Why some people can’t stay away from alcohol, even when they know it’s hurting them
CNN••health
Key Points:
- Dr. Chris Knowles, now a surgery professor, struggled with alcohol use disorder after early heavy drinking, inspiring his research and new book on alcohol's impact on the body and culture.
- Alcohol stimulates brain reward centers similarly to essential needs, but excessive drinking increases stress neurotransmitters, creating a cycle of dependence and misery when not drinking.
- Risk factors for problematic drinking include biological wiring for reward and risk, psychological conditions (e.g., ADHD, PTSD), and drinking motivations beyond fun, such as stress relief or confidence boosting.
- Drinking behavior exists on a continuum from abstinence to severe alcohol use disorder, with many "gray area" drinkers experiencing unhealthy patterns without full clinical diagnosis.
- Reducing alcohol intake or abst
