Most of you know what alcohol looks like, how it is packaged and how it makes you feel. Perhaps something you didn't know is that alcohol is a drug. Its scientific name is ethyl alcohol and it is classified as a depressant, the same drug class as a barbiturate or tranquilizer.

Alcohol is unique because it is legal for adults to buy and drink and is widely accepted in our culture. In fact, alcohol is the most popular drug among youth and adults in our country.

Sadly, alcohol is also one of the most deadly drugs available to our youth today. The leading cause of death among teens in this country is alcohol-related traffic accidents. Alcohol also causes heart disease, high blood pressure, liver damage, brain damage and many other health problems.

Once alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream, it acts upon the central nervous system like a depressant, affecting speech, vision and coordination. The physical effects of alcohol depend on many factors; the amount of alcohol consumed over time, the emotional state and body weight of the drinker, the concentration of the drink and the amount of food in the stomach at the time of consumption.

Smaller doses of alcohol may cause euphoria and a mild relaxed feeling. Intoxication occurs when higher doses of alcohol are varied: It may make some people feel more outgoing and giddy, while others will feel depressed, aggressive or hostile. Physical responses to increased doses of alcohol include altered perception, impaired judgment, loss of coordination, staggered walk, blurred vision, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. An overdose of alcohol can cause unconsciousness, respiratory failure and death.

Alcohol is an addictive drug. The medical term for this addiction is called alcoholism. Research suggests that alcoholism may be a genetic predisposition and that a child of an alcoholic parent runs many times the risk of becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholism strikes all age groups; about 10 percent of the population will develop the disease.

Things to remember about alcohol:

- A can of beer, a glass of wine and a mixed drink (a shot of hard liquor) all contain the same amount of alcohol.

- Beer will slow your reaction time and impair your judgment as much and as quickly as wine or hard liquor.

- One drink stays in the bloodstream for about 90 minutes. Only time will make you sober, not coffee, a cold shower or fresh air.

- Be especially careful of interaction with other prescription and over the counter drugs like cold/flu medications.

- After a surprisingly few drinks, even the best driver can be impaired enough to be arrested, injure or kill someone.

- Party hosts may be liable for any injuries caused by guests who become impaired in the host's home.

If you would like to participate in the prevention activities in Amador County or would like specific issues addressed for future articles, contact Diane Peebles at 223-6556, ext. 648.