Is Alcohol Considered a Stimulant or a Depressant?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), nearly 80% of people aged 12 or older in the United States have consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime.[1]

If you’ve consumed alcohol before, you might find yourself wondering whether it is a stimulant or a depressant. After all, it does increase sociability and reduce inhibition, which are common effects of stimulant drugs. Despite this, alcohol is considered a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.[2]

Alcohol slows down brain activity, leading to side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and slowed breathing or heart rate. While the initial stimulant effects of alcohol might be confusing, the more you drink, the more your body’s functions slow down. The depressant effects of alcohol can be highly addictive and habit-forming.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol long-term can lead to an alcohol use disorder. The main signs of alcohol addiction include being unable to control how much you use, experiencing cravings for it, and dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. If you are struggling with alcoholism, you should seek professional help.

What are Stimulant Drugs?

Stimulant drugs cause activity in your brain to speed up. They cause symptoms like increased heart rate, high blood pressure, racing thoughts, and heightened levels of energy. They can also lead to negative effects like anxiety, paranoia, and even psychosis.

Examples of stimulant drugs include:[3]

• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Cocaine
• Methylphenidate
• Nicotine
• Caffeine

Stimulants excite the body’s central nervous system by increasing the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. Even though alcohol can cause some stimulant effects initially like increased sociability and energy, it is considered a depressant because it slows down the central nervous system over time.

What Makes Alcohol a Depressant?

Alcohol functions as a depressant because it slows down activity in the central nervous system of your brain. It also increases the amount of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), which leads to lowered levels of anxiety, stress, and fear. Alcohol’s depressant effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, slowed reaction times, and more.

The factors that prove alcohol is a depressant include:

• Effects on Central Nervous System – Alcohol slows down the central nervous system by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters that are responsible for slowing down neuron-to-neuron communications.

• Effects on Bodily Functions – Alcohol depresses functions in the body like heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. All of these functions become slower when you drink alcohol.

• Judgment and Coordination – Because alcohol is a depressant, it clouds your judgment and causes coordination issues. You might be more likely to engage in risky behaviors and have difficulty walking in a straight line.

• Speech and Reaction Times – Alcohol slows down basic functions like speech, movement, and reactions because of the way it depresses the central nervous system.

Even though you might initially experience increased energy when you drink alcohol, you will experience the opposite effect as you continue to drink. This is because alcohol acts as a depressant.

Other depressant drugs include benzodiazepines, opioids, GHB, ketamine, and sedatives. There are illicit depressant drugs and depressants that you can receive a prescription for. All of these substances have two things in common: they cause your brain’s functioning to slow down when you consume them and they are addictive when abused.

Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Now that you understand that alcohol is a depressant rather than a stimulant, it’s time to start discussing the risks of frequent alcohol consumption. When you drink alcohol repeatedly, your brain begins to associate it with reward and pleasure. This can cause you to become addicted to alcohol.

Alcohol addiction is also referred to as alcohol use disorder or alcoholism. The signs of alcohol  use disorder include:[4]

• Drinking more or longer than you intended to
• Wanting to cut back on or quit drinking alcohol but being unsuccessful
• Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Wanting a drink so badly that you cannot think of anything else
• Drinking interferes with your responsibilities at home, school, or work
• Continuing to drink even though it is causing social or interpersonal relationship issues
• Giving up on activities that were important to you to have more time to drink
• Getting into risky situations when you are drinking, such as driving under the influence
• Continuing to drink despite facing physical or mental health problems as a direct result
• Needing to drink more to experience the effect you desire
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol

If you have 2 to 3 of the above-mentioned symptoms, you are suffering from mild alcoholism. 4 to 5 symptoms indicate a moderate alcohol use disorder, while 6 or more mean that you have a severe problem.

Whether your alcohol use disorder is mild or severe, you should seek professional help. Alcohol rehab programs will offer the support and tools you need to achieve long-term recovery.

Find Help for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease that can be difficult to overcome. Thankfully, addiction treatment centers make it possible for you to achieve long-term sobriety. These programs offer a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning to help you recover.

At New Jersey Addiction Interventions, we understand the importance of finding a program that suits your needs. Our addiction specialists will provide you with an in-depth assessment to match you with a facility that offers the exact services you need. Whether you require medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or dual diagnosis services, we can help you find the right alcohol rehab center for you.

Contact New Jersey Addiction Interventions today for more information on how to get connected with a top-rated alcohol addiction treatment center in your area.

References:

1. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Alcohol Use in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics
2. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Information about Alcohol
3. Cal Poly Pomona: Stimulants
4. Medscape: Alcoholism Clinical Presentation