Increasing doses impair judgment and produce emotional instability. The seriousness of the result depends upon the metabolism of the drinker as well as the amount consumed. Chronic use of alcohol causes irreversible damage to body tissues, such as the brain and liver, nutritional deficiencies and memory problems. Scientific studies have linked alcoholism with several kinds of cancer and also with cirrhosis of the liver. There is also a high risk of addiction, especially for people with a family history of alcoholism.
Alcohol works by removing oxygen from the bloodstream.
It is extremely important that pregnant women avoid using alcohol, because the oxygen deprivation occasioned by alcohol use affects the developing brain of the baby and can produce mental retardation and other abnormalities, a condition known medically as fetal alcohol syndrome. Cocaine and its derivative, crack, have become an increasing source of addiction, hospital emergencies, and death. These drugs act as an anesthetic and a stimulant for the central nervous system. They cause increased heart and respiration rates, as well as elevated blood pressure. Cocaine and crack are highly addictive.