Why is alcohol withdrawal more deadly in comparison to “harder” drugs like heroin?
In: Biology
All drugs work on different parts of the brain. Alcohol in particular has a strong effect on your GABA system, which calms the brain and nervous system down.
Your brain likes to maintain stability (homeostasis). When you are constantly drunk, you’re brain fires even harder/faster to get through the dulling and depressing (slowing) effects of alcohol. When you remove the alcohol from the alcoholic, the brain is still firing harder which leads to seizures. Seizures can be fatal, especially withdrawal related seizures.
Opiates work on opioid receptors. Amphetamines and cocaine are dopamine and serotonin. Only alcohol, benzos, barbiturates and a few others act on gaba..
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