Understanding How Alcohol Affects the Central Nervous System
What Is the Central Nervous System and How Does Alcohol Affect It?
The central nervous system (CNS) is the primary control center of your body, including the brain and spinal cord.
Your CNS receives signals from the rest of your body and processes them to guide how you think, feel, and move. Alcohol causes serious adverse effects on your central nervous system. Prolonged alcohol abuse can increase your risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a stroke, or a brain tumor.
How Does Alcohol Influence Neurotransmitters Like GABA and Dopamine?
Alcohol changes the activity of several neurotransmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine.
Consuming alcohol can slow down your nervous system as it is a CNS depressant. Therefore, it increases both GABA and dopamine levels in your body.
Increased GABA and Dopamine symptoms include the following:
- Poor coordination or balance
- Intense drowsiness
- Slower reaction time
- Impaired judgement
- Slowed breathing
How Does Alcohol Change Brain Activity and Brain Function?
Alcohol activates the reward system and also reduces glutamate, a neurotransmitter responsible for excitatory signaling.
Therefore, you may experience impaired brain function. When this occurs, emotional dysregulation, memory loss, and poor decision-making can be problematic.
Chronic alcohol use can result in long-term health complications. For example, you build a tolerance to the substance over time, requiring you to drink more to achieve the desired euphoric effect.
Alcohol as a Stimulant vs. a Depressant
Is Alcohol Classified as a Stimulant?
No, alcohol is not classified as a stimulant.
Alcohol is considered to be a central nervous system depressant. After you take your first drink of alcohol, you might feel as if you just consumed a stimulant at first. However, alcohol is a depressant.
Can Alcohol Act as Both a Stimulant and a Depressant?
Alcohol can act as a stimulant, but it is truly a depressant. Therefore, the stimulant effects are not real.
Moments after your first sip, you may experience increased dopamine levels, resulting in increased confidence or excitement. Once the main effects occur and GABA increases, the substance begins to slow down your brain activity. Thus, further impairs your reaction time and ability to make good judgment. Alcohol can also make you very drowsy, making you accident-prone.
Why Can Alcohol Feel Like a Stimulant at Low Doses?
If you drink heavily, the sedative effects can be intensified.
However, your neurotransmitters may only be slightly affected. Consuming a small amount can feel like a “pick me up,” yet leave you a tad tired but high-functioning.
Why Do the Depressant Effects of Alcohol Become Stronger Over Time?
The depressant effects of alcohol can become stronger over time as you build an increased tolerance to the substance.
This can be especially so if you binge drink for a prolonged period. Once the alcohol concentration rises, the intense depressant effects on your nervous system take hold.
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
How Does Alcohol Affect Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Reaction Times?
According to Medline Plus, alcohol can increase your heart rate, raise your blood pressure, and significantly slow down your reaction time.
Nevertheless, the effects of alcohol can differ from person to person. This can be especially so if an individual was facing physical health challenges before drinking.
Why Does Drinking Alcohol Lower Inhibitions and Impair Judgment?
Knowing that alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, the substance decreases inhibitions and can impair judgment.
Alcohol slows activity in the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for developing action plans by coordinating emotional and cognitive processes. These processes rely heavily on both current goals and plans for your future.
What Causes Slurred Speech, Drowsiness, and Impairment After Drinking?
Knowing that alcohol increases GABA, the calming neurotransmitter, your brain activity begins to slow down.
When this occurs, you begin to experience extreme drowsiness. Your speech may become slurred, along with impaired coordination, difficulty concentrating, and impaired judgment.
How Does Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Influence Alcohol’s Effects?
Your blood alcohol concentration can determine the intensity of alcohol’s negative effects.
Low blood alcohol concentration may cause mild effects. Whereas a high BAC commonly results in dangerous health outcomes.
For example:
- Low BAC might result in increased relaxation, hyperactivity, or reduced attention span.
- Moderate BAC might result in slurred speech, poor coordination, or impaired judgment.
- High BAC might result in extreme drowsiness, vomiting, or shallow breathing.
Alcohol, Dopamine, and the Brain’s Reward System
How Does Alcohol Trigger Dopamine and Sense of Euphoria?
Even low alcohol concentrations can trigger the release of dopamine.
Dopamine release can intensify the rewarding effects of alcohol. In other words, the transmission of motivational stimuli reinforces alcohol consumption.
You may feel temporarily elated and later relaxed.
Why Can Alcohol’s Stimulant-Like Effects Reinforce Drinking Behavior?
The stimulant effects of alcohol can reinforce drinking behavior. This can be due to alcohol’s euphoric effects that increase sociability, energy, and excitement.
Some people depend on alcohol to act as a social crutch in social settings, improve their confidence, and let loose. However, chronic alcohol use can oftentimes worsen a mental health disorder and cause a great deal of lifestyle complications.
How Do These Brain Changes Contribute to Alcohol Addiction?
When alcohol activates the reward system, it increases the likelihood of drinking again.
As alcohol increases dopamine, euphoria or feelings of relaxation can be tough to beat. Many people chase this feeling to decompress from daily stress. However, there are healthier alternatives to explore and maintain emotional regulation.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use
How Does Alcohol Consumption Affect Mental Health Over Time?
Yes, long-term, chronic alcohol use can significantly interfere with your mental health.
Drinking alcohol over time can change your brain chemistry, disrupt your reward system and sleep patterns, and worsen depression or anxiety. Therefore, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is commonly linked with co-occurring mental health conditions, commonly known as a dual diagnosis.
What Are the Risks of Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol Dependence?
Unaddressed AUD can interfere with your work or school performance and damage your reputation and personal relationships with loved ones.
On another note, binge drinking for a prolonged time frame can also increase your risk for developing a series of mental and physical health complications.
Alcohol’s effects on the body include the following:
- Brain/neurological issues
- Endocrine problems
- Gastrointestinal complications
- Cardiovascular issues
- A weakened immune system
- Liver problems
- Pancreatic disorders
- Cancers
- Respiratory distress
How Can Excessive Alcohol Use Lead to Liver Disease or Liver Damage?
Heavy drinking takes a toll on your liver. Chronic alcohol use can also lead to several problems linked with liver inflammation, such as liver disease or liver damage.
Liver complications associated with alcohol use include the following:
- Alcohol-associated steatosis
- Alcohol-associated steatohepatitis
- Alcohol-associated hepatitis
- Alcohol-associated fibrosis
- Alcohol-associated cirrhosis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
How Does Alcohol Affect People With Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders?
Knowing that alcohol can interfere with your daily routine, sleep patterns, and physical health. This can all affect your psyche.
The ups and downs linked with alcohol use, and wonky dopamine levels, can oftentimes worsen co-occurring psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Alcohol Interactions With Medications and Other Substances
Why Is It Dangerous to Mix Alcohol With Benzodiazepines or Opioids?
It is harmful to mix benzodiazepines or opioids with alcohol because these drugs are also central nervous system depressants.
Benzos and opioids are commonly called downers. If you drink alcohol and take these drugs, you increase your risk for respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, overdose, or even death.
How Does Alcohol Interact With Stimulants Like Amphetamines?
Knowing that alcohol is a depressant, and stimulants cause the opposite effect, alcohol can have a poor reaction with amphetamines.
A stimulant can mask alcohol’s depressant effects. When this occurs, you can lose track of how much you have consumed, as you may feel less intoxicated than you actually are. Therefore, you may drink more than intended, further increasing your risk for serious health complications, accidents, or even death.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Lexapro or Other Antidepressants?
No, you should not drink alcohol while taking antidepressants such as Lexapro.
Alcohol often has a poor interaction with antidepressants. You might experience worsened anxiety or depression symptoms, increased side effects, and poor decision-making. This can all interfere with treatment.
Alcohol Use in Different Health Situations
Can Alcohol Lower A1C?
Yes, alcohol can affect your A1C levels.
Alcohol can temporarily lower your blood glucose levels. You might experience worsened low blood sugar symptoms if you drink on an empty stomach. Even light to moderate alcohol use can affect your A1C levels. Separately, drinking heavily along with binge eating can affect your weight and reduce the efficacy of mental health treatment.
Does Alcohol Act as a Stimulant for ADHD?
No, drinking alcohol does not act as a stimulant for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant.
However, you should not drink alcohol if you have ADHD. The effects are temporary and can worsen attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms over time.
Why Do People With ADHD Like to Drink Alcohol?
People with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may drink alcohol in an attempt to relax and concentrate either alone or in social settings.
However, drinking alcohol with ADHD can cause poor concentration, increased dopamine activity, and problems with impulse control.
What Cancels Out ADHD Medication?
Failing to practice self-care, drinking alcohol, or taking recreational drugs can interfere with treatment.
As a result, it is common to question whether your current treatment plan, including prescription medication or strength, is the right option for you.
Recognizing When Alcohol Use Has Become a Problem
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Dependence?
The effects of alcohol abuse or dependence can differ from person to person.
This can be due to past trauma history or underlying mental or physical health conditions.
Common warning signs of alcohol abuse or dependence include the following:
- Drinking more than intended
- Facing trouble discontinuing alcohol
- Experiencing strong alcohol cravings
- Neglecting responsibilities such as work, school, or parenting
- Giving up hobbies or activities
- Sleeping in
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
How Does Binge Drinking Affect the Body and Brain?
Drinking alcohol can have serious effects on your mind and body.
Not only may you experience poor coordination, poor judgment, or memory issues, but you can also experience loss of coordination as your central nervous system is impaired. This can raise your risk for alcohol poisoning, strain your heart, and weaken your immune system.
Knowing that alcohol use can increase your GABA or dopamine levels, sustaining abstinence from alcohol use is important.
Can Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Cravings and Other Symptoms?
Yes, alcohol withdrawal can come with intense substance cravings.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so uncomfortable that many people surrender to their alcohol cravings to avoid withdrawal symptoms. You may feel trapped in the cycle of addiction. However, learning to recognize alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reporting them to a recovery professional can be a great start to overcoming alcohol withdrawal and safely managing alcohol addiction.
Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include the following:
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Problems sleeping
- Sinus tachycardia
- High blood pressure
- Mood dysregulation
- Profuse sweating
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Poisoning?
The warning signs of alcohol poisoning can often go unnoticed.
However, learning to recognize the warning signs of alcohol poisoning can potentially save your life, a stranger’s, or a loved one’s.
Important warning signs of alcohol poisoning to be aware of include the following:
- Irregular breathing
- Loss of coordination
- Unresponsiveness
- Passing out
- Pale/blue-tinged skin
- Cold or clammy hands
- Hypothermia
- Repetitive vomiting
When Should Someone Consider Alcohol Detox or Addiction Treatment?
If you or your loved one has experienced the warning signs of alcohol use, problems functioning daily, or issues meeting priorities, it may be best to surrender to an addiction recovery program.
Doing so can ensure you get back on track to a healthier lifestyle, prevent overdose or death, and aid in relapse prevention.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
What Happens During Alcohol Detox?
Once you surrender to the medical detoxification process, you will, of course, have to discontinue drinking alcoholic beverages, using illicit drugs, or misusing prescription medications.
Stairway’s new alcohol detoxification center opened June 1, 2025, with 6 beds and plans to expand to 12 beds in 4-6 months.
Your body will adjust to the absence of alcohol as our medical detox professionals stay within your care 24/7. Our team will work closely with you so you can safely manage your withdrawal symptoms and experience a smoother transition into our addiction treatment program.
What Evidence-Based Therapies Help Treat Alcohol Use Disorder?
Here at Stairway Resource Center, our mission is to provide structured, spiritual, and evidence-based recovery programs that foster community and connection, while treating severe mental health and addiction.
Using evidence-based therapies in both an individual and group setting, you have the opportunity to explore your personal history, emotions, and behaviors. Our therapists use evidence-based modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI) to help individuals address the underlying issues contributing to their addiction.
We also provide virtual teletherapy – a full hybrid for those just coming during the day or virtually.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Alcohol Addiction?
At Stairway Resource Center, you will receive evidence-based therapy, holistic treatment methods, and personalized care.
We are a community-focused addiction recovery center. Our compassionate recovery team and alcohol rehab program will teach you sober-living skills to prevent relapse.
Our levels of care for alcohol treatment include the following programs:
- Residential treatment program (RTP) –
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient program (OP)
- Sober living program (SLH)
- Alumni program
How Can Outpatient or Residential Alcohol Rehab Support Recovery?
If you are struggling with severe symptoms of substance abuse, you may need residential treatment. In residential treatment, you stay at a facility 24/7 under the care of various health and mental health professionals. At Stairway Resource Center, our residential alcohol rehab in Los Angeles provides you with the opportunity to find healing through evidence-based and holistic care practices.
Once you complete our residential treatment program at SRC, our outpatient treatment programs can serve as a step-down approach to care, providing the balance and flexibility needed to maintain other facets of life.
FAQs
What type of alcohol is a stimulant?
No, alcohol is not a stimulant. Rather, alcohol is considered a central nervous system depressant.
Is alcohol a stimulant like coffee?
No, alcohol is not a stimulant. Although you may experience similar symptoms shortly after drinking alcohol, unlike the effects of coffee, your symptoms may be followed by drowsiness, impaired coordination, and reduced brain activity.
What is the 2-2-2 rule for alcohol?
The 2-2-2 rule for alcohol can help you monitor or take charge of the amount of alcohol you drink.
The 2-2-2 rule includes the following:
- Two drinks per day
- Two alcohol free days per week
- Two drinks maximum on a single occasion
However, sustaining lasting sobriety can be the only way to ensure a healthier lifestyle and improved well-being.
Alcohol rehab requires a comprehensive approach to care. Stairway Resource Center offers dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles using evidence-based therapies, a 12-Step treatment approach, and personalized care. Contact our admissions team today for support in overcoming dependence.