Is Alcohol Addictive? How Does it Work & Who is At Risk?

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 why is alcohol addicting just about everyone’s life in one way or another. And while many think that alcohol consumption is harmless—after all it’s legal—this is far from the case. Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that can have lasting health effects. Knowing why alcohol is addictive, the types of drinkers, and how it affects the body can help people recognize when they may have an issue and take steps to address it.

The Blurred Lines Between Alcohol Use and Alcohol Addiction

• Alcohol triggers the release of endorphins — chemicals that create feelings of pleasure.
• “The heritability of alcohol use disorder…nd adoption studies.” Psychological Medicine, Cambridge University Press, August 29, 2014.
• It all starts with our brain’s reward system and our need to find relief, pleasure, or escape.
• Your doctor can provide medical advice, plan treatment, and refer you to addiction treatment facilities.
• Triggers can range from external factors like a stressful work meeting to internal cues like loneliness or anxiety.

These groups offer peer support, shared experiences, and a structured program to help individuals maintain sobriety. The availability and accessibility of alcohol are major factors in its addictive potential. In regions where alcohol is readily available and inexpensive, consumption rates are typically higher. Experiencing high levels of stress, trauma, or adverse life events can increase the likelihood of alcohol addiction.

Starting Treatment

Alcohol can compromise impulse control and decision-making, leading to alcohol misuse and dependence.1 Many people also consume alcohol despite the negative consequences, increasing the risk for addiction. Taking an alcoholic quiz can help individuals assess their drinking habits and determine if they need professional help. Early intervention is crucial for successful treatment and recovery. Many individuals with alcohol use disorder are functioning alcoholics, meaning they manage to maintain their responsibilities while struggling with addiction. Recognizing the signs and seeking help is essential for achieving long-term recovery. Inpatient treatment provides a structured and supportive environment for recovery.

Endorphins and Opioid Receptors

Alcohol addiction is not just about physical changes in the brain. It’s not only about the chemical effects of alcohol but also the emotional and mental factors that can contribute to addiction. People who are physically dependent on alcohol will need the support of a healthcare professional to stop drinking. Many people remain addicted to alcohol because they don’t want to face the withdrawal symptoms of drinking cessation.

Team hits milestone toward prion disease treatment. For them, it’s personal.

• 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.
• By employing these frameworks, Megan empowers her clients to confront their realities and comprehend the tangible impact of systemic factors on their lives.
• People with untreated depression, anxiety, or PTSD have a higher risk for alcoholism because they may self-medicate with the drug.
• Alcohol addiction is a horrific experience for anyone – either the person suffering, or the person who loves someone suffering.

Having a genetic predisposition to alcohol addiction doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll become an alcoholic, but it can make you more susceptible to environmental triggers to abuse substances. With continued alcohol use, your brain starts firing neurotransmitters even when you anticipate drinking alcohol. You begin to receive pleasure signals just by thinking about drinking or being in a situation or around people that remind you of drinking. This is a key reason why it’s so hard to resist alcohol once you have a problem. The quick answer is that with continued alcohol abuse, your brain thinks you need alcohol to survive.

Mental Health

That phenotype, that externalizing, rowdy, heatless, drinking, drug use thing is interesting clinically, but it doesn’t mean that that person experiences addiction. I’m trying to tease apart those two phenotypes, which I think are dramatically different in terms of the implications for classification and treatment. People can take several different self-questionnaires to screen for problem drinking. They also can look out for Substance abuse signs of alcohol use disorder in their loved ones.

Different people’s brains react differently to alcohol and may have a genetic predisposition. Reward and pleasure centers in the brain become overloaded, causing cravings for those emotions again. A person may have the intention to stop, but alcohol can affect impulse control and decision-making, causing relapse to be more likely.

• Tolerance builds with increased drinking, but this inability to feel pleasure without dopamine is what actually causes increased drinking.
• In this article, we’ll seek to answer the question, “Why is alcohol addictive?
• It’s just as addictive as drug substances, and its use causes various physical, psychological, social, and financial problems.
• Peer pressure and the desire to fit in can also contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder.

How Alcohol Affects the Brain and Body

The survey also found a significant increase in alcohol and drug use since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Footprints’ treatment teams are highly experienced addiction professionals who are passionate about their work and your recovery. Alcoholism is defined as an incurable disease, this does not mean that is it not treatable. There are millions of people throughout the world that have been able to recover 100% from alcoholism with the right treatment and proper life long maintenance skills. You too can leave alcoholism in the past and start sober living today. Crest View Recovery Center is here to help you start your journey toward a healthier, sober life.