The Experience of Being Drunk: Understanding the Feeling

This profound activation of the reward system can dramatically increase the desire for alcohol, progressively leading to dependence and, ultimately, addiction. Critically, the release of these endorphins and the interaction with GABA are concentrated within the brain’s reward center—the mesolimbic dopamine system. When someone drinks for prolonged periods, these neurotransmitter imbalances can become chronic within the brain. When alcohol is consumed, it is rapidly absorbed through the stomach lining and small intestine into the bloodstream. At this point, the body begins to lose its ability to function correctly.

Alcohol consumption is a common social activity, but its effects on the body and mind are complex and multi-faceted. These four stages of drunkenness roughly overlap with corresponding changes in the brain and particular regions of the brain. These facts about the stages of drunkenness are, therefore, a sobering antidote to the notion that “getting drunk” is a harmless form of social entertainment. Immediate medical attention is imperative in the lead-up to this last stage of drunkenness to prevent death from alcohol poisoning and/or other fatal symptoms. Imagine putting your brain in a jar filled with alcohol and shaking it up— it’s not a pretty picture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Being Drunk and Alcohol Use

To distinguish between its and it’s, determine whether the word is a possessive pronoun or a contraction. How quickly someone feels drunk depends on factors like age, sex, body size, metabolism, tolerance, whether they’ve eaten food, and if they’re consuming other drugs. It also activates the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine, which contributes to feelings of pleasure and reinforces drinking behavior.

• Otherwise, the correct word is its, as long as it signals ownership of whatever noun comes after it.
• Many individuals at this point may continue drinking excessively, attempting to counteract the growing drowsiness, mistakenly believing more alcohol will keep them “up.”
• Remember, any time you use it’s, you must be able to substitute either it is or it has in the word’s place.
• Alcohol’s effects are not static; they change significantly as intake increases.
• Understanding the influence of social settings on drinking behavior is crucial for promoting healthier drinking habits.

Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Risks include impaired judgment, coordination, alcohol poisoning, and long-term health issues like liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders. Alcohol poisoning is a severe and potentially fatal condition that occurs when an individual consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short period.

ADDICTIONS WE TREAT

Excessive drinking can lead to severe health issues, both in the short term and long term. However, the social context can also contribute to risky behaviors, such as binge drinking or drinking and driving. A higher BAC generally corresponds to more severe effects of intoxication.

The Experience Blog

• In English, possessive pronouns never use apostrophes.
• Alcohol affects the brain and every part of the body on a cellular level.
• Alcohol enhances the effects of GABA, which has inhibitory properties, leading to feelings of relaxation and sedation.
• If the sentence makes sense, then an apostrophe is needed.
• These natural chemicals work to ease stress and anxiety, reduce feelings of pain, and significantly boost mood, contributing to what does feeling drunk feel like as a pleasurable sensation.

Where do you think it’s (it is) coming from? The apostrophe never follows the s. Its is the possessive form of it, used to indicate possession, ownership, belonging, etc. In this instance, it’s is contracted from it has.

But the simple addition of an apostrophe changes the word’s meaning entirely. Have you ever mixed up its and it’s and then realized you don’t know for certain when the apostrophe is needed and when it’s not? Keep in mind that using contractions, such as it’s, is discouraged in formal writing contexts. It’s is a contraction of the words it and is or it and has. Really, it is OK if you confuse it’s (with an apostrophe between the t and s), and its (without any apostrophe at all). This apostrophe form of the possessive remained extremely common throughout the 17th century.

At this point, control over movements and emotions is significantly diminished, and they may experience profound confusion or find it incredibly difficult to stand or maintain balance without assistance. Despite its common misperception as a stimulant, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Alcohol’s effects are not static; what its like to be drunk they change significantly as intake increases. This escalation is a common indicator of developing an alcohol use disorder.

Table of Contents

After consuming alcohol, it typically takes 15 to 45 minutes to feel its full effects. The duration of drunkenness varies based on several factors, including body size, age, biological sex, and overall health. These stages are closely linked to the individual’s BAC, which measures the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

These neurological stages are no less scary because humans can’t see them. Indeed, at a BAC of .45 or above, you are probably going to die from alcohol poisoning. As an illustration, consider what happens when you get drunk. In addition to being the most commonly abused drug, alcohol is probably the most dangerous drug. When you think of dangerous drugs, you don’t first think of alcohol, do you? Mistakes like mixing up it’s and its happen often, even to the most skilled writers.

The Health Dangers of Alcohol

Initially, many people report feeling euphoric, happy, and more social. Simultaneously, it inhibits glutamate, which has excitatory effects, further contributing to the depressant effects of alcohol. Alcohol enhances the effects of GABA, which has inhibitory properties, leading to feelings of relaxation and sedation. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it travels to the brain, where it affects neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that transmit signals between nerve cells. Anyone who drinks heavily should know the health risks ahead of time— as well as how to get help for an alcohol problem.

This is the initial phase, where alcohol first enters the bloodstream and begins to exert its effects. The phases of “drunkenness” typically follow a predictable progression, each marked by distinct physical and psychological changes. A complex interplay of factors influences a person’s state of mind and physical sensations while drinking. At Hope Harbor Wellness, we believe that understanding these dynamics is the first step toward making informed choices and, if needed, seeking support for alcohol use. The effects of alcohol can range from mildly altering perceptions to posing extreme dangers, even leading to life-threatening situations.

Long-term risks include liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders. The liver metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about one unit per hour, which is roughly equivalent to 10 milliliters (ml) or 8 grams of alcohol. Alcohol stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which contribute to these feelings.

Occasionally, slipping in an apostrophe where there’s not supposed to be one can happen to anyone. Mixing up “it’s” and “its” can happen to anyone. If the sentence still makes sense, you’re using it’s correctly.

The Stages of Drinking: A Journey Through Intoxication

This experience is a combination of unpleasant physical symptoms (severe headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue) and a profound increase in anxiety and depression. If this pattern of heavy, rapid drinking continues for long periods, the body will inevitably adapt to the consistently high levels of alcohol consumed. This enables them to either maintain a certain level of intoxication or gives their body a chance to completely eliminate the alcohol before the next drink. When people drink, all their individual physical and genetic factors combine with how much they are drinking and how quickly.

Understanding the science behind being drunk and the stages of intoxication can help individuals make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and promote healthier drinking habits. The profound danger for individuals with an alcohol use disorder lies in the fact that their body and brain now require more and more alcohol just to feel euphoric or even just “normal” and to avoid withdrawal. Despite its widespread acceptance, very few people truly understand the intricate specifics of what does being drunk feel like and the profound effects alcohol has on the brain and body. The brain’s chemistry changes, requiring more alcohol to achieve the same desired effects or even just to feel normal and prevent withdrawal symptoms. We are here to support you in understanding what does being drunk feel like and, more importantly, guiding you toward a healthier, alcohol-free future.

The experience of being drunk can be categorized into several stages, each with distinct emotional and physical effects. Tolerance increases when the body and brain adapt to consistent alcohol consumption. Being drunk can feel good initially because alcohol triggers the release of feel-good endorphins and increases calming neurotransmitters like GABA in the brain.

What Does Being Drunk Feel Like? The Stages of Intoxication

If it doesn’t make sense, then there’s no need for an apostrophe. If the sentence makes sense, then an apostrophe is needed. When in doubt, substitute the word in question with it is or it has. Its is the possessive form of it, and is used to show possession or belonging. It’s is a contraction that stands for it is or it has. Read on to learn what these words mean and how to use them correctly.