Alcohol Abuse Jackpine Friday, September 14, 2007 Alcoholism exists when brain cells have become accustomed to or addicted to alcohol. Alcohol crosses the blood-brain barrier in the brain and reaches sites where dendrites of brain cells take up alcohol molecules into cells, resulting in intoxification.If a person starts regularly drinking in excess, the brain cells' dendrites must grow more receptor cites to take up the amount of alcohol present. Growth of more receptors is called "up-regulation". With extra receptors now existing, these receptors will react if there is insufficient alcohol to be taken up. This is called "withdrawal", and it makes a person ill until they either drink more alcohol or continue to abstain and allow the body-including brain cells-to adjust. This is called "down regulation". Specifically, the added receptor cites on the end of brain cell dentrites will decrease in number. The decrease of receptors for alcohol occurs because the person is no longer providing alcohol for extra receptors to have to take up. Alcoholism is an addiction at the cellular and molecular level, like other drugs. If a person stops drinking, they will be ill while the receptors for alcohol decrease in the brain and the body adjusts. Thereafter, a person must slowly begin to rebuild their lives in a sober manner which can be done, especially with the support of rehab centres and support groups. It is worth the effort to stop drinking in order to next experience life as a sober person. We only have one chance to live this life here on earth; best to live it sober and healthy because even an intoxicated person knows in his/her heart that a sober and healthy life is the right way to live. Alcoholics may feel badly about themselves and their alcoholism because they know there is a better, healthy way to live. There is always hope for a sober and good life. And there is nonjudgemental assistance. There are many rehab treatment ... |