Content
And if you are under 21, driving after drinking any amount of alcohol is illegal and you could lose your license. Critical decision-making abilities and driving-related skills are already diminished long before a person shows physical signs of intoxication. As one of the many alcohol myths, this one in particular is an untrue idea.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms or you’re worried they may have an alcohol problem, Addiction Intervention is here to help. Ultimately, the only surefire remedy for a hangover is to avoid getting one by drinking in moderation or choosing not to drink. Check out our blog posts and resource links for the latest information on substance abuse.
What to Know More About Alcohol?
Decreased blood sugar levels result in hangover symptoms like a headache and feeling light-headed. Alcoholism is a condition in which a person loses control over their alcohol intake. While drinking alcohol here and there is accepted in our society, frequently drinking in large amounts is not normal. Those who suffer from alcoholism have usually become dependent on alcohol to function; without it, they may deal with withdrawal symptoms and other problems.
In fact, alcohol reduces body temperature because it opens blood vessels (dilates them). When this occurs in the skin, the blood is cooled by external temperatures. Cooled blood that circulates the body then reduces the overall temperature of someone’s body. Discover the impact alcohol has on children living with a parent or caregiver with alcohol use disorder.
Myth #1: I Do Not Have a Problem Because I Can Hold My Liquor
However that idea is just a persistent myth, and while taste receptors like sweet and salty are in fact separate, they are grouped together throughout the mouth. With that being the case, Naglich says, “As long as you have a glass it’s not too important that you get caught up in glassware specifics.” People may not recognize that critical decision-making abilities and driving-related skills are already diminished long before they show overt signs of intoxication. Other research has found that alcohol-related deaths in the United States increased dramatically between 2007 and 2020. That’s more than the number of drug overdoses from opioids, methamphetamine, and cocaine combined.
There’s also a direct link between excessive drinking and the risk of committing sexual assault. Also, a person who is too intoxicated can’t consent to sexual activity. Research from 2017 also suggests that kids who were allowed to drink alcohol with adults were more likely to engage in risky drinking in their teens. These facts about alcohol explore things like how alcohol interacts with the body, how alcohol tolerance works, and much more. Driving a vehicle under the influence is also dangerous for the driver and other people on the road. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, which results in slowed reaction times.
Myth #6: You Have To Hit “Rock Bottom” Before Seeking Help
This stigma also feeds into the myths that we will discuss below. Scientists and addiction professionals agree that alcoholism needs to be treated just like other health conditions such as asthma or high blood pressure. While the type of alcoholic beverage can influence a hangover, hangovers are caused by the amount of alcohol consumed. So, liquor, beer, and wine all result in the same hangover state when they’re consumed.
Although the content of alcohol in beer is relatively low, this means that one-half the alcohol drunk is consumed as beer. Given these facts, it seems reasonable to say that there are many alcoholics who are only beer drinkers. Shelby Hendrix is a blogger from the Northern Midwest with close personal ties to the addiction world. She focuses on the addiction landscape to reach out to those fighting alcoholism and compel them to seek an informed, healthy recovery. Alcoholics who try to drink socially or have “just one” drink are usually playing with fire. Most will quickly end up in a full-blown relapse because the mind and body fall back into old habits.
Myth #4: Willpower alone can overcome alcoholism
If you’re aware of the risks, you’re generally fine to drink alcohol in moderation. There are purported benefits, as well as pitfalls, to consuming alcohol. Once it enters your system, it triggers immediate physiological changes in the brain, heart, and liver, among other organs. Over myths about alcoholism time, these changes can lead to long-term health complications if you’re drinking too much. Alcohol use disorder is a complex medical condition affecting the brain. It involves an inability to control your alcohol consumption, regardless of its negative effect on your life or health.
- If the first step is awareness, the next step is to stop the widespread acceptance of false information.
- Critical decision-making abilities and driving-related skills are already diminished long before a person shows physical signs of intoxication.
- While some myths might be more harmful than others, it’s essential to understand the realities of alcohol and alcohol use disorder.
- Taking acetaminophen with alcohol, for instance, increases your risk of liver failure.
- Thinking a person is too old to have a drinking problem is one of many alcohol myths and is simply not true.