Nearly 15 million people in the United States are addicted to alcohol, indicating that over 10% of people who use alcohol are addicted to it. For comparison, tobacco comes in at a distant second, with under 59 million people using tobacco. Only 8.1 million people are addicted to why is alcohol addictive illegal drugs — close to half as many as those addicted to alcohol. If you’re struggling with addiction, know that you’re not alone and there is help available. Reach out to a mental health professional or give us a call at 877-RECOVERY for more information on treatment options.

• There are, however, many other social situations or cultural practices that can lead someone to drink in ways they wouldn’t otherwise choose to.
• The brain craves more alcohol with each drink due to its interaction with the substance.
• If you have a family member who is an alcoholic, you may be more likely to develop the disease yourself.
• Growing evidence also points to alcohol being a direct cause of skin, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.
• We combine our education and expertise with our empathy to provide the highest quality addiction treatment in this region.

They may use alcohol to enhance positive emotions or social experiences. People drink because their friends, coworkers, and family are drinking. Therein lies the problem; Drinking produces a sort of “high” that we begin craving.

Is Alcohol Considered A Drug?

When GABA is affected, it leads to a decrease in your ability to think clearly. As a result, drinking compromises your impulse control and decision-making abilities. Intensive meditation, even after only one day, can also affect gene regulation in your brain through similar mechanisms. Attending a monthlong meditation retreat reduces the expression of genes that affect inflammation, and experienced meditators can reduce inflammatory genes after just one day of intensive meditation. Inpatient or residential AUD treatment entails patients living and residing in the rehabilitation center 24/7. Inpatient alcohol rehab may vary in duration, sometimes consisting of short stays of 3–6 weeks, which may or may not be followed by attendance at an outpatient rehab.

Alcohol can provide a temporary reprieve, but over time, it can exacerbate these issues and lead to a vicious cycle of self-medication. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our expert staff and state-of-the-art facilities have helped many people overcome their alcohol use disorder. We encourage you to reach out to our team to start your own journey to lifelong recovery. There are many different identified genes that increase the risk of alcohol addiction7. Some of the genes with the strongest influence are connected with how your body processes alcohol.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder?

The most striking example of social factors can be certain college lifestyles, where a drinking culture is present and one’s peers encourage heavy alcohol use. There are, however, many other social situations or cultural practices that can lead someone to drink in ways they wouldn’t otherwise choose to. Dependence occurs when your brain changes its normal function to accommodate the presence of alcohol.

Patients with AUDs may report additional symptoms, including frequent falls, blackout spells, instability, or visual impairment. They may also report experiencing seizures, tremors, confusion, emotional disorders, and a pattern of frequently changing jobs following a few days of abstinence from alcohol. Social challenges such as job loss, separation or divorce, estrangement from family, or homelessness may also arise. Among them, 29 million individuals had an AUD, while 2.7 million had a disorder related to illicit drug use. These statistics establish alcohol as the most prevalent substance misused in the United States. The more you feed into these feelings by drinking, the higher your tolerance levels get.

How is Alcohol Addictive & How Does it Affect the Brain?

There are many ways addictive substances can change gene expression. They can alter which proteins bind to DNA to turn genes on and off and which segments of DNA are unwound. They can change the process of how DNA is read and translated into proteins, as well as alter the proteins that determine how cells use energy to function. At Lighthouse Recovery Texas, we understand why is alcohol addictive and the multifaceted challenge that extends beyond the individual affected by it. Our mission is to shed light on the intricate nature of alcohol addiction, both from scientific and psychological perspectives, and offer effective solutions. We are committed to providing valuable insights to potential clients, their friends, and family members, along with the dedicated professionals in Dallas, Texas who strive to make a difference.

Sustained substance abuse will lead to permanent changes in the chemical make-up of the brain, resulting in alcohol dependence and addiction. An important long-term physical factor that contributes to alcohol addiction is the rewiring of the brain’s https://ecosoberhouse.com/ reward system. However, repeated alcohol abuse can also stunt the brain’s ability to produce dopamine. Typically, this occurs when your drinking habits overload the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, resulting in cravings to drink more.