Alcohol

Alcohol generally refers to ethanol or grain alcohol. Ethanol is formed by the fermentation of sugars. It is a volatile liquid that is colorless and has a strong smell. Alcohol is often used to refer to beverages that contain ethanol. It is the root of the word alcoholism, which is the addiction to alcohol..

Alcohol/ethanol is a drug. Excessive consumption can result in overdose or toxic poisoning. Alcohol is proven to relax your body causing your reactions to be slower. A person ‘under the influence’, may not be able to react quickly enough in emergency situations and thus be a danger to others.

Alcoholism is the physiological or psychological dependency on ethanol. It is one of the most common drug addictions in the world. By stopping or reducing the consumption of alcohol, the physiological dependency may trigger physical withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, restlessness, delirium tremens (the shakes), or even death. Some people over-consume alcohol become physiologically dependent upon it. However, they can become psychologically addicted to it. A psychological addiction is characterized by a strong urge, or craving, to drink again which can become quite intense and irresistible. Psychological addiction does not produce physical withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Alcohol is not a drug that can be treated with the General Anesthesia Assisted Opiate Detoxification (GAAOD) treatment.