Many people don’t know that alcohol is addictive. When they learn that it is, they often ask, “Why is alcohol addictive?” Using new technology, researchers studied the brain on a level that wasn’t previously possible. With new brain images, they’ve found the reason why alcohol is addictive.
Why Is Alcohol Addictive?
Most people already know that alcohol makes people feel good, but why? Alcohol is a depressant that affects the reward sector of the brain. New studies show that it makes the brain release endorphins, which is a naturally occurring opioid in the brain.
The brain uses endorphins to signal a reward response. When people engage in activities that they enjoy, the brain releases endorphins to register that act as a reward. The brain does this for lots of activities such as having sex or eating good food.
Since all of these activities release endorphins, it’s possible for people to develop an addiction to any of them. However, drinking heavily stimulates the brain to overproduce endorphins. Constantly high endorphin levels eventually lead to addiction.
Why Do Some People Develop Addiction While Others Don’t?
Since alcohol is addictive, many people wonder why some people develop addiction while others don’t. Experts still haven’t found the answer to this question. They have, however, found some traits that make addiction more common in some people than in others.
One trait is genetics. People with family histories of alcohol abuse are much more likely to develop alcohol addiction themselves. The environment that they grow up in also plays a role in the development of addiction.
Some experts also say that certain social settings make some people more likely to develop a drinking addiction. Those who have friends who drink heavily are more likely to do it themselves. For example, students often drink heavily to fit in when they go to college.
How to Avoid Alcohol Addiction
Is alcohol addictive? Yes, but people can only develop an addiction after consuming the substance. People who are at a greater risk for addiction can avoid drinking altogether. Doing so completely negates the chances of developing an addiction even if it’s in their genes.
We Can Help You Overcome Your Alcohol Addiction
If you or a loved one suffers from an alcohol use disorder, there’s still hope. At Crestview Recovery, we offer a number of treatment programs for all kinds of addiction. Our goal is to help you overcome the disease and avoid relapse in the future. Some programs that we offer include:
- Extended care
- Gender-specific treatment
- Intensive outpatient programs
- Group therapy
Don’t let addiction consume or dictate your life. Fight back against it with our help. Feel free to reach out to us at 866-580-4160 for more information about our programs.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
