The Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About Alcohol Addiction

Did you know that alcohol addiction is one of the most common drug addictions in the world?

In fact, according to the World Health Organization, it's estimated that about 2.5 billion people worldwide consume alcoholic drinks, and more than three quarters of them don't drink in moderation.

If you're struggling with alcohol addiction, know someone who is, or are interested in getting a diploma of alcohol and other drugs, then it's important to be aware of the facts.

In this blog post, we will discuss five things that you may not have known about alcohol addiction!

5 Things You Didn't Know About Alcohol Addiction

It's a common misconception that only heavy drinkers can become addicted to alcohol. Here are five things you probably didn't know about alcohol addiction:

1) It affects long term memory

Long term memory problems are one of the most common consequences of heavy drinking. This is because alcohol damages the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory.

Heavy drinkers often have trouble remembering things that happened to them while they were drunk, as well as important events from their past.

Memory problems can persist even after someone stops drinking. In some cases, the damage to the hippocampus is permanent.

That's why it's so important for people who struggle with drug addiction to get help sooner than later. If the problem is not addressed, it will only get worse.

2) It can cause anxiety and depression

Heavy drinking can lead to anxiety and depression. This is because alcohol changes the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and GABA.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that pass messages from one nerve cell to the next in your brain. They're also known as excitatory neurotransmitters because they cause neurons to fire more frequently and intensely.

The inhibitory neurotransmitter is called gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which inhibits impulses between different nerve cells - stabilizing the brain.

Low levels of GABA - caused by alcohol addiction or excessive alcohol use - lead to brain hyperactivity which causes anxiety and depression.

In some cases, this can also lead to panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.

If you want to support people struggling with alcohol addiction, there are several drug and alcohol counselling courses like Certificate IV in AOD that you can take to jump start your journey.

3) Alcohol deprivation can lead to increased intake in alcohol addicts

When alcohol addicts deprive themselves of alcohol, it can lead to increased intake upon re-exposure. This is known as the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) which often causes people to relapse into excessive alcohol use.

One of the reasons for this is that alcohol withdrawal without the right support and counselling can cause lead to increased levels of ethanol craving (alcohol craving) which in turn leads to anxiety and irritability

4) Some people are more prone to alcohol addiction than others

Research shows that some people  are more prone to developing an alcohol addiction than others. This is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

For example, people who have a family history of alcoholism are more likely to develop an addiction themselves. And people who start drinking at a young age are also at increased risk.

5) Alcohol addiction can be fatal

If left untreated, alcohol addiction can be fatal. This is because it can lead to a number of health problems, including liver damage, heart disease, and cancer.

It also leads to several high-risk behaviours , such as driving while intoxicated and unprotected sex.

These behaviours can put people who are struggling with addiction at significantly higher risk of serious injury or death.

Conclusion

It's important to be aware of the risks associated with heavy drinking, especially if someone you know is struggling with addiction and these are just a few things you should know about alcohol addiction.

If you're looking for drug and alcohol counselling courses that can help you support people affected by alcohol addiction, we offer a range of courses to help you.

These courses are designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to make a difference in the lives of others. Contact us today to find out more.