohol triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for reward and pleasure. This is the reason many people drink more in an attempt to recreate and increase the feel-good sensation associated with dopamine release.
Unfortunately, the more alcohol you consume, the more depressant effects will develop.
Depressant Effects of Alcohol
Depressants slow down the central nervous system, causing you to react more slowly and slur words. Like all depressants, alcohol also decreases blood pressure and slows down the heart rate.
Beyond this, alcohol’s primary depressant effects include:
- Disorientation
- Impaired coordination
- Reduced inhibition
- Sedation
- Drowsiness
As outlined above, consuming alcohol causes your brain to produce more dopamine than normal. Drinking large quantities of alcohol, though, induces the opposite effect by suppressing dopamine release. This can cause feelings of sadness and hopelessness, as well as listlessness and a depressed mood.
When BAC levels exceed 0.2mg/l, this causes alcohol poisoning. In the worst scenario, the depressant effects of alcohol can cause you to fall into a potentially fatal coma.
Abusing CND depressants can lead to immediate and longer-term outcomes, sometimes irreversible. These side effects include:
- Slowed heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure levels
- Slow rate of breathing
- Depression
- Slurred speech
- Light-headedness
- Impaired motor skills
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unconsciousness
- Seizures
- Death
The abuse of CNS depressants can also lead to non-physical effects, such as:
- Financial difficulties
- Problems at work or school
- Strained interpersonal relationships
- Engaging in risky behaviors
The depressant effects of alcohol will vary in intensity according to many variables like:
- Age
- Weight
- Gender
- Tolerance for alcohol
- Body chemistry
Some researchers suggest that those who experience more stimulant effects from alcohol are more prone to developing alcohol use disorder.
Are all alcohols depressants, then?
Are All Types of Alcohol Depressants?
All types of alcohol are depressants because of the multiple mechanisms of action that decrease activity in the CNS.
Despite anecdotal evidence that tequila is a stimulant rather than a depressant, this is an urban legend. Tequila is a form of ethanol (alcohol), the same intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and other distilled spirits. The alcohol molecule is identical in all varieties of alcoholic drinks, including tequila.
Get Help for Alcoholism at The District Recovery
If you are one of the 28 million people in the U.S. with alcohol use disorder, help is at hand here at The District Recovery Community.
We provide a variety of gender-specific programs for addiction and mental health conditions, allowing you to engage with treatment in a distraction-free environment without any triggers for alcohol abuse.
If you require a medical detox, we can connect you with suitable detox centers near you. Anyone with a more severe alcohol use disorder would benefit from a medically supervised detox to avoid potentially lethal withdrawal symptoms.
With the physical aspect of alcohol addiction addressed, you will be ready to tackle the powerful psychological component of alcoholism. We offer outpatient programs at the following levels of intensity:
- OP (traditional outpatient program): 2 to 3 hours of therapy sessions per week.
- IOP (intensive outpatient program): 12 to 15 hours of therapy sessions per week.
- PHP (partial hospitalization program): 30 to 35 hours of therapy sessions per week.
Our PHP gives you the most intensive form of outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder outside of residential rehab.
If you have a co-occurring mental health condition like anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, or PTSD, you would benefit from our dual diagnosis treatment program. Here, you will unpack both conditions simultaneously, a more effective approach than treating each condition in isolation – addiction and mental health are closely intertwined.
All of our treatment programs draw from the following therapies:
- MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Psychotherapy (CBT or DBT)
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapies
After completing your program at TDRC, you’ll either step down to a less intensive form of treatment or transition directly back into sober living. Either way, you’ll be equipped with a relapse prevention plan and the right level of aftercare for your needs.
Reach out to admissions today to reclaim your life from the depressant effects of alcohol. Call the friendly team at 844.287.8506.
