Having seen alcoholism up close and personal, I agree very much with zk. IMHO, addictive behaviors are not a matter of being weak-willed. These addicted people, for the most part, have a disease.
Like others have pointed out, many of these addicts need to replace one addiction with another — like giving up alcohol to become a marathon runner, or a workaholic. I’ve seen this behavior as well, and think that this is the ONLY way some people are able to abstain from drinking or drug use.
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A study released today reveals a cellular mechanism involved in alcohol dependence. The study, in the May 28 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, shows that gabapentin, a drug used to treat chronic pain and epilepsy, reduces alcohol intake in alcohol-dependent rats by normalizing chemical communication between neurons, which is altered by chronic alcohol abuse. The central amygdala, a part of the brain involved in emotions such as stress and fear, is important in regulating alcohol consumption. Most central amygdala neurons communicate via a chemical signal known as GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Alcohol dependence has been associated with the strengthening of inhibitory synapses in this brain region.
