It’s a phenomenon that has left heads scratching. The question that’s being asked is: why do some people get addicted to alcohol and others do not? We’ll explain it in-depth shortly.
Alcohol can be easily addicting. Someone can have a single drink and suddenly they’re getting hooked. Meanwhile, others can drink on a regular basis and somehow control themselves.
Self-control may be the issue here. Yet, it goes beyond that. If you need more info on alcohol addiction, check out the Epiphany Wellness website for more information.
Let’s get started.
How can alcohol be addicting?
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Alcohol has the ability to alter the reward system of the brain. The brain will naturally reward your brain with dopamine when you are performing pleasurable activities such as eating, sleeping, socializing, and having sex (among other activities). The brain will continue to reward alcohol for making a person feel good if they consume it over time.
It can get to the point where a part of your brain known as the thalamus will anticipate the alcohol. The brain cells will also be re-programmed to send messages stating that it wants to process the use of alcohol.
Alcohol will produce more dopamine than normal. The same can be done if you are using most drugs. This can cause addiction because of the euphoric feeling created by the flood of dopamine in the brain.
Social factors and genetics play a role
There are two major factors where alcoholism can play a role. One of them is social factors. You may be at a party and drinking with friends because it seems like the normal thing to do.
When you have fun, you want to drink more. At the same time, you may be stuck at home with no one to talk to or no desire to go out. So you may feel trapped and you may use alcohol as a coping mechanism.
On the other end, you may have relatives that have been alcoholics. Your genetics can play a role and you are more than likely to develop an alcohol addiction yourself. Others who don’t get addicted to alcohol will be due to their genetics.
They don’t have someone in their family that has been diagnosed with alcoholism. The same can be said about drug use. Many people do get addicted to drugs and others don’t likely due to their genetics.
There are risk factors that still exist
Aside from social factors and genetics, there are still others that can play a role in someone’s alcohol addiction. For example, you might have grown up in an environment where alcohol use was present all the time.
You may have seen your parents drink. The friends you have hung out with may have used alcohol all the time. Your brain may think that it may be a normal thing, thus assuming that it may be OK to start drinking yourself.
Another factor may be race and ancestry. For example, Asians are known for lacking an enzyme that ingests alcohol. Europeans will possess this enzyme and yet might have the ability to handle more alcohol than other people.
Last but not least, mental illness can also play a role. You may find ways to self-medicate and subdue the pain of your symptoms. In fact, more than a third of people who suffer from major depression have developed an alcohol addiction.
This can lead to someone dealing with a dual diagnosis. In other words, they will be treated for a mental illness that has previously been undiagnosed. At the same time, they will also be treated for addiction.
Both of these disorders will need to be treated at the same time. It’s important that someone with a mental illness must find healthier ways to manage it. This includes following their treatment plan as directed by a mental health professional.
Self-control can play a factor
Needless to say, most people have more self-control than others. They are aware of the fact that one drink can just be enough for them. They won’t want any more than that.
They understand the risks and issues that come with drinking alcohol. This includes the short-term and long-term effects. When they are out with friends, they might be responsible for being the designated driver.
This means that they won’t be able to drink since they will be driving. It would be a smart thing to do on their part. Especially when OUI/DUI is a crime that carries serious penalties.
Not to mention, drunk (even buzzed) driving can lead to safety risks. This can include endangering passengers and even pedestrians on sidewalks or sides of the road. If you have a high-level of self control, you have it within you to control your alcohol consumption.
You could also abstain from alcohol altogether. This can explain the reasons why most people don’t get addicted to alcohol at all. Again, genetics may play a role.
Even if they grew up in an environment where alcohol use is present, they have the power to decide for themselves. They may be aware of the risk factors that come with alcohol use. They also are aware that alcohol can be addicting because of its number of misuses.
In fact, they may have seen the misuse first hand and are aware of the consequences that may happen.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how some people get addicted to alcohol and others don’t, you’ll understand the phenomenon behind it. They may develop an issue due to their past or even genetics. Otherwise, they may possess enough awareness and self-control to know that they can say no to alcohol despite being surrounded by various risk factors for most of their lives.
Alcohol addiction can still happen if someone decides to choose. That’s why it is important to control the amount of alcohol you take in. Or you can fully abstain and not have to deal with the dangers.
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