Why Alcohol Can Affect People Differently

People normally don't think of alcohol as a drug because it is both legal and used in a wide variety of social situations, as well as in religious ceremonies. However, it is a drug, and due to widespread excessive drinking, it has become one of society's biggest problems.

The Canyon is an alcohol and drug rehab center that helps patients break their addictions to alcohol and other drugs by going through a variety of traditional and nontraditional therapies, treatments and experiences. The Canyon's expertly trained and certified staff have the singular goal of helping addicts make a full recovery, so if you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction or alcoholism, The Canyon can help.

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Why Alcohol Can Affect People Differently: How It's Made

Alcohol, known by its scientific name as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is created by fermenting grains, fruits or vegetables. Ethyl alcohol is a clear liquid, and the reason various alcoholic beverages have colors is because of the byproducts and additives used and created during the process of fermentation. Because different types of alcohol are made using different processes and they have differing amounts of alcohol in them, people can react differently.

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Why Alcohol Can Affect People Differently: How It Works in the Body

When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach, colon and small intestine. Alcohol decreases activity in the brain of the drinker in direct proportion to how much alcohol they consume: the more they consume, the more activity is decreased. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a person's blood depends on things like the drinker's weight, sex, how much alcohol they consumed and the amount of food in the stomach. An average adult can metabolize around 8.5 grams of alcohol every hour, equal to about 2/3 of a beer per hour. However, the rate of metabolism varies highly depending on the person.

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Why Alcohol Can Affect People Differently: Alcohol Effects

When people drink alcohol, it can affect them differently based on things like their weight, sex, build and their metabolism. The effects that alcohol has on a person range from things like flushed skin and impaired judgment to an inability to stand or speak coherently, depending on how much alcohol they consumed and how quickly.

When a person drinks a lot over a short period of time, they will generally have a hangover in the next eight to 12 hours. This can include symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches and shakiness. This is caused in part by alcohol poisoning, as well as the body's reaction to the alcohol leaving the system.

If you mix alcohol with other drugs, the combination can be lethal. Alcohol can amplify the effects of other drugs, making them much stronger and more dangerous to the user, often resulting in overdose and death. Even if the combination does not cause death, it can cause severe impairment, even with just a small amount of alcohol.

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Alcohol Rehab at The Canyon

The Canyon's Healing Life program uses a series of traditional and nontraditional treatments to help alcohol addicts break their addictions and get back to a normal, healthy life. At The Canyon, you will develop better coping tools, a new outlook on life and gain the knowledge you need to stay healthy when you return home. Call us at The Canyon today.

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