Can anyone explain the hype about alcohol?

[Ventrusii]

Like the title says, can anyone explain to me the hype people have about alcohol?

To me, alcohol is probably the shittiest psychoactive I've ever tried, regarding the effects. The NMDA antagonism makes the experience sort of pleasurable, but also very uncomfortable at the same time. I don't very much enjoy the reduction of tactile sensation in my fingers and lips.

Other than its GABA and serotonin effects, can anyone explain to me why a numbing, vertigo-inducing, nausea-inducing, fucking-up sort of psychoactive is loved by people who have easy access to much better and longer-acting psychoactives?

The only reasons I can think of is its cheap price and legal status.

 

[tremours]

Like you said price, availability and then there's culture. Alot of people grow up around alcohol, while abuse is frowned on its generally accepted. Alot of people prefer it, I don't really understand why people in drug forums especially like to look down on it. In my opinion meth is far worse , but I'm going to stop before I go on about how much meth sucks because really everyone processes different chems differently.so while you don't like alot of people prefer it over whatever you take

 

[MDPV_Psychosis]

Alcohol has a lot of negatives going for it, but used in moderation it's actually quite a pleasant experience for most.

Used in moderation it lowers inhibition, reduces stress and anxiety, increases sexual arousal, produces euphoria and can taste quite pleasant when in the right concoction.

So I don't get all the hate either.

Every drug has a shitty side to it when over indulged or abused. Alcohol isn't really any different besides being legal, readily available and socially accepted.

 

[Wu-tang killa beez]

A heavy night on alcohols supposed to be as bad for you as a concussion.
Its becoming less and less attractive nothing else makes me feel as shit as alcohol does the next day

 

[300THB]

Other than its GABA and serotonin effects, can anyone explain to me why a numbing, vertigo-inducing, nausea-inducing, fucking-up sort of psychoactive is loved by people who have easy access to much better and longer-acting psychoactives?

I could not agree more.

Being drunk is one of the most unpleasant sensations ever for me.

But during my binging days i have consumed up to 2 or more liters of Whiskey in a night. But only in combination with huge amounts of pure cocaine.

The feeling of alcohol and cocaine is amazing in my opinion. The feeling of alcohol alone is horrible.

But that really is only because cocaine makes you feel like your sober even after drinking the whole club under the table lol.

 

[opiatekrzy]

Being a drug addict that i am, oddly Alcohol is the one "drug" that I really can't care for at all. The smell alone makes my mouth water to the point I feel like vomiting. The buzz is.not even enjoyable at all, it feels quite dirty, unpredictable, and euphoric at the least, a lot of.times.it.makes.me dysphoric, and.besides that, the hangover and the spins is.not appealing to me.at all.

 

[kleinerkiffer]

Od - > DC

 

[bobby1978]

I had really bad anxiety, especially earlier in life (mid teens), so when I found ethanol, which was one of few drugs I had access to, it was like a religious experience for me.

And I don't think that's an exaggeration, it was that important at the time. It helped me interact with people, stop worrying about everything and helped me sleep (sometimes, all three at once). I also often felt euphoric on it.

Fast forward 7 or 8 years and it was starting to really destroy my life. Fast forward another 5 or 6 and it had done so. I think I still have PAWS now years after I finally completely quit.

So I agree with you that on the whole, it's a shitty substance. But back in my teens, listening to music getting drunk, not being afraid and feeling like I could breathe, it was pretty sweet.

I suppose what I'm saying here is that I used it to self-medicate, when I had no other medication. It served a purpose, though the price was steep.

EDIT: I read some other posts again and I just want to be clear that what I'm describing here is someone is need of help, who got addicted. I'd completely agree that in moderation, it can be just fine. I suppose that's true of most drugs, really. Morphine is a great pain reliever, but if you use it for mental issues you'll probably run into trouble eventually, I guess that's the analogy I'd make for my alcohol use.

 

[bomber]

First, I don't get the negatives you mention so much.
Second, things I like with alcohol.
1)Emotionality: Im kind of strict on my self and I don't let my self be too emotional but when drunk I become too emotional in a way I like it. I feel like I have a huge connection to my inner self.
2)Euphoria&happiness: Alcohol is very euphoric for me. And also causes me to much happiness.I mean, I can't stop smilling when drunk.
3)Anxienty gone away: I have so much shit to worry about everyday which seams so unnimportant when Im drunk it's kind of funny. I don't even need to be drunk, actually. A little amount of strong alcohol would calm me down in a good way.
4)Empathy: I just love everyone when Im drunk.
5)Stimulation: Yeah alcohol is a depressant but when your mind shuts the fuck up everything is easier to do.
6)I don't know if you have a word for this kind of feeling in english, but in Greek we call it "μεράκλωμα" (merakloma). It's that kind of feeling that makes you wanna party,dance, sing, break glasses for fun, yell "opa" and have deep convertations.
7)Girls seem to like me more when Im a little drunk. Not to much drunk though.
8 Confidense boost. Alcohol makes me confident as fuck.

It's kind of difficult to find these effects combination on any other drug, ain't it? Alcohol is my second favourite after only heroin, and when It comes to Absinthe, I like it even more than heroin but it has some different effects than those I've mentioned above.
The thing is that most people don't know how to drink and become sick.All those neggatives you mentioned come when you drink more than you can handle. Alcohol is a perfect drug when you stay in limits.