Alcohol (ethanol)

Ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, is a central nervous system depressant. When consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, primarily through the small intestine. Its concentration in the blood is influenced by factors such as body weight, sex, duration of consumption, and food intake. The liver metabolizes most of the ingested ethanol into acetaldehyde, then acetate, which is eventually eliminated from the body. Blood ethanol levels are a direct measure of recent alcohol consumption and are used to assess intoxication and monitor metabolic processes related to alcohol.