Alcohol is a fermented beverage that induces the temporary effect of euphoria in consumers. There are many misconceptions its use and abuse.
Classification
Alcohol is a depressant because it sedates the person imbibing it.
Youth Drinking
Children and adolescents are more likely to consume and abuse alcohol than other drugs.
The "National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism" says those drinking before age 15 are four times as likely to become alcohol dependent than others.
Drinking and Pregnancy
Alcohol is transmitted to the fetus though the placenta of a pregnant woman who drinks.
Alcohol exposure during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a form of mental retardation.
Binge Drinking
A single drink is defined as 12 oz. of beer or 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor.
Women who drink more than three drinks and men drinking more than four in a session are binge drinking according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Effects
The same amount of alcohol consumed by two different individuals results in different degrees of impairment with women and small individuals suffering more impairment than men and larger persons.
Driving
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) declared alcohol a factor in 39 percent of 1997's fatal accidents.
The DOT predicts approximately three out of 10 Americans will experience a crash involving alcohol.
