Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
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Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
People who drink moderately may be able to say no to alcohol. They may go days, weeks, months, or even years between drinks.
However, an individual who struggles with drinking may find it hard to avoid alcohol consumption. They may drink alcohol compulsively every day.
When someone suffers from alcohol addiction, drinking becomes a major part of their life, even if they want to stop drinking. This can lead some people to question why those with an alcohol use disorder drink.
There is no simple answer to why alcoholics drink. It varies depending on the individual, and there are many possible answers.
Alcohol addiction is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Alcoholics begin drinking for various reasons. However, alcoholics generally continue to drink because they develop alcohol dependence and become physically addicted to it.
Here are some of the physical factors that may lead to alcoholism:
As people develop alcohol dependence, it is normal to experience urges or cravings for alcohol. This refers to a wide range of thoughts, physical sensations, or emotions that push you to drink, even if you do not want to.
Those with intense cravings may experience an uncomfortable pull in two directions or sense a loss of control when it comes to alcohol.
Alcohol addiction is a diagnosable brain disease. It is characterized by a specific set of symptoms. It is also a chronic, relapsing disease.
This means that while recovery is possible, a recovering alcoholic must work hard to beat the disease.
Recovering alcoholics often experience challenging withdrawal symptoms that make it easy to relapse. In many cases, those suffering from alcoholism relapse to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
A more severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens can lead to:
Here are some of the neurological factors that may cause alcoholism:
With time, consistent drinking can change the brain. The brain can end up responding differently to the outside world than it usually would.
One of the parts of the brain known to adjust from long-term drinking is the prefrontal-striatal-limbic circuit. This area of the brain controls emotions, decision-making, and stress. It can be affected following long-term drinking.
Alcohol abuse can also adversely affect the ventral striatum part of the brain. The feel-good chemical dopamine stops working well in this part of the brain.
People with poor drinking habits also have fewer brain cells than usual in the brain's prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex part. This is the area of the brain responsible for decision-making.
The neurotransmitters, or brain chemicals, of people struggling with heavy drinking can differ from other people. Drinking alcohol causes a change in the way certain brain chemicals function, leading to imbalances.
Drinking particularly affects gamma-aminobutyric acid, otherwise known as GABA. Alcohol consumption depresses the central nervous system by increasing the levels of GABA.
Heavy drinking also affects the chemical glutamate. Alcohol consumption suppresses the chemical levels, which stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) under usual circumstances. As a result, the central nervous system is further depressed.
Dopamine is another chemical that is affected by heavy drinking patterns. This chemical is part of the brain’s reward system. It is triggered by alcohol consumption, leading to a feel-good state and a desire to continue drinking.
Drinking alcohol also increases the level of serotonin. This chemical links to a sense of well-being and a good mood.
With consistent drinking, the brain becomes used to chemical imbalances. As a result, individuals need to consume larger amounts of alcohol more frequently to reach the same good mood and sense of well-being they once experienced.
Here are some of the emotional factors of alcoholism:
Some people drink as a coping mechanism to help them deal with a difficult situation. Unfortunately, drinking alcohol is a coping mechanism in which the long-term adverse effects significantly outweigh the temporary benefits.
These negative effects include, but are not limited to:
People may use alcohol to deal with:
Many people deal with stress by turning to alcohol. Drinking alcohol may result in temporary positive feelings and relaxation. However, problems usually occur when stress is ongoing, and someone tries to deal with it by consuming more alcohol.
Some people use alcohol to manage symptoms of a mental health issue. This is known as ‘self-medicating.’ People may be aware that they have a mental health problem but do not know a healthier way to cope with it and turn to alcohol instead. Someone may also have an undiagnosed mental health issue and use alcohol to try to deal with it.
While self-medicating mental health issues may provide some relief in the short-term, it only worsens problems in the long-term. Regular self-medication can lead to alcohol addiction, worsening mental health disorders, and increased health problems.
Here are environmental factors that may cause alcoholism:
A person’s environment plays a huge role in the development of alcohol use disorder. Those who live near alcohol establishments, bars, and retail stores have easy access to alcohol. They are more likely to participate in drinking activities.
Early alcohol exposure can also influence alcoholism. Alcohol manufacturers show advertisements that depict drinking as a relaxing, fun, and acceptable pastime. This is very attractive to people of all ages.
If a person grew up in an alcoholic home, there is a very high chance that they will develop alcoholism, too.
Genetics and physiology are closely linked to alcoholism. While some people have no problems limiting their alcohol intake, others cannot seem to resist the strong impulse to continue drinking.
For some people, the feeling of pleasure they get from drinking beer or liquor encourages their brains to keep repeating the behavior. This repetitive behavior puts a person at a higher risk of developing alcoholism.
Scientists have suggested that alcohol dependence might be related to approximately 51 genes found in different chromosome regions. If passed on from generation to generation, family members are more susceptible to developing drinking problems.
Other risk factors may increase your risk of developing an alcohol substance abuse disorder.
Some known risk factors include:
In most cases, alcoholism does not go away on its own. However, though there is no easy ‘cure’ for an alcohol use disorder, the condition is treatable.
Ongoing treatment from healthcare providers and continued recovery efforts can help manage an alcohol use disorder and prevent relapse.
Yes, alcoholism can be prevented. Preventing alcohol addiction starts with you. If you worry that you are becoming a problem drinker, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of alcohol addiction.
First, recognize your triggers. What triggers your alcohol consumption? Is it a specific time of day? Or do you desire a drink after a hard day at work? Understanding what actions, emotions, or people encourage you to drink helps you determine ways to limit your alcohol consumption or avoid drinking altogether.
It is also essential to surround yourself with a reliable, positive social network of friends and family where alcohol is not a significant factor. Spend time with positive people who make you feel good about yourself and not pressure or encourage you to drink.
Discovering new hobbies, making new friends at social events, and finding people and activities that make you happy may help you limit your alcohol consumption and prevent addiction.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, various addiction treatment options are available. Reaching sobriety is entirely possible, no matter how long or how much you have been drinking.
There are several initial first steps when it comes to recovering from substance use disorders like alcohol addiction. These include:
These steps must be taken for long-term sobriety. Recovering alcoholics may also find additional treatment options like support groups helpful.
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