Alcohol (Depressant)
Street Name: Booze
What it looks like and how it's taken:
Drunk as 'alcopops', spirits, beers and wines.
Immediate effects:
Reaches brain in seconds, enters bloodstream within 30 minutes.
Reduces inhibitions and increases sense of relaxation.
Each unit takes an hour for the body to process.
Risks:
Short term: Hangover including dehydration, headache, nausea and depression. Intoxication can lead to aggressive/irrational behaviour and accidents.
Long term: Regular heavy drinking can cause stomach disorders, cancer of mouth, throat and gullet, liver cirrhosis, brain damage, high blood pressure, problems with the nervous system, sexual and mental health problems, and family and work problems.
Legal status: It is illegal to sell alcohol to young people under 18 years old.
