How addictive is alcohol, exactly? If alcohol dependency is a condition affecting you or someone you know, you already realize the answer to this question. For some, alcohol becomes something that takes priority and consumes every area of their life.
We at Asheville Detox would like to take a moment to discuss the seriousness of alcohol dependency and the factors that go into it, and extend our hand out to those of you who are ready and willing to accept our help.
Is Alcohol Truly Addictive?
Some might wonder if alcohol is truly an addictive substance. After all, many people can drink one glass of wine or one beer and never crave a second one. Some people don’t care to drink any alcohol at all. It’s completely legal to drink if you are 21 and older, but some have no desire to do so.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are folks who can’t even be in the same room with a bottle of alcohol because it is too tempting for them to want to drink it. They are battling with an alcohol dependency. Based on the latter example, one must agree that alcohol is truly an addictive substance, but it is just not favored by everyone.
Why Is Alcohol Addictive?
In answering this question, one must take physical and mental factors into consideration. Physically, what happens when you drink alcohol is that dopamine and endorphins are released within your brain. These natural, painkilling, pleasurable substances trigger a feeling of reward within the drinker.
Using alcohol habitually has the ability to make physical changes in the chemistry and functioning of the brain, which is part of what makes people become so addicted to it. What happens is the brain becomes overloaded with “feel good” chemicals, and the mind and body then become determined to repeat the experience as often as possible. This is when alcohol dependence takes over.
Why Is Alcohol Addictive to Some But Not Others?
Research has shown that genetic factors come into play when it comes to the effect that alcohol has on an individual’s brain. For example, people who are genetically susceptible to alcohol dependency are that way for a reason. As it has been discovered, some people’s brains released a greater amount of pleasure chemicals when they drank alcohol, which makes them more at risk for becoming dependent on it.
Risk Factors That Contribute to Alcohol Dependency
There is not one, but many factors that go into whether or not someone will possibly become an alcoholic. Logically, genetics is the first. Personality, personal choice, and drinking history all come into play. External factors which may influence alcohol dependency include but are not limited to religion, family environment age, education, gender, and job status.
There are also certain psychological factors that may contribute to alcohol dependency. For instance, if you have bipolar disorder, social anxiety, or suffer from depression, you are more likely to be susceptible to becoming an alcoholic. This is because many people who have psychological issues use alcohol as a means of self-medicating for their illnesses.
Asheville Detox is Here to Help
No matter what has brought you to this point, we at Asheville Detox are here to help you beat your alcohol dependency. You are stronger than you know, and with our team of professionals by your side, you can and will achieve sobriety. Get started right away by contacting one of our friendly and discreet counselors today. You do not have to struggle with addiction alone. If you or a loved one has developed an alcohol addiction, we are here to help.
