How and why does the body/brain become “alcohol dependent” after continuous drinking? And what makes it possible for an alcoholic to experience seizures, hallucinations, heart failure, etc. (the “DTs”) when they stop drinking?
In: Biology
The brain produces chemicals it needs to function normally and ethanol puts up a wall blocking their action. In response the output of those chemicals is increased to compensate.
If you were to suddenly remove the wall, the now high dose of those chemicals cause all kinds of nasty effects, including death. They must be brought off the drug slowly.
Latest Answers