Unlike narcotics, alcohol is not considered a controlled scheduled drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). For those who have been victim to driving drunk and caregivers for someone who abuses alcohol to the point of death, this can seem unbelievable. They have witnessed firsthand what alcohol can do to a person’s body, mind, and spirit. The results of alcoholism are harrowing as alcohol deteriorates the body rather quickly especially in amounts that are chronically consumed. Unhealthy behaviors that are associated with drinking alcoholically can affect the brain and the body just like many other drugs, such as narcotics, when abused.
There have been debates regarding whether alcohol is a narcotic or not. The definition of a narcotic in the dictionary is any of a class of substances that blunt the senses, as opium, morphine, belladonna, and alcohol, that in large quantities produce euphoria, stupor, or coma, that when used constantly can cause habituation or addiction, and that are used in medicine to relieve pain, cause sedation, and induce sleep. Narcotic derives from the Greek word of “narke” which means stupor or torpor which is what alcohol does as a depressant. Alcohol causes someone to become dizzy, experience diminished alertness, slowed motor skills, and a possibility to pass out in large quantities.
The typical classification of narcotics is between opioids, which are pharmaceutical pain relievers, and opiates, which are made from opium poppy. As a medical term, a narcotic was originally defined as any psychoactive compound with sleep-inducing properties. A narcotic has since become notorious in the United States as a category of drugs that include codeine, morphine, heroin, and oxycontin that have been instrumental in causing an epidemic of unnecessary overdoses over the last decade.
In the general terminology of medical and dictionary terms, alcohol could be designated as a narcotic. The majority of the United States population, however, thinks of narcotics as a drug, but not as alcohol. Confusion could ensue when classifying narcotics as alcohol deeming it the same as heroin or prescription pain medication. Although both alcohol and drugs create problems for someone who is prone to addiction, the United States uses the context of narcotics as a different definition than what the dictionary states.
Addiction is a problem in our country which needs help to keep the epidemic from growing despite the complicated terms that substances fall under. Whether alcohol is considered a narcotic or not, drugs and alcohol in excess can take anybody who is predisposed to addiction down for the count.
Serenity Oaks Wellness Center can assist someone who needs help with drug and alcohol addiction to get sober. We offer an array of services to entice our clients to adorn their soul in recovery.
Call us today:
844-720-6847
