Alcohol is a Central Nervous System depressant. In low doses, alcohol acts primarily to depress inhibitory centers. Resultant disinhibition may lead to out-of-character activities (eg, dancing with a lampshade on the head, blurting out a long-held confidence). At higher doses, alcohol inhibits excitatory centers. People may show effects ranging from impairment of rational thinking to absence of motor coordination. Physiologic effects of chronic alcohol use include the following:

•Gastrointestinal -Cirrhosis of the liver, peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, pancreatitis, and carcinoma
•Cardiovascular – Hypertension, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation (” holiday heart syndrome “)
•Neurological – Peripheral neuropathy leading to ataxia, Wernicke encephalopathy, Korsakoff psychosis, and structural changes in the brain leading to dementia
•Immunologic – Suppression of immunity
•Endocrine – In males, increase in estrogen and decrease in testosterone, leading to impotence, testicular atrophy, and gynecomastia
•Obstetric -Fetal alcohol syndrome (ie, mental retardation, facial deformity, other neurologic problems)
•Psychiatric – Depression or anxiety disorders
To obtain a drug evaluation or alcohol evaluation in the state of Arizona, contact Stonewall Institute in Phoenix, Arizona at 602-535-6468.