What Makes Alcohol So Addictive? Physical and Mental Effects of Alcohol

Reward and pleasure centers are unnaturally triggered and overloaded, causing cravings and an increased desire to repeat those intense happy feelings. Another common reason people consume alcohol is to help them overcome fears, especially in social settings. When drinking, many people feel relief from symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as lowered inhibitions and increased confidence. Those who frequently experience these symptoms and use alcohol to “treat” them are likely to develop a dependency over time. Anytime you consume an alcoholic beverage, you run the risk of encountering side effects, and if you drink alcohol regularly, you are at risk of addiction. Footprints’ treatment teams are highly experienced addiction professionals who are passionate about their work and your recovery.

Alcohol addiction can lead to several devastating consequences. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Genetics — Heritability has an impact on approximately 60 percent of alcohol-addicted persons. Alcohol is often linked to positive associations such as celebrations. It is often featured at events or used to celebrate (“toastings,” for example). Many people treat alcohol as a reward at the end of the day or after an achievement, which builds a positive association with alcohol.

What are the Signs that Someone May be Addicted to Alcohol?

The way the brain rewards you for these behaviors motivates you to continue doing them. Alcohol works on the same “feel-good” brain chemicals that reward you for those “human survival” activities, but alcohol releases more of them. With repeated alcohol abuse your brain starts prioritizing drinking right up there with eating, sleeping, sex, etc. Certain factors like age, family history, genetics, and others, can make a person more at risk of developing alcohol use disorder .

Genetic factors may live in environments where drinking alcohol is more prevalent. It is also thought that others who began drinking at a young age when certain parts of their brains involved in evaluating and judging were still developing. Physical adversity can lead to stress in many people, leading them to turn to alcohol as a means of coping with it. Alcohol is one of the most misused chemical substances in the country — which makes sense, considering alcohol is both highly addictive and legal.

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When someone drinks excessively, their ability to make positive decisions and control their impulses is impaired. They may eventually feel like they need to use alcohol regularly. When someone feels like they need to consume a substance, it is defined as ‘dependency.’ Once someone is dependent on a substance like alcohol, they could quickly develop an addiction. There are also many co-occurring disorders or comorbidities that can make people more predisposed to addiction. As a result, when the person isn’t drinking, they may experience physical and emotional signs of discomfort, such as irritability and tremors, otherwise referred to as withdrawal symptoms.

why is alcohol addictive alcohol abuse over long periods can lead to dizziness or vertigo due to how it affects brain function by altering neurotransmitter levels . Because serotonin helps regulate our moods and has many other functions in the brain and body, it is important to maintain its levels by not ingesting too much of this substance. Ethanol can also cause nausea and vomiting, which is why people often become sick if they drink too much of this substance at one time. 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.