You can buy it at the grocery store and the gas station. Alcohol is a centerpiece of almost any party you attend. When you go out with friends, most everyone orders a drink. But is alcohol a drug?

What is a Drug in the First Place?

Tacoma alcohol addiction treatment program therapists explain that drugs affect a body’s ability to function normally. Because alcohol changes the way the body reacts to stimuli, it would fall under this classification. Besides that, its effects are only temporary. Therefore, it’s fair to call it a drug.

Is Alcohol a Drug That Stimulates or Depresses?

There’s some confusion on the type of drug alcohol represents. Is alcohol considered a drug that stimulates the central nervous system? In specific quantities, it seems like it. You’ll notice that your inhibitions drop.

You become more talkative. For some, their sex drives increase. Moreover, they do things that they wouldn’t consider participating in if they were sober. However, there’s a tipping point.

When is alcohol considered a drug that depresses the central nervous system? Typically, you’ll reach this point when you drink to excess. Your body shuts down. Eventually, you’ll pass out. If you drank so much that you might fall victim to alcohol poisoning, you’re now in danger.

When Alcohol Consumption Becomes Addiction

As is the case with any drug that has psychoactive properties, there’s an addiction potential. This danger is particularly severe when you abuse alcohol for self-medicating reasons. For example, you use it to relax or quiet intrusive thoughts and emotions. In this scenario, it’s easy to slip into chemical dependency.

Is alcohol a drug that responds well to rehab? Yes, it is. In fact, there are plenty of modalities that therapists use. Examples include:

• Men or women’s drug rehab that capitalizes on your inherent strengths
• 12 Step program participation, which encourages group accountability
• Medication-assisted treatment as a tool for dealing with post-acute withdrawal
• Aftercare program attendance that promotes the protection of early sobriety
• Extended care program participation, which benefits program participants who need a little extra time to heal

Evidence-based therapies work together to help you understand your reasons for abusing alcohol. You learn about yourself. Besides that, you find ways to replace alcohol with healthy coping mechanisms. Many of the interventions are one-on-one talk therapy sessions.

That said, some also benefit from group participation. In these groups, you learn to reconnect with others while sober. Similarly, you relearn how to set boundaries and communicate effectively. It’s an essential skill to have when you self-isolated during alcohol abuse.

Going forward, the sessions prepare you for participation in support groups. You discover how to open yourself up to group accountability. Besides that, you learn how to give and receive peer counseling. It’s an essential skill that’ll help with relapse prevention in the future.

Signing up for Rehab

You don’t have to move to the rehab center. Instead, plenty of people heal in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Is alcohol a drug that snared you? Find out which program would be ideal for you today; connect with Bayview Recovery by dialing 855.478.3650 now.