What Makes Alcohol Addictive? What is the Addictive Ingredient in Alcohol?

In small doses, it’s perfectly safe for adults to use alcohol, but when used too much over time it can lead to addiction and other very adverse effects on one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. The key ingredient in alcoholic drinks is ethanol, which affects a person’s central nervous system once consumed. Drinking alcohol causes your brain to release dopamine and more endorphins. In addition to producing feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, these chemicals also act as natural painkillers. Different people’s brains react differently to alcohol and may have a genetic predisposition.

As with other addictive behaviors, alcoholism is a learned behavior that is influenced by a person’s thoughts and beliefs. People who don’t believe in treatment and recovery are less likely to make the effort required to successfully complete treatment. The symptoms of stress can also contribute to addiction, with the use of alcohol becoming a temporary and unhealthy way to cope.

Social and Cultural Factors

However, if stress becomes chronic and someone doesn’t know how to cope with it, he or she may turn to alcohol for relief. Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a complex condition caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Stressful life events, mental health disorders, peer pressure, easy access to alcohol, and normalization of heavy drinking can contribute to its development. Recognizing these factors can help address potential risks of alcohol use. Malnutrition, cancer, and liver disease are long-term effects of alcohol abuse.

The truth is, anyone can become a drug addict or alcoholic, but some are more vulnerable than others. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives. Neurotransmitters’ function is to deliver vital messages from cell to cell in the body. With each communication, they move from a specific transport site to a nerve receptor. Many important functions of the body, such as digestion, blinking, heart rate and breathing among others rely on proper neurotransmitter function.

Why Do People Get Addicted To Drugs and Alcohol?

People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight. Substance abuse means using an illegal substance or using a legal substance in the wrong way. Addiction begins as abuse, or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine. According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, misuse of alcohol has been linked to a variety of social, economic, and health-related issues. There are so many things a teen should be experiencing in this phase of their young life–alcohol addiction should not be one of them.

All of these factors that stem from drinking at an early age can increase a person’s risk of becoming an alcoholic. Alcohol use can turn to addiction when the person uses it more and more frequently and in higher amounts, perhaps to self-medicate an underlying mental health disorder, like anxiety or depression. The person first develops tolerance, meaning that they require more alcohol to feel the same effects.

Early Stage: Drinking Problem

In general, there is an early stage, a middle stage, and a final stage. As mentioned, AUD is progressive and an individual with an AUD will progress unless proper treatment is received. One of the reasons that AUDs are increasing so much is that alcohol and drinking are socially acceptable—and even https://soberhome.net/ expected—in most communities. These ads portray alcohol as not only harmless but as a way to have fun, enjoy family and friends, and let loose. And while many Americans can consume alcohol harmlessly, the millions who are unable to do so often succumb to the innocent portrayal of heavy drinking.

Studies suggest that about half of the risk of developing an alcohol addiction depends upon genes. Keep in mind, though, that a genetic risk does not mean a person is destined to develop alcoholism. However, it can become a bad habit relatively quickly,  depending on how strong the influence of friends, family and society is on a person. Social and environmental influences increase the likelihood of becoming an alcoholic. Factors such as the availability of alcohol, peer pressure, social class and any kind of abuse can play a role in the development of alcohol addiction.

Signs and symptoms

Chronic alcoholism may lead to muscle tissue breakdown and lack of protein synthesis necessary for healthy cell regeneration. This causes physical weakness and loss of muscle mass over time because Alcohol can damage the nerve tissue which signals muscles telling them what to do, causing them to become atrophied. People who drink large amounts of ethanol daily often find that they need more sleep than usual which can be attributed to the depressive effects caused by chronic exposure to this substance. Alcohol addiction can also lead to insomnia if not enough rest is achieved during sleeping hours. Teens are especially vulnerable to possible addiction because their brains are not yet fully developed—particularly the frontal regions that help with impulse control and assessing risk. Pleasure circuits in adolescent brains also operate in overdrive, making drug and alcohol use even more rewarding and enticing.

• As a result, alcoholics tend to suffer more from common illnesses and diseases than the average person.
• Problem drinking has multiple causes, with genetic, physiological, psychological,and social factors all playing a role.
• This lack of ability often leads to emotional issues since individuals who could not hold on to a job or maintain relationships with friends and family for years on end become depressed.
• Your teen has hope for recovery, especially if you seek treatment as soon as possible.

High blood pressure is another effect of alcohol addiction that can occur because of chronic abuse. Excessive ethanol consumption will lead to health issues with the cardiovascular system because it increases one’s heart rate and places more stress on their body, leading to hypertension. Alcohol is an addictive substance that many people use for several reasons.

Then, dependence sets in when the brain begins to think it needs the substance in order to feel normal. At this point, attempting to stop drinking will bring on withdrawal symptoms. The brain of someone addicted to alcohol is different than that of a normal drinker. Alcoholics are unable to control their drinking, and even though they no longer enjoy it, they cannot stop using without dealing with intense physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. While each person is different, alcohol use disorder tends to develop in stages.

It is not a complete loss of autonomy—addicted individuals are still accountable for their actions—but they are much less able to override the powerful drive to seek relief from withdrawal provided by alcohol or drugs. At every turn, people with addictions who try to quit find their resolve challenged. Even if they can resist drug or alcohol use for a while, at some point the constant craving triggered by the many cues in their life may erode their resolve, resulting in a return to substance use, or relapse. When people live, work or socialize with drinkers, they are more likely to drink themselves.

Is It Easy to Get an Alcohol Addiction?

Problem-solving is another mental function that gets affected when a person has been drinking alcohol for extended periods. They find it difficult to resolve issues and develop new ideas or solutions that may not have been present eco sober house boston before they started consuming large amounts of ethanol. The effects that alcohol has on the neurotransmitters in the brain are also what eventually lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can, in fact, be fatal in some cases.

For example, someone who suffers from depression may drink as a means of self-medicating their symptoms. Similarly, people with anxiety, panic disorders, bipolar disorder, and PTSD are all at a higher risk of developing a drinking problem. In addition, people with a history of emotional, sexual, or physical trauma are also at an increased risk of an alcohol use disorder, as these individuals may abuse alcohol to cope with the trauma they have endured. Women who have alcohol-use disorders often have a co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis such as major depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bulimia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or borderline personality disorder. Alcohol helps relax the user and decrease inhibitions, increasing their chances of having fun or socializing with others.

What Are the Consequences of Drinking Too Much Alcohol?

Cognitive problems like decision-making become impaired because of changes in thought processes because of chemical imbalances induced by ethanol consumption. Other cognitive issues related to prolonged alcohol abuse include problems with memory, reasoning, etc. Another effect of alcohol addiction may cause people who drink chronically to experience problems with their ability to concentrate on tasks because they cannot think clearly anymore because of excessive alcohol use. From genetics and drug abuse to families and communities, the impact of alcohol addiction can be severe. A doctor from Yale University explains how underage drinking increases a person’s chance of becoming alcohol-dependent. Different models of alcoholism identify various stages of alcohol use disorder ranging from three stages to seven stages.

Many people who are living with an AUD, mistakenly think that really having a problem with alcohol would mean being that stereotypical alcoholic drinking on the streets or losing it all. There are stages of alcoholism and the sooner an individual gets help, the better for not only them but their families as well. Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed legal ‘drugs’ in the world. From celebrating weddings and the birth of a child to unwinding after a long day at work and drinking to decompress, alcohol is a part of just about everyone’s life in one way or another.

• Contact us today to find out which of our treatment options if right for you.
• Then, dependence sets in when the brain begins to think it needs the substance in order to feel normal.
• This is known as a psychological addiction because the act of drinking alcohol becomes habitual and they need it in order to feel good or like their normal selves.
• Because alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous – and even kill you – make sure you have medical advice from your doctor or a rehab facility when you decide to stop drinking.

For some alcohol abusers, psychological traits such as impulsiveness, low self-esteem and a need for approval prompt inappropriate drinking. Some individuals drink to cope with or “medicate” emotional problems. Social and environmental factors such as peer pressure and the easy availability of alcohol can play key roles.

Some long-term effects of alcohol use may be avoided through alcohol addiction treatment.Using the drug long-term can cause permanent brain damage, so the effects persist even if the user does not have alcohol in their system. The same NSDUH found that there are nearly 15 million Americans over the age of 12 years with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This explains why substance use disorders are said to involve compromised self-control.

After all, nobody wants to deal with the physical and mental pain that addiction brings. Still, millions of people worldwide struggle with a drinking problem. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 85% of adults in the United States (18 years of age and older) reported consuming alcohol in the past year. Of these millions, more than 25% reported binge drinking in the past month.