Moderate to high amounts of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person's ability to learn and remember information. Very high amounts cause respiratory repression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower amounts of alcohol will produce the effects described here. Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions.
Alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening.
Long term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs, such as the brain and the liver. Females who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk of becoming alcoholics than are other youngsters. Drugs See Appendix A for a description of the uses and effect of various drugs.