17/03/2022
How addicting is alcohol? Can anyone get addicted to it?
Alcoholism, alcohol dependence, and alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism is well known to be a genetic condition that is inherited. If you have alcoholics in your family, your chance of developing alcoholism is significant. Yet, is it possible for someone without a family history of alcoholism to become addicted to alcohol? This is a good question.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
What exactly is an addiction?
Addiction is a complex and poorly understood phenomenon in which a person develops the compulsion to repeat a self-harming behavior with a loss of self-control and cravings to return to the behavior. It is thought to be related to changes in the physical structure of the brain and has genetic and environmental factors that increase the risk of becoming addicted. When we think of addiction, we think of drugs, such as co***ne or he**in. Yet, alcohol is also a drug. It is very likely that addiction to alcohol is possible for a person who has no definite family history of alcoholism.
Is it possible for an alcoholic to learn to control their drinking?
Generally, alcoholism is characterized by a loss of control when it comes to alcohol. While a non-alcoholic can sit down and drink one or two beers and stop, alcoholics tend to lose control and engage in binge drinking. Many people with alcohol use disorder will drink until they pass out or until the alcohol is no longer available to them. It has been proposed that the drug, naltrexone, may help alcoholics to learn to control their drinking. Naltrexone interrupts the reward system of the brain by blocking opioid receptors. The pleasure associated with drinking alcohol, as well as cravings for alcohol, are reduced by naltrexone. The Sinclair Method is a method that involves the use of naltrexone to help alcohol-dependent people maintain a level of drinking at no more than 1-2 drinks per day.
Should more alcoholics try the Sinclair Method to control their drinking?
The Sinclair Method claims over 70% effectiveness in helping alcoholics reduce drinking and to stop binge drinking. This is a fairly good success rate. However, alcohol-related illnesses can be severe. Long-term consequences of alcohol use include brain damage, liver damage, and heart disease. In my experience, the safest route to take in quitting use is to aim for complete abstinence. Many alcoholics have found long-term sobriety by joining Alcoholics Anonymous and getting involved. There are also other excellent support groups, such as Smart Recovery and Celebrate Recovery. So, abstinence is very much preferred to even moderate drinking.