MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS BETTER TO DRINK ALCOHOL--BEER AND WINE IN PARTICULAR--THAN IT IS TO TAKE DRUGS. WHAT THEY FORGET IS THAT ALCOHOL IS A DRUG. IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUSED DRUGS TODAY. THERE IS AS MUCH ALCOHOL AND DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS IN A 12-OUNCE BOTTLE OF BEER, FIVE OUNCES OF WINE OR 1.5 OUNCES OF HARD LIQUOR. ONLY NICOTINE AND CAFFEINEARE MORE ABUSED.WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS? NO OTHER SUBSTANCE IS KNOWN TO SO DRAMATICALLY ALTER PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN THE BODY, AS DOES ALCOHOL.ALCOHOL IS A TOXIC, DANGEROUS SEDATIVE THAT ACTS AS A DEPRESSANT ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM--THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD. PEOPLE OFTEN MISTAKE ALCOHOL FOR A STIMULANT BECAUSE SOME DRINKERS BECOME LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS AFTER IMBIBING; HOWEVER, IN THESE CASES, THE PART OF THE BRAIN WHICH CONTROLS INHIBITIONS HAS BEEN DEPRESSED.ALCOHOL HAS A DEFINITE EFFECT ON THE MIND AND BODY. SINCE IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DIGESTED LIKE OTHER FOODS, IT GOES IMMEDIATELY INTO THE BLOODSTREAM, BEGINNING IN THE MOUTH. IN MODEST AMOUNTS, ALCOHOL GIVES THE DRINKER A FEELING OF RELAXATION, CONFIDENCE AND INCREASED SOCIABILITY.MODEST QUANTITIES DILATE THE SMALL BLOOD VESSELS, WHICH RESULTS IN A FLUSHED FEELING. WITH INCREASED AMOUNTS, JUDGEMENT IS IMPAIRED AND REACTION SLOWED. AS BLOOD LEVEL RISES, THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENTS,PARTICULARLY AUTOMOBILE, INCREASES.SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE INCLUDE:CHANGES IN EATING AND SLEEPING ROUTINES NAUSEA, OMITING LOW BODY TEMPERATURE; COLD,CLAMMY SKINMEMORY LAPSES,IMPAIRED COORDINATION AND PERCEPTION INCREASED URINATION LOW LEVEL OF TOLERATION, INCREASED FRUSTRATION AGGRESSIVE, VIOLENT BEHAVIORWITH CONTINUED ABUSE, DRINKERS MAY DEVELOPE PEPTIC ULCERS, DETERIORATION OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, HEART, PANCREAS AND BRAIN, AND LIVER DISEASES SUCH AS ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS, CANCER AND CIRRHOSIS. DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY CAN CAUSE "FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME"--THE POOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS. EVEN MODERATE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL DURINGPREGNANCY CAN LEAD TO MISCARRIAGE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND MENTAL RETARDATION