Scientific, Medical or Chemical Name

Ethanol

Street Name
Brew, Booze, Goof, Hooch, Cold One, Giggle Juice, Diesel, Hard Stuff,
Poison, Refreshment, Sauce, Tipple, Cream Sherry, Toddy, Vino, Draft,
Liquid Bread, Oats Soda, Tummy Buster, Liquid Courage, Juice, Poteen,
Giggle Water, Adult Beverage, Adult Punch, Red Hot Chili Pickle
Drug Category
Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant

Medicinal Use
What are CNS depressants prescribed for use? Sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics are medications that depress the
central nervous system (CNS). These medications have the ability to reduce brain activity, which makes them effective
for treating anxiety, panic attacks, severe stress reactions, and sleep difficulties.

Means/Routes of Administration
Most prescription CNS depressants are taken orally in the form of a tablet, capsule, or liquid.

Harm Done to the Body

Alcohol is one of the most often consumed drugs on the planet. The extent to which this central nervous system
depressant affects the brain is determined on how much and how quickly a person drink. Many people are unaware that
alcohol is a CNS depressive because of its early beneficial behavioral effects. For example, due of the chemical
changes that alcohol creates within the brain, when someone first begins to drink, he or she may feel less guarded and
more relaxed. However, the more a person drinks, the more the brain is damaged and the more likely a negative
emotional response would take hold. Alcohol, rather than reducing anxiety and tension, might stimulate other
undesirable reactions such as rage, violence, and sadness. When attempting to quit drinking, chronic alcohol use can
lead to dependence, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms.

Harm Done to Society

Alcohol use definitely has a significant impact on social behaviors, such as increased hostility, self-disclosure, sexual
adventuresome, and so on. According to research, these effects can be attributed to our perceptions about the effects of
alcohol. Less is known about the effects of alcohol on these behaviors. These include alcohol-related harms to
communities (such as loudness, vandalism, and property damage), families (such as spousal abuse and child neglect),
businesses (such as absenteeism, coworker difficulties, and work-related accidents), and friends, acquaintances, and
others (such as physical assault).

Treatment
Treatment for alcoholism can vary depending on your specific needs. A quick intervention, individual or
group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay may be used in treatment. The
primary treatment goal is to help people stop drinking in order to enhance their quality of life. Treatment for
alcohol use disorder may include: Detox and withdrawal, learning new skills and making a treatment plan,
Psychological counseling, Oral medications, Injected medication, Continuing support, Treatment for
psychological problems, Medical treatment for health conditions, and Spiritual cases.

References
Drug Administration. (2022, September 30). MSD Manual Consumer Version. Retrieved October
20, 2022, from https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/drugs/administration-and-kinetics-of-
drugs/drug-administration
Addiction Center. (2021, October 21). Episode 32 – Trauma And Addiction. Retrieved October
20, 2022, from https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/drug-classifications/central-nervous-
system-depressants/
NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2022,
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6019779/
Alcohol use disorder - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. (2022, May 18). Retrieved October
20, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/
diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369250