What Causes an Alcohol Addiction and Dependency?
Many people find themselves asking the same questions when it comes to alcohol dependencies and substance abuse issues. Things like ‘what is addiction’, ‘what causes an addiction’ and ‘how can I recover from alcohol addiction’ are just a few of them. Even with all of the information available to those in need, it’s not unheard of for people to still misunderstand the actual causes of a habit.
Drug and alcohol treatment centers are at the forefront of treatment and their ground-breaking techniques and strategies have helped countless sufferers to get their lives back on track and enjoy a sober lifestyle after therapy – but what is it exactly that causes an alcohol addiction? This is something that drug rehab clinics have been trying to answer for years – and the truth is that there actually isn’t a single answer; but a multitude of possibilities.
One thing that all narcotics have in common (including alcoholic substances) is that what can start out as a habit can soon turn into something a lot more sinister. Whenever a person consumes ethyl alcohol, the reactive properties contained within the liquid get to work immediately by encasing blood and oxygen cells.
As you might have assumed, over time this can lead to a depreciation in the volume of brain cells present and this can start to lead to poorer judgement. Studies have shown that a person that exposes themselves to alcohol on a daily basis will be far more likely to develop conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia in later life.
But that doesn’t answer the question of what actually leads to the addiction.
Categorising the causes and effects of addiction
Most causes can be categorised into two individual processes. The first relates to a mental habit and the second has more to do with physical dependency.
Mental Reliance on Drugs & Alcohol
Some people turn to alcohol to help them to cope with unprecedented events, including grief. As people expose themselves to alcohol, the formula can offer them a form of respite and relief from their suffering, so many people find themselves only able to forget their woes and concerns whilst they are under the influence of alcohol.
In these cases the habit will have developed as a result of mental reliance or dependency, so treatment can take place in much the same way as when a medical expert would be helping a sufferer to overcome any type of habitual routine (with counselling and therapy). So, where does physical dependency come into things?
Physical Reliance on Drugs & Alcohol
Over time an alcoholic or drug addict may find that their body has developed a way to resist the effects of alcohol or drugs (such as heroin), so they might end up needing to consume larger volumes in order to function. The more frequently that alcohol is consumed, the greater the level of damage can be to the addict’s body – and although outward signs of suffering can start to make themselves known, internally the effects can be far more substantial. As time goes by the physiological effects of a mental dependency, paired with the bodies’ desire to process greater levels of alcohol, can develop into a physical dependency which can eventually lead to death- see deaths from heroin