Effects of alcohol
There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk.
It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug.
Alcohol affects everyone differently, based on:
- Size, weight and health
- Whether the person is used to taking it
- Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
- The amount drunk
- The strength of the drink
You may experience:
- Feeling relaxed
- Trouble concentrating
- Slower reflexes
- Increased confidence
- Feeling happier or sadder, depending on your mood
If you consume a lot of alcohol, you might experience:
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Clumsiness
- Memory loss
- Nausea, vomiting
- Passing out
- Coma
- Death
- Hangovers
The following day, you may have a hangover, which is:
- Headache
- Diarrhoea and nausea
- Tiredness and trembling
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Restless sleep
Sobering up
To sober up takes time. The liver gets rid of about one standard drink an hour. Sweating it out with exercise, cold showers, coffee, fresh air or vomiting will not speed up the process. They may ease the symptoms, but they do not remove alcohol from the bloodstream any faster. This means it may not be safe to drive or work the following day.
Long term effects
- Regular use of alcohol may eventually cause:
- Regular colds or flu
- Difficulty getting an erection
- Depression
- Poor memory and brain damage
- Difficulty having children
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- High blood pressure and heart disease
- Needing to drink more to get the same effect
- Dependence on alcohol
- Financial, work and social problems
Drinking alcohol with other drugs
The effects of drinking and taking other drugs − including over-the-counter or prescribed medications − can be unpredictable and dangerous, and could cause:
Alcohol + cannabis: nausea, vomiting, panic, anxiety and paranoia.
Alcohol + energy drinks (with caffeine), ice, speed or ecstasy: more risky behaviour, body under great stress, overdose more likely.
Alcohol + GHB or benzodiazepines: decreased heart rate, overdose more likely.
Withdrawal
Giving up alcohol after drinking it for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without it. Please seek advice from a health professional. Withdrawal symptoms usually start about 4 to 12 hours after the last drink and can last for about 4 to 5 days. These symptoms can include:
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping
- Seizures or fits
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Death
For more information on Alcohol – https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/alcohol/