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Ethyl alcohol or ethanol is the active ingredient in alcohol that causes mind-altering effects. Sometimes, it is referred to as EtOH. EtOH is found in beer, wine, liquor, malt beverages, wine coolers, and any drink that contains alcohol.

While ethyl alcohol or EtOH is legal to use and sold in stores, restaurants, or bars, it’s not safe to consume regularly. If you engage in excessive drinking, you could develop an alcohol use disorder. Long-term misuse of alcohol can lead to a long list of social problems as well as physical problems like a weakened immune system and mental health issues.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 28.9 million people ages 12 and older suffered from alcoholism in 2023.[1]

Once you’re addicted to drinking alcohol, it’s hard to stop drinking. You’ll experience intense cravings for alcohol and withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. Thankfully, professional addiction treatment centers can help you stop drinking with a combination of evidence-based treatment services like medical detox, individual therapy, group counseling, and relapse prevention planning.

In this article, you will learn:

What is EtOH?
Is there a difference between ethyl alcohol and ethanol?
What are the effects of alcohol abuse?
Is binge drinking a form of alcoholism?
What are the signs of alcohol use disorder?
What are the risks of ethyl alcohol abuse?
How can addiction treatment centers help you recover from alcohol use disorder?

What is EtOH?

There are several types of alcohol, including ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol.

Isopropyl alcohol is what you’ll find in cleaning and disinfecting products. Methanol is used for industrial purposes like creating formaldehyde or antifreeze. Lastly, ethanol is the kind of alcohol that people drink in beer, wine, or liquor.

EtOH is the abbreviated chemical formula for ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is the substance that causes you to experience mind-altering effects when you drink alcohol. EtOH causes symptoms like euphoria, disinhibition, dizziness, impaired judgment, slurred speech, and coordination problems.

While it is okay to consume alcohol in moderation, some people have a hard time controlling how much they use. Excessive drinking or binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, alcohol abuse or EtOH abuse can lead to the development of an alcohol use disorder.

Is There a Difference Between Ethyl Alcohol and Ethanol?

While you might think ethyl alcohol and ethanol are two different substances, they are actually the same thing. Ethyl alcohol is more commonly used in commercial or consumer settings. For example, your bottle of liquor might list ethyl alcohol as an ingredient. On the other hand, ethanol is the scientifically recognized term, which means research papers use this name instead of calling it ethyl alcohol.

In other words, there is no difference between ethanol and ethyl alcohol. They are two different terms used to describe the same substance. Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is the substance that causes mind-altering effects when you consume an alcoholic beverage. Another word for this substance is EtOH.

What are the Effects of Ethanol Abuse?

If you hear someone talking about the effects of EtOH, they are discussing the effects of alcohol. If you’ve never consumed alcohol before, you might be wondering what it feels like. Before we get into the risks of excessive drinking, you must know what short-term effects alcohol can cause.

The effects of EtOH or alcohol include:[2]

Feelings of happiness or euphoria
Impaired judgement
Slurred speech
Slowed reaction times
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Dizziness and drowsiness
Headaches
Dehydration
Disrupted sleep
Decreased inhibitions
Trouble focusing or making sound decisions
Inappropriate behavior
Unstable moods
Poor judgement
Increased risk-taking

When you consume alcohol, you are only meant to have small amounts at a time. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults engage in moderate drinking, which is 2 drinks or less per day for men and 1 for women.[3]

Is Binge Drinking a Form of Alcohol Addiction?

If you’ve ever heard of binge drinking, you might be wondering if it qualifies as an alcohol use disorder. While some people with alcoholism engage in binge drinking, not everyone who binge drinks suffers from alcohol use disorder. That said, it’s important to understand what binge drinking is defined as.

According to the CDC, binge drinking is four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in a single occasion.[4] If you go out with your friends and drink more than 4 alcoholic beverages throughout the night, you’ve engaged in binge drinking.

Binge drinking is common in many social circles. It’s incredibly common among college students and people who have just turned 21, as they are finally legally permitted to go out to bars and clubs and consume alcoholic beverages.

While binge drinking seems fun at first, it can lead to a wide range of issues. First, engaging in this form of heavy drinking can quickly cause you to develop an alcohol use disorder, especially if you do it often. Even further, binge drinking can increase your risk of illness, injuries, and chronic diseases.

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What are the Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder can present itself in many ways. While some people meet the stereotype and lose their jobs, suffer from financial problems, and display obvious signs of intoxication like slurred speech, others suffer in silence. Some people with alcoholism hide their symptoms from their friends and loved ones, only engaging in alcohol abuse in hiding.

Because alcohol use disorder (AUD) can look different for everyone, it’s important to know the signs. Alcohol use disorder is diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The symptoms include:[5]

Having a hard time controlling how much alcohol you use and how often
Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the use of alcohol
Wanting to stop drinking but being unsuccessful after multiple attempts
Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to have more time to drink
Experiencing urges and cravings to consume alcohol (psychological dependence)
Continuing to use alcohol even though it is causing social problems or physical and mental health issues
Getting into risky situations while drinking, like driving under the influence
Needing to increase your dose of alcohol to experience the desired effect (developing tolerance)
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking (physical dependence)

If you have two or more of the above-mentioned symptoms, you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While it can be extremely difficult to stop drinking, it is possible with professional help. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe and life-threatening, you should always attend a medical detox center when you have an alcohol addiction.

What are the Risks of EtOH Abuse?

If you abuse alcohol, it’s important to be aware of the risks. Short-term EtOH abuse can lead to life-threatening conditions like alcohol poisoning. The longer you engage in alcohol abuse, the more likely it is that your health will suffer immensely.

The main dangers of alcohol or EtOH abuse include:

Short-Term Risks

EtOH abuse can lead to short-term risks, including:

Accidents or injuries from falls or car crashes
Violence and aggression, including domestic violence
Alcohol poisoning or overdose
Risky sexual behavior that leads to STIs or unplanned pregnancy
Blackouts and severe memory lapses
Impaired judgment and coordination

As mentioned, one of the short-term risks of EtOH abuse is domestic violence and aggression. Because alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, people are more likely to become violent with their partners while they are under the influence. According to the BBC, “Men who are dependent on alcohol or drugs are six or seven times more likely to be involved in domestic abuse against women than others.”[6]

Liver Damage

One of the long-term dangers of alcohol addiction is liver damage. Your liver is responsible for filtering toxins out of your body. Because your body considers alcohol a toxin, all of the alcohol you drink is filtered through your liver and leaves your body in your urine.

When you engage in excessive or heavy drinking, your liver has a hard time keeping up. It might not filter the alcohol properly, leading to liver damage. You could develop conditions like fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis of the liver.[7]

Depending on how extensive the damage to your liver is, you might not be able to undo the damage. In other words, alcohol abuse will leave you with long-term and lasting health issues. Some people who suffer from alcohol addiction end up needing liver transplants due to life-threatening issues.

Heart Problems

If you suffer from alcohol dependence, you could develop heart problems. To explain, alcohol releases stress hormones and constricts blood vessels. This can lead to chronic high blood pressure.

When you continue to engage in alcohol misuse, your heart becomes strained. This can put you at risk of experiencing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease from chronic cardiovascular issues.[8]

Cancer

If you don’t stop drinking and continue to abuse alcohol, you could increase your risk of developing certain cancers. To explain, when you drink alcohol, your body converts it into acetaldehyde, which is a toxic and carcinogenic substance.[9]

When your system has acetaldehyde in it frequently, your DNA can become damaged and not repair itself properly. It also increases the risk of interfering with proteins that are involved in controlling the growth of cells. In other words, your risk of developing mouth, throat, liver, breast, esophagus, and other cancers increases.

Mental Health Issues

Not only can alcohol increase your risk of physical health consequences, but it can also damage your mental health. Regularly consuming alcohol can worsen conditions like depression and anxiety. It can also make mental health disorders like bipolar disorder worse, causing more intense and frequent episodes.

Even further, alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of suicide. According to research, “Among alcoholics, the lifetime risk of suicide is about 10–15%, and the majority of suicide attempts occurred in the context of impulsiveness and alcohol abuse. Depression and/or alcoholism were comorbid in 85% of 100 cases of completed suicide.”[10]

In other words, even if you believe drinking helps you deal with social anxiety or cope with the symptoms of depression, excessive consumption of alcohol is making your symptoms worse over time.

Social and Relationship Problems

Excessive consumption of alcohol or chronic ethanol abuse can also lead to social and relationship issues. For example, if you are constantly showing up to social or family events visibly intoxicated, your loved ones might not want to invite you anymore. This could lead to social isolation and loneliness.

It’s also hard to keep up with a steady job when you engage in heavy drinking. You have an increased risk of making mistakes at work, calling out sick too often, and being fired. When you cannot hold a job, you’ll likely begin to experience financial problems.

You might also deal with legal issues if you suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD). For example, you might get behind the wheel while you are drunk and receive a DUI. Repeated DUIs can land you in jail and cause you to be permanently banned from getting a driver’s license.

How Can You Recover From Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism?

While the health consequences of EtOH abuse are long and extensive, it is possible to recover. Heavy drinking can be difficult to stop, however, professional alcohol abuse treatment centers make it possible to achieve long-term sobriety.

At an alcohol addiction treatment center, addiction experts and mental health professionals will offer you the following services:

Medical Detox

When you suffer from alcohol dependence, that means your brain and body rely on EtOH to function properly. As a result, when you stop drinking, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, medical detox is a vital part of recovery.

During medical detox, you’ll be monitored constantly by a medical professional who specializes in addiction. They’ll routinely check your vital signs to make sure you remain stable. You’ll also be provided with medications that lessen the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

For example, benzodiazepines are often used to manage alcohol withdrawal. You’ll only be given one dose at a time to ensure you do not develop a dependency on your withdrawal medication. Once your symptoms subside, you’ll stop taking the benzodiazepines and move on to the psychological and behavioral aspects of recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

While some people stop taking medication when detox ends, others need to continue taking medication to stay sober. Medication-assisted treatment is a method of alcohol addiction treatment that involves the use of medications to prevent relapse.

For example, MAT for alcohol addiction often involves the use of medications like acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.[11] Acamprosate and naltrexone reduce cravings for alcohol, making it easier for you to remain sober. On the other hand, disulfiram prevents people from using alcohol because the act of drinking the substance will make them feel sick.

Evidence-Based Therapies

If you struggle with alcohol dependence, there are underlying reasons why you began drinking. To recover, you’ll have to address the root causes of your substance use disorder. Sometimes, underlying trauma, untreated mental health conditions, or behaviors you learned as a child are factors in the development of your alcohol misuse.

The way that alcoholism treatment centers help you recover from the root causes of your addiction is through evidence-based therapies. An evidence-based therapy has been proven effective in treating a specific condition.

The evidence-based therapies used to manage alcohol use disorder include:[12]

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Motivational interviewing (MI)
Contingency management (CM)
12-step facilitation therapy
Family behavior therapy

You will engage in evidence-based therapy in one-on-one sessions with a therapist. You’ll also participate in group counseling and family therapy.

Relapse Prevention and Aftercare

Alcohol misuse can be difficult to overcome, especially when you consider that relapse is always a possibility. While relapse is a part of a lot of people’s stories, it doesn’t have to be. Alcoholism treatment centers reduce the risk of relapse by providing you with relapse prevention planning.

Relapse prevention planning helps you avoid drinking when you are craving alcohol. You’ll learn about potential triggers for relapse and what coping mechanisms to use to prevent yourself from drinking. You might also create a plan of action to use in case you return to EtOH abuse, like going back to rehab or attending medical detox.

A huge part of relapse prevention is aftercare. Your alcoholism treatment center will provide you with the following types of aftercare services:

Continued therapy
Medication management for MAT
Access to an alumni support group
Referrals to outpatient rehab and sober living programs
Recommendations on local support groups like 12-step meetings
Case management services like life skills building and vocational training

Support Groups

Once you complete an alcohol recovery center, you have to continue working on yourself to stay sober. Additionally, it’s important to have a community of support to rely on during times of need. This is why it is always recommended for people to attend alcoholism support groups when they complete rehab.

Support groups like 12-step meetings will help you evaluate your drinking habits, understand how your family history contributed to your development of alcoholism, and teach you how to heal the harms that your ethanol addiction caused.

These support groups meet everyday at all hours of the day. In other words, you’ll always be able to find a meeting if you need one.

Additionally, there are alternatives to 12-step meetings if these do not work for you. For example, you can attend a program like SMART Recovery, which uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help you further your recovery. There are also support groups designed solely for women, like Women for Sobriety.

Attending support groups makes it easier for you to stay sober, as you’ll have peer support from people who understand what you are going through. You’ll also have a clear set of instructions on how to improve your daily life, mood, and prevent relapses.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Alcoholism Treatment Center

Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to a long list of negative consequences. If you have a moderate to severe form of alcoholism, you’ll need to attend professional treatment. At the Mandala Healing Center, we help those who drink excessively find the support they need to achieve sobriety.

We offer medical supervision, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention. When you attend our program, you’ll receive every service necessary to make a full recovery.

Why Choose The Mandala Healing Center? Clients are taken on a journey of healing through complete immersion into evidence-based clinical modalities, multifaceted alternative therapies, and expert medical management, allowing them to fully detox and recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Through a program of care designed to encourage change, a foundation is created that allows clients to find their higher purpose and reclaim their lives.

References:

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics
Science Direct: Ethanol Effects
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Moderate Drinking
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Facts About Excessive Drinking
American Psychiatric Association (APA): Alcohol Use Disorder
BBC: Men with alcohol problems ‘six times more likely to abuse their partner’
Frontiers: Alcohol consumption and the risk of liver disease: a nationwide, population-based study
JAMA Network: Association of Habitual Alcohol Intake With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Yale School of Public Health: The Link Between Alcohol and Cancer
MDPI: Suicidal Behavior and Alcohol Abuse
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Medication for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide
Science Direct: Evidence-based practices for substance use disorders