Research helped to develop alcohol treatment program

There are many treatments for alcohol abusers that can bring very efficient results. These treatments are usually done in specialized institutions and with the help of the 12-step recovery system. However, today there are other acknowledged methods that are involved in the treatment. Nowadays a lot has been invested in studies regarding alcohol abuse and they showed that those individuals have serious health problems that are caused by alcohol addiction. Actually, these studies showed that the expenses for the treatment of health problems caused by alcoholism are about 300 million dollars higher than the expenses for other health issues.

It is important to know that alcoholism is a serious problem, and it is not only a problem regarding the affected individual, but it has become a sociological problem. Scientists revealed that this addiction is more serious than drug abuse. Experts and scientists wanted to see what the main characteristics of alcoholism are and how it can be treated.

Study on dopamine receptors

Dr Diana Martinez performed a research where she and her associates used Pet scan to see what kind of changes in the brain are induced by the support of others, social status and reward. They were especially interested in the relation between these factors and dopamine receptors. The results showed that individuals who are placed in higher social status and are focused on success have higher concentration of D2 and D3 receptors that are found in the striate body. People who have lower social status and whose friends and family members are not very supportive have lower dopamine receptor. Those individuals who find their life enjoyable and persons around them understanding, actually activate their dopamine receptors. The mentioned research was very helpful in realizing what the causes of alcohol abuse are, and why some individuals are more susceptible to alcoholism in some periods of life.

How does a person become dependent on alcohol?

When a person uses alcohol on a regular basis, it causes many changes in the brain, especially in the neurotransmitters that are in the brain. These changes are later responsible for the withdrawal symptoms that occur when a person is no longer consuming alcohol. Alcohol causes changes in the brain chemistry at the beginning of the period of abuse. Many of the neurotransmitters are changed, such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate and many others, so when these changes occur the brain needs alcohol, otherwise a person will feel anxious, hypersensitive, stressed, and strained. These are the main reasons why a person can't restrain her or himself from drinking alcohol again. The person should seek for help in this period.