Why Is Alcohol Addictive?

The withdrawal process is very challenging and difficult to go through, as the brain and body crave the level of alcohol they are accustomed to receiving. Avoiding withdrawal is a strong motivator for an alcoholic to continue to drink. This can create a vicious cycle, where the alcoholic drinks to avoid the stress of withdrawal. Outpatient treatment as a level of care is a happy medium, with programs allowing for more or less regular support. Alcohol can destroy family relationships, cause someone to lose a job, or lead to a wide range of health problems.

• When we first consume alcohol, dopamine is produced, signalling to our brains that alcohol use is a reward.
• Someone with an alcohol addiction who has remained sober for months or years may find themselves drinking again.
• This approach is supplemented by regular counseling, both during and after the detoxing phase, to sustain long-term recovery.
• Express your concerns in a caring way and encourage your friend or family member to get help.

As an addiction tends to get worse over time, it’s important to look for early warning signs. If identified and treated early, someone with an alcohol addiction may be able to avoid major consequences of the disease. It can cause changes to the brain and neurochemistry, so a person with an alcohol addiction may not be able to control their actions. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects people of all walks of life. Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to alcohol addiction. Psychological, genetic, and behavioral factors can all contribute to having the disease.

Compulsive Gambling and Anxiety

Make meetings a priority – Join a recovery support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and attend meetings regularly. Spending time with people who understand exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober. Build a sober social network – If your previous social life revolved around alcohol, you may need to make some new connections. It’s important to have sober friends who will support your recovery.

People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking, even when it causes problems, emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. There are several factors that determine the potential for the drug to be addictive. Let’s take a look below at alcohol’s properties and why it can be addictive.

How Teens Become Addicted to Alcohol

Most times they have one or two drinks at a social event without thinking about it. If they had to quit drinking, they wouldn’t have a problem doing so. If you think you’re drinking too much, if you’ve wondered if you need addiction treatment, you should talk to an addiction specialist. Casual drinking habits can quickly turn into alcoholism under certain circumstances. The social acceptance of alcohol can mask an alcohol problem for a while. In the early stages of alcohol abuse, you may be able to hide excessive drinking from loved ones, friends, and coworkers, but it becomes harder and harder to hide the problem.

Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering, or attending events in your community. Write your drinking goal down and keep it where you will frequently see it, such as on your phone or taped to your refrigerator. Distance yourself from people who don’t support your efforts to stop drinking or respect the limits you’ve set. This may mean giving up certain friends and social connections. Let friends, family members, and co-workers know that you’re trying to stop or cut back on drinking.

Alcohol

Poverty and physical or sexual abuse also increase the odds of developing alcohol dependence. Around half of people with substance use disorders also have co-occurring mental health disorders. Mental health and alcohol addiction influence each other in a couple of ways. People with conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, or bipolar disorder may use alcohol to cope with their psychiatric symptoms.

Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so make sure you eat food when you drink. It’s much easier to avoid drinking if you don’t keep temptations around. For 3 to 4 weeks, write down every time you have a drink and how much you drink. Reviewing the results, you may be surprised at your weekly drinking habits. Thirdly, teens may use alcohol to help them to relax in social situations. Some feel that they must drink to become socially active or to participate in social functions.

This is your body’s way of trying to re-establish equilibrium without the alcohol it has become to depend on for normal functioning. Alcohol is an addictive substance and one of the most abused substances in the world. While anyone can become addicted to alcohol over time, some people are more susceptible to alcohol addiction. The properties of alcohol already make it addictive, but certain biological and environmental factors can greatly increase the risk of addiction in some people. There are various methods to prevent or stop drinking if you are addicted.

Its chemical makeup, however, is what causes alcohol addiction. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that, over time, can mold how our bodies react and respond to our consumption of alcohol. The body grows a tolerance to the presence of alcohol in its system, such that it can only function effectively when those levels of alcohol are maintained. Alcohol also releases bursts of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for us feeling reward and pleasure.

People with chronic alcohol addiction will also suffer from a lack of energy and motivation, attributed to their constantly fatigued state (due to less sleep, poor diet, etc.). Alcoholics Anonymous is available almost everywhere and provides a place to openly and non-judgmentally discuss alcohol problems with others https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-is-alcohol-addictive/ who have alcohol use disorder. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 15 million Americans are addicted to alcohol. A CNN report revealed that alcohol is one of the most addictive substances in the world, alongside heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and barbiturates.