Mental Health for Law Enforcement Substance Use and Abuse (Excerpt)

 Alcohol and the brain  The most dramatic and obvious result of alcohol use is its impact on the brain. As more alcohol is consumed, more sections of the brain become sedated and impaired.

 Invasion of the body  Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it enters all of your body’s organs within minutes.  Short-term effects  Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the nervous system, including the brain’s functions. A drinker’s judgment is quickly affected by alcohol. As drinking continues, the person’s motor skills and coordination become impaired.

How much time does it take to sober up? If you go to bed intoxicated with a BAC of.20 and alcohol leaves the system at a rate of.015 per hour, this might be a picture of what happens: