To downplay something is to make it seem less important, or to make it less serious. When the media downplays the importance of a crime, they are trying to make the public feel safer.
To legalize something is to make it legal. This can be done in the form of a law, a rule, or a decree.
To counteract something is to do the opposite of it. If you counteract the effects of alcohol, you're trying to reduce the number of problems that it causes.
When someone is drunker, they are more intoxicated than usual. This means that they are more affected by the alcohol in their system.
When something is legalized, it is made legal. This means that it is allowed by law, and people are usually required to follow the rules that are set by the law.
To overdose on something is to take too much of it. This can be dangerous because it can cause you to have a dangerous reaction.
An inconclusive situation is one that is not resolved. It could mean that the two sides are still arguing, or it could mean that the evidence is not clear enough to make a decision.
When a floodgate is open, water is flowing freely through it. This can be a good or a bad thing.
When something is legalized, it is made legal by law. This means that it is no longer illegal to do or have it.