Alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS
HUS 4442: Substance Abuse and the Family
Required Textbooks: Hart, C.L. &Ksir, C. (2014). Drugs, society, and human behavior (17th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9781259913860
Important Note: Quoted material is not allowed for coursework
Module 4
Alcohol
Alcohol is a drug. It is perhaps one of the most commonly abused psychoactive drugs in the world. The text indicates that there is evidence of alcohol use dating back to the Paleolithic Age, some 8000 years ago!
Alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS), although the exact mechanism by which alcohol exerts its effects are not entirely known. This depressant effect serves to slow the function of the CNS, and block or distort some of the messages that are being sent to the brain. This results in the alteration of a person’s perceptions, emotions, movements, vision and hearing.
The effects of alcohol on individuals are dependent on a variety of factors, including size, weight, age, and sex. Alcohol’s effects are also impacted by the amount and type of food consumed by an individual, as well as the amount and type of alcohol ingested. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.
Module 4 Discussion Forum 1
Pregnancy and Alcohol
In a post of at least 150 words, respond to/discuss the following statement – Women who repeatedly get drunk while pregnant should be arrested and kept in jail or in a residential treatment program until the baby is born. Explain your reasoning!
Image preview for”alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS “
APA
385 words