Alcohol

Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer. It depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgment.

It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under 21.

Street names/slang terms:
Beer, wine, liquor, cooler, booze, malt liquor, drank, jungle juice, ocean

Drug Type:
Alcohol is a depressant.

What does it look like?
Alcohol is used in liquid form.

How is it used?
Alcohol is drunk.

Short-term Effects:
• constricted peripheral blood vessels
• dilated pupils
• increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure
• insomnia, nausea, vomiting
• loss of appetite
• dizziness, slurred speech
• feelings of restlessness
• irritability, anxiety
• depression, fatigue

Long-term Effects:
• addiction
• aggressive paranoid behavior, severe anxiety
• depression
• ulceration of mucous membrane of nose (when vapors are snorted)
• permanent damage to liver and brain

Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, NIDA, NIAAA