One is simply its rewarding consequences, such as having fun or escaping social anxiety. Having an impulsive personality plays into the decision to seek rewards despite negative repercussions. Another factor is stress, because alcohol can alleviate distressing emotions. Social norms, such as drinking during a happy hour or on a college campus, and positive experiences with alcohol in the past (as opposed to getting nauseous or flushed) play a role as well. Like all addictions, alcohol use disorder is linked to a complex combination of biological, social, and psychological factors. Research highlights a genetic component to the disorder, as about half of one’s predisposition to alcoholism can be attributed to genetic makeup.

Whenever possible, it’s best to have an open, respectful, and direct conversation with the individual in recovery, and ask how they feel about alcohol being present. Doing this in advance will when its time to leave an alcoholic allow time for both people to process the discussion and set clear expectations. Some people prefer to try cutting back or quitting on their own before committing time and money to rehab.

But alcohol is a nervous system depressant and easily alters behavior, culminating in some cases in the emotional pain and physical disintegration of alcohol addiction, colloquially known as alcoholism. Experts continue to debate the benefits and risks of drinking and passionately argue over whether moderation or complete abstinence is the best option for those who struggle with alcoholism. Alcohol can compromise impulse control and decision-making, leading to alcohol misuse and dependence.1 Many people also consume alcohol despite the negative consequences, increasing the risk for addiction. Long-term overuse of alcohol can also increase the risk and severity of pneumonia and tuberculosis; damage the heart, leading to heart failure; and cause cirrhosis of the liver, leading to liver failure. When an individual’s drinking causes distress or harm, that’s called an alcohol use disorder.

The idea of ‘alcoholism’ as a disease first grew in the 19th century. At that time, it was certainly a much more compassionate idea than the widespread belief that heavy drinkers were weak or immoral. Alcohol is a very simple chemical that can bring about big changes in the complex functions of the human brain.

Most of us are aware of the dangers of alcohol and how addictive it can be. To answer the question, what makes alcohol so addictive, we must first answer how people become addicted in the first place. Alcohol manufacturers bombard the public with video, digital, and print advertisements. They show drinking as a socially acceptable, fun, and relaxing pastime.

1. That’s about one in twelve adults, with many more engaging in unhealthy binge drinking habits that can develop into alcoholism.
2. It’s where psychological alcohol dependence becomes the primary driver of a person’s behavior.
3. Consistent use of an addictive substance can change a person’s brain and body chemistry.
4. Alcohol consumption can have an impact not only on the incidence of diseases, injuries and other health conditions, but also on their outcomes and how these evolve over time.

Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain

It’s important that each person get involved in a recovery program that will support long-term sobriety. This could mean an emphasis on therapy for someone who is depressed, or inpatient treatment for someone with severe withdrawal symptoms. The severity of the disease, how often someone drinks, and the alcohol they consume varies from person to person. Some people drink heavily all day, while others binge drink and then stay sober for a while. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects people of all walks of life. Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to alcohol addiction.

What Makes Alcohol Addictive?

Addictive substances like alcohol essentially commandeer the “reward pathway” in your brain. The reward pathway makes mental connections between activity and pleasure. For approximately 15 million Americans with alcohol use disorder (AUD), that’s a statement of denial. For more information on symptoms, causes, and treatment of alcohol use disorder see our Diagnosis Dictionary. Not everyone who binges drinks has an AUD but is at a higher risk of developing one. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.

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Another drug, called naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol), takes away the pleasant feeling that comes with drinking alcohol, so there is less interest in drinking. A third drug, acamprosate (Campral), reduces the unpleasant feeling that alcoholics experience when they don’t drink. Ongoing counseling and treatment with medicines can also play a role. Disulfiram (Antabuse) may be an option for people who want to try a drug to help prevent them from drinking. Disulfiram disrupts the breakdown of alcohol in the liver, making a person feel ill if he or she drinks alcohol. Early symptoms of an alcohol abuse disorder include drinking more than planned, continuing to drink alcohol despite the concerns of others, and frequent attempts to cut down or quit drinking.

Non-abstinence-based recovery models—such as Moderation Management—advocate for reducing one’s alcohol consumption rather than abstaining completely. Alcohol is a powerful substance, with the capacity for positive experiences, such as bursts of creativity and fun, as well as harmful repercussions, such as addiction and health problems. Becoming dependent on alcohol can lead to challenges for both the mind and the body. It suppresses the central nervous system (CNS), slowing normal brain function. It does this by slowing the release and response to normal brain neurotransmitters. At the same time, alcohol stimulates the release of other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and endorphins, which create pleasurable sensations.

When we drink alcohol, it triggers the release of other chemicals in the body that make us feel more content and less sensitive to pain. So, it is no surprise that once we start drinking, we often want to carry on. Beyond this, by definition, consuming enough alcohol to cause a “brownout,” “blackout,” hangover, or other overt supporting those in recovery during the holidays brain symptomatology is evidence that the alcohol you’ve consumed is creating problems in your brain. Alcohol use disorder (or alcoholism) is also a clear issue for the brain. It has been linked to a higher risk for dementia, especially early-onset dementia in a study of 262,000 adults, as well as to smaller brain size.