We believe based on everything we’ve read that alcohol is an addictive drug, and that anyone who drinks above a certain level runs the risk of becoming addicted.
However, it has also been proven that everyone is not at equal risk of becoming addicted at all levels of drinking.
New research (robust research, using multiple studies on twins, children, and on bodies, run on over 2K people) suggests that people who drink too much may have less gray brain matter in key areas of the brain related to addiction. This difference appears before they start drinking to excess; the underlying cause of this brain matter deficiency is genetic.
This genetic cause could help explain why some people find it so much harder than others do to stop drinking, as the affected parts of the brain play key roles in the decision-making and the rewards systems of our brains.
Just because the cause is partly down to brain matter, it does not follow that the solution to alcohol use disorder is brain surgery. In fact, one of the studies examined in the research included cases of twins with the same level of deficiency but drastically different drinking behaviors. That means other factors, including social and environmental factors, matter a lot, too. Cognitive behavioral therapy, delivered via an app like Drinker’s Helper, can also help rein in those self-destructive decision-making patterns.
If you’re making changes over the holidays, we’d love to help you cut back or quit. Drinker’s Helper is an app that provides motivational exercises, drink tracking and insights into why you drink, and a support group of your peers to help you make needed changes. Try it free for a week before joining!
