Transtornos por uso de álcool are characterised by the padrão and consequences of alcohol uso. Alcohol—more specifically termed ethyl alcohol or ethanol—is an intoxicating compound produced by fermentation of sugars usually in agricultural products such as fruits, cereals, and vegetables com or sem subsequent distillation. There are a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, com alcohol concentrations typically ranging from 1.5% to 60%. Alcohol is predominantly a central nervous system depressant. In addition to ability to produce Alcohol intoxicação, alcohol has dependência-producing properties, resulting in Alcohol dependência in some people and Alcohol abstinência when alcohol uso is reduced or discontinued. Unlike most other substances, elimination of alcohol from the body occurs at a constant rate, such that its clearance follows a linear rather than a logarithmic course. Alcohol is implicated in a wide range of harms affecting most organs and systems of the body (e.g., cirrhosis of the liver, gastrointestinal cancers, pancreatitis). Harm to others resulting from behaviour during Alcohol intoxicação is well recognized and is included in the definitions of nocivo uso of alcohol (i.e., episódio of nocivo uso of Alcohol and nocivo padrão of uso of Alcohol). Several alcohol-induced mental transtornos (e.g., Alcohol-Induced Psychotic transtorno) and alcohol-related forms of neurocognitive impairment (e.g., Demência Due to uso of Alcohol) are recognized.