Alcohol

An alcohol molecule is represented by a ball-and-stick model (R3COH). The hydroxyl group is represented by the red and white balls (-OH). Carbon substituents or hydrogen atoms are represented by the three "R's."

### Aliases:

EthanolBooze

Brew

Cold One

### Drug Class:

AnalgesicDepressants

Sedatives

Anxiolytics

Euphoriants

### Place of Creation:

Persia

**Alcohol** is a psychoactive substance that is present in alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits. In moderation, they are usually safe; but, in excess, they may be harmful and lead to bad behavior based on addiction. **Alcohol** causes happiness and euphoria, as well as decreased anxiety, enhanced sociability, drowsiness, impairment of cognitive, memory, motor, and sensory function, and widespread depression of central nervous system function.

## Use and Effects

**Alcohol** ​is typically consumed as a recreational substance by mouth in the form of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits. It is commonly used in social settings due to its capacity to enhance sociability.

The quantity of **alcohol** in the body is generally measured by blood alcohol content, which is the weight of ethanol per unit volume of blood. Small amounts of ethanol are stimulant-like and cause euphoria and relaxation; persons experiencing these sensations tend to become chatty and less inhibited, and may display poor judgment. **Alcohol** serves as a central nervous system depressant at larger doses, resulting in decreased sensory and motor function, delayed cognition, stupefaction, unconsciousness, and perhaps death. Due to its euphoric properties, **alcohol** is widely used as a recreational drug, particularly when socializing.

### Toxicity

**Alcohol** has a number of short- and long-term negative consequences. It also includes negative reinforcement-related side effects including as addiction, dependency, and withdrawal.

#### Automobile Accidents

The probability of a fatal vehicle accident rises in direct proportion to the amount of **alcohol** in the driver's blood.

#### Sexual Assault

**Alcohol** is frequently used to aid in sexual assault or rape. **Alcohol** is involved in more than half of all reported rapes. It is the most popular date rape drug.

#### Violent Crime

**Alcohol** is involved in more than 40% of all assaults and 40 to 50% of all homicides. **Alcohol** is involved in more than 43% of violent contacts with police.

#### Health Consequences

Excessive **alcohol** consumption is a serious issue, and it may lead to a variety of health problems as well as mortality.

#### Birth Defects

**Alcohol** consumption by women who are not using birth control increases the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.

#### Addiction

It's easy to become addicted to **alcohol** but it's also easy to control your **alcohol** intake.

#### Overdoes

When blood **alcohol** levels exceed 0.4 percent, it is possible to die from **alcohol** intake. A blood level of 0.5 percent or above is always deadly.

## History

Alcohol occurs naturally in the world, so it wasn't really invented. However, it was discovered in Persia (nowadays we call it Iran) by a genius named Al-Razi.