It is significant to note on this point that the body's primary effort in the presence of alcohol is to render it harmless. It does so by metabolizing it to carbon dioxide and water, which are eliminated from the system in bodily waste and, to a small degree, respiratory fluids. Normal metabolizing takes place in the liver. A normal healthy functioning liver will metabolize approximately to 1 ounce of 90 proof alcohol an hour. The body is also capable of building a tolerance to alcohol and other toxic substances, requiring greater consumption to achieve the same level of effect.
Alcohol combined with other mood and mind changing drugs produces a synergistic effect.
Simply put, the combination of one drug and one drug does not equal the strength of two drugs. Rather, it may make the strength of four, six, eight or more drugs. This synergistic effect causes many deaths annually as well as tens of thousands of trips to hospital emergency rooms because of adverse reactions to multiple drug use. Alcohol has many sensations and effects because of the above attributes. Any and all of these are potentially hazardous and have led to embarrassment, accidents and even death.