Alcohol – What is it?

Alcohol History

Alcohol was made in the form of wine and has been a part of history for the last 10,000 years or more. Alcoholic drinks known as mead and beer have perhaps have been around even longer. Ancient Babylonians are said to have known how to produce up to 20 different kinds of beer and passed laws on clay tablets as to the consumption.  

In China and India alcohol distillation has had its documented origin since 800 BC. This alcohol distillation process took over 1,000 years to make its way to Europe. As Greeks and Romans were claiming to have the greatest civilization on earth they were searching for drinks with flavor and wine herbs, mint, balsam, wormwood crab claws and oyster shells were used as flavorings.

As time passed the world developed national alcoholic drinks like Russian Vodka, Scottish Whiskey, Mexican Tequila, the Greeks have Ouzo, and Italians Strega and Sambucca and there are hundreds more.

In the new world called the Americas the temperance movement on alcohol and its consumption began in the mid 18th century. The number of saloons giving out alcohol had an impact on the degradation of society during this period with and an estimated saloon for every 150-200 people, including even those who did not drink. Alcohol sales were spread thin and saloon owners found it hard to make a profit and resorted to others means such as gambling and prostitution.

Today alcohol is responsible for over 450,000 deaths in the United States alone and is legally sold throughout the country.

Alcohol and Alcohol effects

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Factors that influences how alcohol will affect a person include, age, gender, physical condition, amount of food eaten and whether other drugs or medicines are being taken.

Alcohol enters the body through the mouth and flows through to the stomach alcohol gets into the bloodstream but most of the alcohol goes on to the small intestine. The alcohol enters the bloodstream via the walls of the small intestine and heart pumps the alcohol throughout the body. The alcohol then reaches the brain and causes the intoxicating effects. As the alcohol enters the liver it is oxidized or reacts with oxygen by being broken down at a rate of .5 oz an hour. .

Alcohol can cause a relaxing effect, slows reflexes, lowers inhibitions, impairs reaction time and reduces coordination and these are just the short term low consumption effects. As time goes and consumption increases it produces slurred speech, drowsiness and altars emotions. If consumption continues things like vomiting, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness and coma can occur.

Alcohol and the nervous system.

As stated earlier alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It affects many areas of the body such as nervous system formation, the function of the spinal cord and the functionality of the brain. Alcohol directly affects the neurotransmitter flow across the brain which is directly related to a person’s emotions.  .

Chronic drinking can lead to dependence and addiction to alcohol and to additional neurological problems. Typical symptoms of withholding alcohol from someone who is addicted to it are shaking (tremors), sleep problems and nausea. More severe withdrawal symptoms include hallucinations and even seizures.

AddictionWatch.com

When in need of alcohol addiction treatment or looking for the right addiction treatment center, it is important to consider all the facets of alcohol addiction or substance abuse and realize there drug rehab programs out there that do not necessarily have the best interest of you or you’re loved at heart.

For more information about alcohol addiction and alcohol addiction treatment in a alcohol rehabs, please feel free to explore our website. If you have questions about your drug use or that of a loved one, please call us at 1-866-989-4499. We are here to help.