AlcoholEthanol, more commonly called alcohol, is produced by a process called fermentation or distillation. This class of substances known as alcohol is made up of hundreds of organic compounds. Alcohol is classified into two categories: undistilled/fermented or distilled. Examples of non-distilled alcohol include: beer and wine. Some examples of distilled alcohol include: vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey. Just as there are different types of alcoholic beverages, there are different types of alcohol consumers. Alcohol consumers are classified based on their alcohol consumption as current drinkers, binge drinkers and heavy drinkers. Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs, it is considered a psychoactive drug and is second only to caffeine in consumption. (Pociluyko 2003) Alcohol falls into the category of depressants. Alcohol chemistry Alcohols are characterized by a hydroxyl group (OH) bonded to a carbon atom. (Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia). O is for one part oxygen and H is for one part hydrogen atom. There are many types of alcohol, but one common factor they all have in common is that they all contain the same psychoactive agents. Alcohol can be classified as primary, secondary or tertiary based on which carbon of the alkyl group is bonded to the hydroxyl group. Most alcohols are colorless liquids or solids at room temperature. Root of Administration The most common method by which alcohol is consumed in the body is oral ingestion as a liquid. However, there are other ways a person can ingest alcohol: they can ingest alcohol intravenously or inhaled as vapor. Stages of Substance Abuse It is important to understand that there is no set time frame for how long it will take to go through it. ..... middle of the sheet ......Walkup, Bilder, Crystal, 2009; Agabio, Marras, Gessa, & Carpiniello, 2007) Alcohol consumption not only impacts the consumer, but also the community. In some parts of the world, excessive alcohol consumption has played a major role in the increase in incidents of violence and crime. “Families are often affected if a family member is a heavy consumer of alcohol (Butcher, Mineka & Hooley, 2005). Family problems such as marital breakdown, domestic violence and spousal abuse are strongly linked to high alcohol consumption.” (Skrtic, Karlovic, Kruljac, 2008; Ogborne, 2000). Likewise, risky practices such as drunk driving and unacceptable sexual intercourse are linked to alcohol use. “Alcohol is also considered a causal factor in most car accidents. Financial problems and job loss are also associated with high-risk alcohol use.” (Shand, Gates, Fawcett and Mattick, 2003)