Alcohol is a drug that is a depressant. It is created in the fermentation process. Small organisms live in whatever is undergoing fermentation. They eat, live, reproduce, and excrete. The waste of these organisms is what we call alcohol. This substance blocks neural receptors in our brain, causing us to feel and function differently. Alcohol induces a mood lift, relaxation, and decreased inhibitions. It also affects the decision making process and coordination. Other effects include nausea, vomiting (vomiting while unconscious can kill) reduced impulse control, slurred speech, emotional volatility (anger, violence, sadness, etc) frequent urination, dizziness and confusion, blackouts and memory loss at high doses. Coma and death at extreme doses. Brain and liver damage (cirrhosis) over time with heavy use. Lowered inhibitions and increased confusion can lead to unwanted and negative sexual encounters (date rape). Hangovers, lasting 12-36 hours, from mild to severe after heavy use. If a person is to drive after drinking alcohol it is considered drunk driving. Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. An estimated 513,000 people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year, an average of 59 people per hour or approximately one person every minute. People cannot drive well under the influence of alcohol because there decision making process, coordination, and reaction time is all in an inefficient state. If a car stops short in front of a drunk driver, the drunk driver does not react fast enough to not slam into the rear end of the car that stopped short. Vision impairment and poor coordination can make it hard to stay within the lines of the road and not swerve. Many drunk drivers end up hitting trees. Many drunk drivers on the road are repeat drunk drivers, ones who chronically drive drunk. These people have been identified as those who, despite risks to themselves or others, routinely drive while intoxicated.
