Why is alcohol addictive?

Have you ever given in to the temptation of alcohol despite a resolve to take the night off? Or perhaps you have ended up with an awful hangover after promising yourself you would ‘just have the one’.

For many, alcohol is a part of life, from celebrating, to socialising to drowning our sorrows. For some, it is something we continue to consume even though its negative consequences are clear. So, why is alcohol addictive? How do we take control and how do we overcome alcohol addiction?

How addictive is alcohol?

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.

Alcohol is a highly addictive substance. Ethanol is a simple chemical that can significantly change the complex functions of the human body and brain. When we consume it, the production of several chemicals including dopamine and endorphins are increased. This makes us feel relaxed and happy and for a short time, relieves us of anxiety and stress. It can be described as a natural painkiller and, of course, once these positive feelings kick in, we want more!

The addictive nature of alcohol is further increased by several factors including perceived social norms, the stresses and worries of daily life, peer pressure and attractive alcohol advertisements.

Alcohol can also make us more impulsive and impairs our judgement. This can lead to drinking too much and in some cases, dependency.

Signs of addiction to alcohol

There is a misconception that alcohol addiction means heavy drinking all day every day. In truth, addiction is more common than many think and it can manifest in different ways. Sign of alcohol addiction include:

Drinking more than planned.
Drinking for longer than planned.
Being unable to cut back or quit.
Spending a large amount of time drinking or recovering from drinking.
Feeling that you NEED a drink.
Continuing to drink despite negative consequences such as problems in relationships, at work or on your health and wellbeing.
Needing more alcohol to achieve the same desired effects as before.
People saying they are concerned about your drinking.

If a person has developed a serious dependency on alcohol, they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. In these cases, medical supervision is necessary to quit safely.

How long does it take to get addicted to alcohol?

The amount of time it takes to become addicted to alcohol varies from person to person. For some, a few weeks of heavy drinking could be enough to develop addictive tendencies. For others, it could take months or years. If you start becoming concerned about your level of drinking, it’s important to take steps to tackle the addictive behaviour before it worsens.

How to overcome alcohol addiction

There is no safe level of drinking, but the NHS recommends keeping drinking to no more than 14 units per week, spread over 3 days to keep health risks low. If you feel like you need to cut down on alcohol, these tips can help you take back control:

Set limits to how much you are going to drink and / or set a budget.
Tell your friends and family you are cutting down.
Take it one day at a time.
Try drinking lower strength drinks.
Try smaller glasses – a half instead of a pint or a small wine instead of a large.
Take several drink-free days each week.
Try out zebra striping – alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Swap out some alcoholic drinks for low / no options.

If you are worried that your drinking habits are getting out of control, seeking help can enable you to tackle addictive behaviour before it takes hold. At Change we offer support to anyone who feels their addiction or substance use is problematic.

Fill in a contact form via our website or get in touch to take your next step to find the best path to managing your unhelpful habits.

CHANGE line: 01539 266061

Email: Info@changewithcadas.com

We believe that everyone is capable of change.