Alcohol is historically one of the oldest drugs known to mankind. It is ingested orally and comes in many varieties. It is attractively packaged in alluring bottles and cans; which can seduce the unsuspecting individual and lead to a life of incessant misery, imbued with a potentially ruinous outcome. Taken in moderation; however, alcohol can also be used to prevent disease processes and promote health. This particular drug is legal and is widely promoted across the planet. I chose this drug because I was personally aware of all its insidious effects. Alcohol comes in many forms, but primarily it is beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Maisto, Galizio & Conners (2011) point out that “the first non-distilled (sic) alcoholic beverages were inadvertently produced by natural fermentation” (p. 192). These drinks were mainly wine and beer, beer being the oldest fermented drink (Maisto et al., 2011). Boozah, as the Egyptians called beer, was fermented using a dehydrated slurry soaked in water until the fermentation process was complete (Maisto et al., 2011). Wine is produced in a similar way; however, fermentation develops using a variety of fruits, mainly grapes, and yeast (Maisto et al., 2011). Distillation occurred much later and fortified the drink with a much higher concentration of alcohol. This method uses a process of fermenting sugar dissolved in water and exposed to air, which is then heated to steam and condensed by cooling (Maisto et al., 2011). The psychoactive ingredient in all alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Alcohol is mainly consumed orally; however, it can be injected and used topically (Maisto et al., 2011). Oral consumption is the main method of administration. Potions can be co... middle of paper... emergency treatment. The lethal dose of alcohol is 0.45-0.50 and in extreme cases 1.0 (Maisto et al., 2011). I chose this topic because I was in a relationship with an alcoholic. He had suffered from alcoholism from adolescence until the age of 47. I struggled with her for almost a year before she capitulated and agreed to check herself into an impatient treatment facility for thirty days. She has been sober for five years and we are now married. In conclusion, alcohol is a double-edged sword. Its allure may be attractive and temporarily intoxicating, but the long-term consequences can be a lifetime of pain, sadness, and regret. The health benefits do not outweigh the long-term concerns that alcohol can potentially bring. For me it was a life of misery, regret, fear and suffering. In moderation, however, alcohol can be consumed safely and pleasantly.