Alcohol Facts

Question 1

Is alcohol a stimulant?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is interesting in that it does have certain stimulating effects, but it is not classified as a stimulant. These effects include increased heart rate, a sense of energy, and lowered inhibitions. However, these are only seen during the initial stages of intoxication, after which sedative effects begin to set in. As a result, alcohol cannot be classified as a stimulant.

Why is alcohol not a stimulant?

The correct classification of a drug is based on the dominant effects. With alcohol, depressant effects are dominant, so it is considered a depressant.

When determining if a substance is a stimulant or a depressant, doctors look at how it impacts the central nervous system. Stimulants, also known as uppers, will speed up the processes of the central nervous system. Depressants, also known as downers, slow these processes down. Alcohol is interesting because it does both, speeding up and slowing down the CNS at different stages of intoxication. The myth that alcohol is a stimulant began because of its ability to loosen people up and reduce social inhibitions.

Stimulates Speed Up Your System Depressants Bring Down Your System

Ongoing research theorizes that alcoholics experience either greater stimulant effect or less depressant effects compared to peers.

What is a stimulant?

Stimulants are substances that increase central nervous system activity. This can manifest in symptoms such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, greater alertness, boosted energy, and general feelings of wellbeing. For a substance to be classified as a stimulant, these effects must be the dominant ones produced by the substance.

What kind of stimulant effects does alcohol have?

The most commonly reported stimulant effects of alcohol are feelings of increased energy, increased heart rate, rapid respiration, and feelings of aggression. While these effects can be seen in anyone consuming alcohol, they tend to present more strongly in men than in women. The reverse is also true; women tend to experience the depressant effects of alcohol more than men.

Is alcohol a depressant?

Yes, alcohol is classified as a depressant. This is because the initial stimulatory effects turn to depressant effects as soon as the intoxication levels fail to rise. Through its interactions with the CNS, alcohol slows heart rate and breathing and dulls reflexes and response time. In other words, it depresses multiple systems in the body that rely on communication with the CNS to function properly. Alcohol can cause slurred speech, disturbed perceptions and an inability to react quickly.

Is alcohol causing my depression?

The links between alcohol consumption and depression are complex. The classification “depressant” doesn’t mean alcohol causes depression, but rather, it describes alcohol’s effects on the central nervous system.

However, depression and addiction are closely linked, and many people with alcohol use disorder also have co-occurring depression. Having preexisting depression is known to put people at risk of developing a problematic relationship with alcohol. However, there is also evidence that alcohol abuse can alter the brain and lead to the development of depression. Whether alcohol is a direct cause of depression is up for debate, but there is a clear correlation. Alcoholics are 3.7 times more likely to experience a major depressive disorder than non-alcoholics.

When treating alcoholics that have depression, it’s vital to help them work through the root causes of their depression while simultaneously treating their addiction. Without treating the underlying causes of co-occurring mental disorders, substance abuse treatment is much less likely to work.

Negative Feelings - Drinking to Stop Negative Feelings - Creates or Worsens Problems - Depression - back to Negative Feelings

There is good news, though. Getting sober will make it easier to address your depression, and addressing your depression will in turn help you stay sober. JourneyPure’s alcohol rehab Florida can help you tackle both of these problems at the same time.

What are other depressants?

In addition to alcohol, the following substances are also considered depressants:

Opiates (including heroin)
Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, etc.)
Ketamine
Certain inhalants
GHB

Are stimulants or depressants more dangerous?

Both stimulants and depressants are dangerous for different reasons. Stimulants ramp up systems in the body, basically forcing the body into overdrive. Over time, having an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure can cause put unnecessary strain on the body. Overdose on stimulants can cause arrhythmias, heart attacks and other problems by overworking the organs and causing seizures and heart attacks.

Depressants, on the other hand, slow the body’s processes down in some cases to the point that respiration and cardiac activity cease. In an overdose scenario, the automatic processes, like breathing, and heart rate, start to slow down and eventually stop altogether. For obvious reasons, this is extremely dangerous and often deadly.

Combining stimulants and depressants is especially dangerous. While some users will attempt to mix uppers and downers, thinking that this will balance the negative effects of each, it actually increases the risks.

Does alcohol increase heart rate?

Yes, alcohol does increase heart rate as well as raise blood pressure during the initial stages of intoxication. As a result, heavy drinking increases the risk of experience cardiovascular-related diseases such as heart attack and stroke. However, once the depressant effects begin to set in, heart rate decreases, sometimes to a dangerous degree. Anyone consuming alcohol should be aware of both ends of the spectrum and how these effects can harm them.

Question 2

How do I find the best alcohol rehab near me?

Accepted Answer

If you’re anywhere in Tennessee, Kentucky or Florida or willing to fly to get the best care in the country, I stand behind the effectiveness of alcoholism treatment here at JourneyPure.

That said, people usually come in after:

From there, you have to compare your options.

What if there are no good options for alcohol rehab near me?

Staying sober is more important than staying local. Driving 3 or more hours to a facility isn’t that big of a deal considering you’re staying for several weeks. You may have driven farther for just a few days of vacation. Every day people come from all across the state to our main campuses. (Just be sure you call first because we often have waitlists). Focus on finding the highest quality option, not the closest.

If there are really no options around, consider flying to get the help you need. (Just like you might fly to see a specialist with other diseases). Florida and California are known for having tons of addiction treatment options. A sunny location helps you escape the chaos of your addiction and fully focus on yourself. While you may not have wanted to go far from home, that could be exactly what you need to really stop drinking.

How do I know which alcohol rehab center is best?

If you’ve never gone to rehab before, you probably don’t know what separates the great rehabs from questionable ones. Here are some things to look for:

Are there alcohol-only rehabs?

Being an alcoholic myself, I know it’s easy to feel different (“better”) than a drug addict. When we drink, it’s not illegal. We don’t have to go to any extremes to get our drug. But, alcohol is a drug. All of us in addiction need to fix the same processes in our brains.

Therapies and medications depend on what each person needs, but there’s very little difference in treatment based on our drug of choice. And, don’t be fooled, there are high functioning meth, pill and heroin addicts too. (Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Loyd used to be one of them).

For all of those reasons, it’s the same license to treat addiction to drugs or alcohol. Don’t let that get in your way.

How do I find an alcohol rehab if I don’t have insurance?

State-funded, nonprofit facilities offer low or no-cost treatment to low-income residents. The problem is access. Over five million Americans don’t receive treatment every year because of lax government-funded resources.

Your best bet is to use FindTreatment.org. Search your zip code, then filter for Free or no-cost care under payment options. If nothing comes up, try filtering for Payment assistance available or Sliding fee scale.

The process can be frustrating. Facilities may have waitlists or require you to go in-person on a first-come-first-serve basis, but don’t give up. You can do this.

NOTE: If you make less than $15,586 per year as an individual, you may be able to apply for Medicaid.

Question 3

What are the early signs of liver damage?

Accepted Answer

The first stage of liver damage is inflammation, but most people that experience liver damage from drinking do not show any early signs. In fact, liver damage can progress through several stages before they or their doctor notices anything is wrong. Most people do not realize they have a problem until they reach the point where built-up scar tissue is impeding proper liver function.

When the symptoms do become noticeable, they usually include:

A general sense of being unwell
Having a lower tolerance for alcohol
Nausea and vomiting
Experiencing severe hangovers
A lack of appetite
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant
Abdominal protrusion

Healthy Smooth Liver, Damaged Discolored Textured Liver

What are the stages of liver damage?

Liver disease from alcoholism can be divided into the following stages:

Inflammation
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis
Liver cancer
Liver failure (End-stage liver disease)

As the liver progresses through these stages, the prognosis becomes more serious and it’s less likely that the cells of the liver can recover from the damage they have sustained. Treatment and management of liver damage also becomes more complicated.

Liver problems from drinking usually progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis, and finally to cirrhosis. Once an individual develops cirrhosis of the liver, the damage cannot be reversed. However, abstaining from alcohol and adhering to treatment protocol can prevent the disease and its symptoms from getting worse.

Where is your liver?

The liver is located in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen. It sits above the stomach but beneath the diaphragm. The size is similar to a football. Any pain or abnormalities in this area could signal liver problems.

What is Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition of the liver caused by heavy alcohol consumption, seen in 20 percent of chronic drinkers. With this disease, fat deposits build up in the liver (also known as steatosis). This causes inflammation that reduces hepatic function.

Inflammation can cause liver pain on the right side of the body, but not always. If left untreated, it will progress into more serious forms of liver damage. I have treated many patients who delayed care at this stage and ended up with permanent liver damage down the road. For treatment to work, the patient has to stop drinking immediately.
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease graphic

What is Alcoholic Hepatitis (Liver Fibrosis)?

Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition where the liver becomes inflamed, resulting in damage to the cells of the organ. Roughly 35% of long-term heavy drinkers develop this condition. For many people with fibrosis, there either are no symptoms or they are so minor that patients fail to realize something is wrong. At this stage, liver damage can still be treated, and much of the damage will heal. However, if left untreated or the individual starts drinking again, alcoholic hepatitis is likely to progress into cirrhosis, which is chronic.

Symptoms: Potentially none at first, then:

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
Fever
Pain or tenderness in the right upper abdomen

In severe cases, there’s a 50% mortality rate. If drinking continues, 40% will develop into cirrhosis.
Alcoholic Hepatitis graphic

What is Alcoholic Cirrhosis?

Alcoholic cirrhosis develops when the scar tissue from alcoholic hepatitis builds up to the point that it overwhelmingly replaces healthy liver tissue. This impairs blood flow and other critical components of healthy liver function. For many people suffering from alcoholic liver damage, this is the stage where symptoms become clearer. Signs that cirrhosis has developed include:

Early Liver Problem Symptoms

Feeling tired or weak
Poor appetite
Losing weight without trying
Nausea and vomiting
Mild pain or discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen

Distinct Symptoms

Red palms
Shortening of muscles in the fingers
White nails or thickening and widening of the fingers and nails

Late-Stage Symptoms

Bruising and bleeding easily
Confusion, difficulty thinking, memory loss, personality changes, or sleep disorders
Swelling in your lower legs, ankles or feet
Bloating from the buildup of fluid in your abdomen
Severe itchy skin
Darkening of the color of your urine
Jaundice
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Liver failure

If left untreated, alcoholic cirrhosis is deadly. However, with the right treatment and a commitment to sobriety, upwards of 90 percent of see positive outcomes.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis graphic

How do you know if your liver is failing when there are no early symptoms?

Despite there not being many early symptoms of liver disease and failure, there is a clear indicator that you are likely incurring damage: heavy and/or frequent drinking. If you have a problematic relationship with alcohol, there is a strong chance that your liver has sustained damage.

Long before your body begins displaying symptoms, liver damage can be detected in bloodwork. This is due to liver cells dying at a higher rate than they naturally would. Liver enzymes, including SGPT, SGOT, and GGTP, will show up on the tests as being elevated. The higher their levels, the worse the condition of the liver. When someone is displaying these symptoms, I order bloodwork checking for these enzymes at the beginning of treatment, and then subsequently follow up as the levels stabilize.

Why do alcoholics get yellow skin?

Yellowing of the skin and eyes is a condition known as jaundice. This occurs when the liver is unable to properly process waste material which is normally excreted in the feces. If the liver is unable to remove it, the material builds up and starts to alter the color of the skin and eyes.

What does jaundice look like?

How much drinking causes liver damage?

Because everyone’s biology and genetics are different, there is no way to determine how much alcohol a person can drink before they get liver damage. Most people develop liver damage after years of heavy drinking, but new data suggests that binge drinking can also cause liver issues. The CDC recommends that men should drink no more than 2 drinks per day (1 for women). Exceeding these amounts will put you at a greater risk of developing liver problems.

When should I see a doctor to get my liver tested?

You should have your liver checked if you meet any of the following criteria:

You have a problem with drugs or alcohol
You are showing symptoms of liver problems (pain, jaundice, tiredness, etc.)
Your family has a history of liver problems
You take medications that are known to cause liver damage

Can the liver repair itself after years of drinking?

In most cases, the answer is yes. While it is possible for liver damage to be too significant to reverse, most of my patients are able to partially or wholly restore their liver function by stopping drinking and getting the right treatment. Because liver cells can regenerate easier than those of other organs, treatment usually leads to a positive outcome.

The best treatment is early detection.
Stopping your drinking will always improve your outcome.
Addiction treatment centers (like JourneyPure’s veterans drug rehab) can help you stop drinking for good.

Question 4

What is wet brain?

Accepted Answer

Wet brain is a form of brain damage that results from repeat and heavy drinking. Also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, wet brain stems from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Alcohol hinders the absorption, activation and storage of thiamine. The brain needs thiamine to function.

Wet brain has a sudden onset and does not happen gradually. Lesions form on the brain causing obvious mental confusion and physical coordination issues. The parts of the brain responsible for memory are permanently damaged. The result is alcoholism-induced dementia.

Normal brain scan, middle stage brain scan, late stage brain scan

What are the symptoms of wet brain?

The initial symptoms are the most serious and last a few days or weeks, though all symptoms don’t always occur.

Confusion
Loss of muscle coordination, including the inability to walk
Trouble seeing, including double-vision and involuntary eye movements
In extreme cases, loss of mental activity that leads to a coma or death

After these symptoms, around 80-90% of people later experience the following permanent symptoms:

Short-term memory loss (inability to develop new memories)
Long-term memory loss
Hallucinations (visual and auditory)

People who have late-stage Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome resemble dementia patients. The most obvious symptoms are forgetfulness and trouble with coordination, which leads to difficulty walking and moving independently. Individuals with advanced Korsakoff symptoms do not usually go to alcohol treatment centers, but instead require long-term care facilities, like nursing homes. In many cases, their symptoms make further alcohol treatment impossible.

Is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome the same thing as wet brain?

Wet brain is a somewhat antiquated term for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke and Korsakoff are two distinct phases of the same illness. Wernicke encephalopathy is characterized by brain bleeding that causes early-stage neurological symptoms, like confusion and loss of muscle coordination. Wernicke encephalopathy can be treated with thiamine supplements, but time is of the essence.

Korsakoff syndrome is the resulting psychosis that comes after the initial brain damage is untreated. The symptoms include memory loss, trouble concentrating, and sometimes even personality changes. At this stage, brain damage is permanent.

What causes wet brain?

Typically, wet brain is caused by a thiamine deficiency resulting from alcoholism. In rare cases, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can be caused by a lack of thiamine in a person’s diet, due to eating disorders or malnutrition. However, in over two decades of practice I’ve never seen someone with wet brain symptoms that were not directly caused by alcoholism.

How long does wet brain last?

The duration of wet brain symptoms depends on how far the disease has progressed by the time the thiamine deficiency is treated. When caught in the acute stage, symptoms like confusion and problems with balance clear up in days or weeks.

However, once it progresses to a chronic condition, the neurological effects are usually permanent. According to a study from the University of Louisville, about 25% of people with Wernicke-Korsakoff will require long term care in an institution.

How common is wet brain?

Less than 2% of the population suffers from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, so the disease is rare. Most alcoholics do not make it to the wet brain stage of alcoholism. For better or worse, they either get help or face the consequences of their drinking that force them to stop.

That said, many alcoholics come to treatment deficient in thiamine. Once they stop drinking and improve their diet, their levels return to normal.

Do I have wet brain?

While wet brain is considered a rare disease, up to 80% of alcoholics have a thiamine deficiency. This deficiency can cause brain damage outside of a full wet brain diagnosis. Tying together rough estimates, as high as 1 in every 7 alcoholics may develop wet brain, usually between ages 30-70.

If you had Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, you would likely know it because the symptoms are so noticeable and happen so quickly. For example, people with wet brain usually experience multiple days in a row with limited muscle movement or trouble seeing with no other explanations. Typically, alcoholics develop wet brain after years of drinking.

Can one night of drinking cause brain damage?

While the onset of symptoms is rapid, thiamine deficiencies take time to develop. This means that a single night of heavy drinking will not cause Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome. However, that doesn’t mean that it has no lasting effects on the brain. Other forms of alcohol-induced brain damage can develop after just a single night of binge drinking, especially if alcohol poisoning occurs.

Can I get wet brain from beer?

Yes, all forms of alcohol can cause a thiamine deficiency, including beer. However, since the alcohol content is lower when compared to liquor and wine, it takes more to achieve the same effects. Still, individuals vary in their susceptibility to thiamine deficiency, and for some people, it can be triggered more easily than in others.

Can you die from drinking alcohol every day?

Yes, it is possible for someone to die from daily drinking due to the build-up of effects on the body. After continued abuse, the body’s organs will become damaged and start shutting down. Wet brain is just one example of the consequences of untreated alcoholism.

However, there is no set amount per day or length of time that is the universal point at which daily drinking turns deadly. The best route to take is for individuals with problematic drinking habits to stop consuming alcohol.

How do I prevent wet brain?

The best way to prevent wet brain is to stop drinking alcohol. Wet brain is just one very serious and very real consequence of continued drinking. I know it’s not easy, but it is possible! (We see it every day at our Bowling Green, Murfreesboro, Panama City and military alcohol rehabs).

Alcoholics that are experiencing wet brain symptoms should get medical attention immediately to prevent further damage.

Question 5

Is my husband an alcoholic?

Accepted Answer

A diagnosis of alcoholism involves answering “yes” to at least two of 12 diagnostic questions. The questions aren’t about how much or how often someone drinks, but what consequences stem from their drinking. Alcoholics may maintain their responsibilities in the short-run, but eventually, the drinking will catch up with them.

What’s the definition of alcoholism?

Alcoholism (now known as alcohol use disorder) is a disease in which a person has a desire or physical need to consume alcohol, even though drinking is causing negative consequences in their life.

What classifies a person as an alcoholic?

According to the latest diagnostic standard, the disease is diagnosed using the following twelve questions. If the answer is “yes” to more than two of these in the last 12 months, your husband meets the clinical diagnosis for Alcohol Use Disorder.

Have there been times when he drank more or longer than he intended to?
Has he tried more than once to cut down or stop drinking, but couldn’t?
Does he spend a lot of time drinking or being sick from drinking?
Has he wanted a drink so badly that he couldn’t think of anything else?
Does drinking (or being sick from drinking) often interfere with the family? Or, cause problems at work or school?
Does he continue to drink even though it’s causing trouble with you, or other family or friends?
Has he given up or cut back on activities that were previously important in order to drink?
More than once, has he gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased his chances of getting hurt (such as drunk driving)?
Has he continued to drink even though it was making him feel depressed or anxious or adds to another health problem? Or, after having had a memory blackout?
Does his usual number of drinks have much less effect than before?
When the effects of alcohol wear off, does he have withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart or a seizure?

Again, he only needs to check two of these boxes to meet the criteria. You’ll see more and more signs the longer the problem drinking continues.

What are other warning signs of alcoholism?

While not included in the formal diagnosis, there are other behaviors I see that differentiate normal drinking from problem drinking, including:

Drinking alone, in secret or at inappropriate times
Having legal problems related to drinking, including a DUI
Needing alcohol to relax or feel confident
Feeling urges to drink or anxiety without alcohol
Storing alcohol in odd places
Denying drinking, hiding alcohol or get angry when confronted about drinking

Supporting Graphic - Even a mild alcohol use disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Does drinking every day make you an alcoholic?

Neither the amount nor the frequency of drinking is part of the diagnosis. But, most people like to have some type of quantity measure.

For men, low-risk drinking is considered no more than four drinks per day OR 14 drinks in a week. (For women, it’s less than three drinks a day, no more than seven in a week).

What counts as a standard drink:
Beer 10-12oz, Wine 5oz, Shot 1.5oz, Mixed Drink varies

That means your husband doesn’t have to get drunk every day to be an alcoholic. He can also still have a job and be an alcoholic. The fact that you’re asking about your his drinking is already a red flag that there’s an issue, regardless of the amount he says he drinks.

What can I do about my husband’s drinking?

Denial is a normal psychological response that can be frustratingly difficult to overcome. The more consequences he experiences from his drinking, the more likely he is to accept alcohol is a problem.

See how he reacts when you express your concerns in a caring way when he’s sober. If it doesn’t go well, try getting others involved through marriage counseling or an intervention.

Ultimately, you want him to go to an alcoholism treatment center like our Tennessee, Florida or Kentucky rehabs or a specialty program like a rehab for veterans. There he can be evaluated and treated by a team of experienced addiction professionals. Even if you don’t think he will be open to getting help, it’s worth it to have the conversation. Often, loved ones have more leverage than they realize in these situations.

What are the early signs of liver damage?

What is wet brain?

Is my husband an alcoholic?

Is alcohol a stimulant?

How do I find the best alcohol rehab near me?

See New Alcohol Questions

The 25 Most Interesting Facts About Alcohol

Alcohol Prevalence Facts

Alcohol Effects Facts

Binge Drinking Facts

Alcoholism Facts

Alcohol Death Facts

Cultural Alcohol Facts

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