Is Alcohol a Stimulant or a Depressant?

Is Alcohol a Stimulant or a Depressant

How much do you know about alcohol? Is it something bad or good? Or do you only think about it as something that will make you drunk? Well, here we will be discussing how alcohol works and how it affects the human body. So, is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant?

About stimulants and depressant

Before we answer the question of is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant? Let us first have a look at both of the terms. Stimulants and depressants have something in common, they will affect the human brain function and nervous system. However, they have opposite effects. While stimulants will give excitement to the nervous system, depressants will slow it down. Stimulants work by increasing blood pressure as well as heart resulting in more energy.

Some examples of stimulants are caffeine, amphetamines, and cocaine. Depressants slowing your body by decreasing blood pressure and heart rate. Depressants can make you feel relaxed or heavy doses will give the effect of sedation. Benzodiazepines and opiates are examples of depressants. Nicotine and alcohol are known to have both characteristics.

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Stimulants in alcohol

Initial and low doses of alcohol will signal the brain to release dopamine, the one in charge of our feeling of pleasure. This is what makes some people think that alcohol is a stimulant. However, when the alcohol concentration level in your blood increased, the depressant effects will take place.

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The effects of alcohol will not be the same among individuals. This will depend on some factors such as sex, weight, body chemistry, the does of consumed alcohol and alcohol tolerance. Some people claim that they experience the stimulants effect rather than a depressant. It this highly possible that the person is categorized as alcoholism.

Depressant in alcohol

The stimulant effects of alcohol will be replaced by depressant effects when the concentration of alcohol is higher in your blood. Alcohol will then slow down the central nervous system, decrease heart rate, blood pressure as well as mental clarity. Alcohol in higher doses will suppress the production of dopamine, which can cause a feeling of sadness and alike.

Is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant?

Alcohol is mainly a depressant that has some stimulant effects in initial taking and lower doses. When you feel that alcohol has stimulant effects rather than depressants, even in large amounts, then you may suffer from alcoholism and this can affect your health badly. Find trusted drug and alcohol rehab to help you from alcoholism and addiction and have better health.