Author: James Anderson

The Science of Alcohol Addiction

They’ll recommend treatments and resources to help you recover from alcohol use disorder. Treatment for AUD can differ from person to person but sometimes starts with detoxification (detox). For anywhere from 2 days to a week, a doctor keeps a close eye on you while alcohol fully leaves your system. Because you could have withdrawal symptoms, medication that makes you sleep a lot is often part of detox.

ADDICTION TREATMENT

The immediate physical effects of drinking alcohol range from mild mood changes to loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Any of these signs can signal that you’re drunk or what’s officially called “acute alcohol intoxication.” They usually wear off in a few hours after you stop drinking. We often equate alcohol use disorder with people who drink too much over a long period. While your drinking habits play an important role in the development of alcoholism, other factors matter too. Over time, that substance or behaviour can start to take priority over other things and we can start to feel uneasy when we are not feeding our habit. This is sometimes called a ‘psychological addiction’.

Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction

Drinking may become a regular part of your life, although it may not seem like anything to worry about. This can include stress in your life, whether an overwhelming event or a bunch of smaller stressors that build up over time. Trauma, especially in childhood, can also raise your risk. If you began drinking alcohol before the age of 15, you may be more likely to have AUD, especially if you’re assigned female at birth. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. Many people treat alcohol as a reward at the end of the day or after an achievement.

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. Treatments may include medication and behavioral therapy. While people with this condition may start drinking again, studies show that with treatment, most people are able to reduce how much they drink or stop drinking entirely. As well as ‘psychological addiction’, alcohol can also produce physical dependency.

If you are struggling with alcohol use and addiction, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. Your doctor can provide medical advice, plan treatment, and refer you to addiction treatment facilities. Some people have a predisposition to alcoholism due to genetic factors. Expressly, some people’s brains release more pleasure chemicals in response to alcohol. This makes them more susceptible to physical dependency. Learn about the signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction.

What is alcohol use disorder?

Approximately one out of five college students meet the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s criteria for alcohol dependence (1). Even those who don’t drink can be one of the 599,000 students that are often unintentionally injured in alcohol-related situations (1). One of the causes behind these alarming statistics is simply the biology of the adolescent brain.

Addiction Questions?

Let your loved ones know that if they see any of these symptoms, they should call 911 or get you to a hospital right away. Mild symptoms usually start within 6 hours after you stop drinking as much alcohol as your body has become used to. It can still benefit your physical health and quality of life. That’s because a lot of people with AUD don’t want to quit drinking or find it really hard to stay sober. You might even avoid seeking treatment or admitting that you have an issue because of that.

  1. But some research now shows that cutting back on heavy drinking, or what’s known as harm reduction treatment, can be useful.
  2. Once you’ve suggested treatment, tell them you need their answer right away.
  3. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

There is a group of drug therapies aimed at attacking GABA receptors and the dopamine and serotonin pathways. For example, Baclofen is an approved GABA agonist for seizures that has shown to decrease craving and anxiety in alcohol addicts (7). At this point, AUD symptoms start to interfere with your personal and work life. For instance, you might miss important family events or meetings with co-workers because you’ve been drinking. Physical symptoms such as weight gain (or loss) usually show up in this mid-stage, too. This is also referred to as the “early alcoholic” stage.

But they should be people your loved one respects and likes. Working with an addiction or intervention specialist can often be helpful, but some people arrange interventions on their own without professional help. You can join no matter what belief system you have, or if you don’t have one at all. But spiritual themes and references to “God” may come up at meetings.

Talk to your healthcare provider about proven strategies. Talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice a problem. Your chances of recovery are better if you address addiction sooner. No matter how severe the drinking problem is, treatment can help those with AUD quit alcohol and recover. Consult a health professional to determine the most suitable one for your needs.

It turns out ethanol, the type of alcohol inside of adult beverages, is not addictive in and of itself. The chemical reactions ethanol causes in our brains are addictive. The science that explains why alcohol is addictive is complex, and will be discussed at length. Essentially though, alcohol is addictive because it becomes needed to feel normal. We will explore the world of neurotransmitters, endorphins, genetics, and sociological reasoning to figure out why alcohol is addictive.