Is alcohol a depressant? Depressants are part of a class of drugs that work upon your central nervous system to slow down your body’s processes and make you feel calmer and more relaxed. Alcohol does this well, which is part of the reason it can become highly habit-forming. Everyone wants to feel happy and relaxed. Depressants help you achieve this, which is why they are so popular. If you are using alcohol to help you achieve a relaxed feeling, you may need to seek treatment from an alcohol addiction treatment center at The Right Step.
More About Prescription Depressants
Prescription depressants are used in the treatment of several conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Alcohol, too, is a depressant. For this reason, never drink alcohol when taking other drugs, especially depressants. When taken together, the effects of each are amplified. Accordingly, this makes it easy to overdose.
How Is Alcohol a Depressant?
Though alcohol is not a prescription drug, we classify it as a depressant. As such, it slows you down. Your breathing slows. Your heart rate slows. And you do not react as quickly as you normally would. Therefore, it is dangerous to operate machinery or drive a car when drinking. Additionally, alcohol may also make you feel sleepy. It impairs your judgment and may leave you feeling confused and unable to focus. Consequently, if you are pulled over for drinking and driving, penalties may be severe.
When you drink too much alcohol, you may suffer slurred speech, low blood pressure, headache, problems with motor coordination, and blurred vision. In addition, drinking too much consistently and in the long term may cause you to suffer blackouts. Our alcohol addiction treatment centers in TX can help you overcome your addiction and help you relax in healthy ways.
Is Alcohol A Habit-Forming Depressant?
Depressants can be habit-forming for some people. Because they give you a pleasant, or “buzzed’ feeling, it is tempting to abuse this class of drugs. Scientists have linked alcohol use disorder to certain risk factors, as well. For instance, if you come from a home where alcohol was abused by others, or if you began using alcohol at an early age, you may be more at risk of addiction. Other risk factors for alcohol use disorder include:
- Trauma early in life
- Living at or below the poverty level
- Living in a community where drugs and alcohol are prevalent
- Having a family history of AUD
- Mental conditions such as anxiety or personality disorder
Consequently, if you struggle with how much and how often you drink alcohol, our drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs in Texas at The Right Step can help you recover.
Is Alcohol a Treatable Addiction?
Alcohol is a depressant from which recovery is very possible. Alcohol use disorder is highly treatable with the right experienced help. At The Right Step, we offer integrative care that addresses your needs on all levels. From holistic therapies such as meditation and yoga to evidence-based techniques that use a cognitive-behavioral therapy program, our treatment programs are highly effective. Accordingly, as a client in one of our gender-specific drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs, you’ll learn the skills and recovery behaviors needed to reach and maintain sobriety.
Through safe, effective strategies, clients at The Right Step learn to trust themselves and their own judgment. They explore the roots of their addictions and discover the people and situations that act as triggers. If you need help with alcohol use disorder, call The Right Step today at 713.528.3709. We are willing and able to help you live a life without addiction.
