Depressant
Alcohol
Alcohol is legal, everywhere, and the most commonly misused substance in the country. Because it is normal to drink, it is easy to miss the point where drinking stopped being a choice.
Also called: beer, wine, liquor
Withdrawal can be deadlySigns it has become a problem
- Drinking more, or for longer, than you meant to
- Needing a drink to steady your hands or your nerves in the morning
- Hiding how much, or drinking before events so nobody counts
- Blackouts, or stories about last night you do not remember
- Trying to cut back and not being able to
What withdrawal is like
Overdose and emergencies
Alcohol poisoning looks like confusion, vomiting, slow or uneven breathing, cold or bluish skin, and not waking up. Do not let someone "sleep it off." Turn them on their side and call 911.
Dangerous combinations
Alcohol plus benzos, opioids or sleep pills slows breathing far more than any of them alone. Alcohol plus cocaine forms a third chemical in the body that is harder on the heart.
What actually helps
Medical detox if you are dependent, then therapy and support. Three FDA-approved medications help: naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram. Ask about them. Many programs never bring them up.
Common questions
Can you die from alcohol withdrawal?
Yes, it can be fatal. Alcohol withdrawal is one of the few that can kill. Shakes, sweats and anxiety can turn into seizures or delirium tremens (confusion, fever, hallucinations) within one to three days of the last drink. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop cold on your own. A medical detox makes it safe.
What does an overdose or emergency look like?
Alcohol poisoning looks like confusion, vomiting, slow or uneven breathing, cold or bluish skin, and not waking up. Do not let someone "sleep it off." Turn them on their side and call 911.
What treatment works for alcohol?
Medical detox if you are dependent, then therapy and support. Three FDA-approved medications help: naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram. Ask about them. Many programs never bring them up.
Written in plain English for education. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. Demo Clinical review by a licensed professional is part of the launch plan and will be named here.
From the library
Skills for alcohol
Other substances
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