Alcohol and Its Effect on the Human Body

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Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused depressant drugs that are available on the market. Although most people do not consider it a drug, alcohol has many qualities of the drug, being both addictive and giving the effect of relaxation. There are many types of alcohol, including ethyl, methyl, isopropyl, gelled, and denatured alcohol. Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol or wood alcohol, is used for fuel in alcohol burners. Environmentalists also have developed ways to use methanol and small amounts of gasoline in automobiles in order to reduce fossil fuel use and emissions. Isopropyl alcohol, known as isopropanol or rubbing alcohol, is used as a cleaning agent and for first aid. Gelled alcohol is a mixture between methanol or ethanol and a substance called calcium acetate, in order to make it a gel (hence the name gelled alcohol). Gelled alcohol is used for fuel, and is considered much safer fuel source than methanol or ethanol, and does not spill as easily. Denatured alcohol is ethanol mixed with methanol, isopropanol, or other chemicals, so that is not drinkable. It can also be used as fuel. Ethyl alcohol, also called ethanol or grain alcohol, can be obtained by the fermentation of yeasts, facultative anaerobes, or other organisms that perform alcoholic fermentation in the absence of oxygen. Ethyl alcohol is the commonly used type of alcohol for medical purposes, and is the only type of drinkable alcohol, and is commonly abused. Alcohol has a wide variety street names, invented by users who want to prevent sober people from knowing that they drink. Nicknames include booze, suds, cold one, brew, and much more. Its medical name is ETOH, short for ethyl alcohol. Ingestion of alcohol causes the central nervous system to slow down, and is therefore classified as a depressant. Short term effects in low dosage include relaxation, slow reflexes and reactions, poor
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