Look around at a bar full of people. How come some can have one or two drinks – or even choose a nonalcoholic option – while others can’t stop drinking until they’re well past the point of intoxication? It’s not because they’re unaware of the health risks, the dangers of driving drunk or the other negative consequences alcohol abuse can cause. Instead, the reason may be because their brains react to alcohol differently.

A new study confirms what addiction experts have been espousing for decades: alcoholism isn’t about a lack of will power, it’s about a powerful chemical. The Science Translational Medicine journal reports findings that explain just what makes alcohol so addictive to some people and not others.

Researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to look at the distribution of chemicals in the brains of participants, which included 13 heavy social drinkers (a woman who consumes 10 to 16 drinks per week or a man who indulges in 14 to 20 drinks per week) and 12 healthy control subjects (women who drank fewer than five drinks per week and men who drank less than seven). The heavy drinkers in the study didn’t meet the criteria for alcohol dependence.

During the study, scientists found some people’s brains give them more of an opioid release when they drink, leading them to perceive alcohol as more pleasurable than other people. In the heavy drinkers who were studied, a single drink led to the release of more opioids in the orbital frontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens — two regions that play a role in reward. That reward makes the individuals in that group subconsciously learn to want that rush of pleasure again — making them seek and crave alcohol in a way they’re not even aware of.

This may also explain why alcoholics who truly desire to stop drinking may have so much trouble doing so. Once that part of the brain learns that drinking is important, it compels the individual to continue drinking – even despite negative consequences.

The researchers’ ultimate objective was to come up with new ways of treating alcohol addiction, according to Jennifer Mitchell, adjunct assistant professor at University of California, San Francisco and lead author of the study. Currently, the main drug used in alcohol treatment is Naltrexone. This drug binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids would bind to, making the alcohol provide less of a reward. It means that pleasurable feeling that alcoholics get from drinking is greatly diminished.

Still, doctors are often hesitant to prescribe Naltrexone, partly because of the side effects, which can include headaches, nausea, irritability and achiness. Studies like this latest one help justify the search for new alternatives to Naltrexone. To do that, researchers will likely look at the role that other opioid receptors play so they can determine which receptors a drug should affect in order to get the benefits without the side effects.

Alcohol Addiction Help at La Paloma

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Actress Heather Locklear has been in the news lately, but it’s not welcome publicity. The former Melrose Place star landed in a Los Angeles-area hospital after her sister called 911 on January 12. The brief hospitalization was attributed to mixing prescription drugs and alcohol, according to People magazine.

Her parents quickly issued a statement through the hospital that Locklear was in no immediate danger and was healthy, while other sources suggested she was being urged by loved ones to seek treatment. Locklear, 50, has had issues with alcohol in the past, undergoing treatment in 2008 for what her reps classified as “anxiety and depression.” Just months later, she was arrested for DUI in Southern California. Now, many worry that she’s relapsed. People.com recently ran a story that cited sources who claimed the troubled actress was “out of control” in the weeks leading up to the incident.

While Locklear’s rep hasn’t commented on the actress’ condition, others suggest the end of her engagement to longtime beau Jack Wagner in November may have been a trigger. Wagner, who has been successfully in recovery, issued a cryptic message after the relationship ended, saying, “We took the pressure off and said, ‘Let’s just love each other the way we are.’” More recently, reports surfaced of a physical altercation between the exes in late December that drew the police. No charges were filed, but the incident is being reviewed by the authorities before it is determined if it will be pursued any further.

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In this day and age, when we have more information than ever before about the dangers of drinking and more help for the problem of substance abuse or alcoholism, it’s surprising to hear that binge drinking is a bigger problem than previously thought.

It’s surprising, but it’s true, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the new Vital Signs report issued Jan. 12, 2012 from the CDC, more than 38 million U.S. adults binge drink an average of four times a month consuming up to eight drinks at a time, on average. And this dangerous pastime isn’t just the indulgence of the young. While binge drinking is more common among young adults ages 18–34, of those age 65 and older who report binge drinking, they do so more often than their young counterparts – an average of five to six times a month.

Income may play a role in binge drinking, too. The study showed it’s more common among those with household incomes of $75,000 or more, but the largest number of drinks consumed per occasion is significantly higher among binge drinkers with household incomes of less than $25,000 – an average of eight to nine drinks, the report said.

Just what constitutes binge drinking? The practice is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on any occasion. Binge drinkers also put themselves and others at risk for many health and social problems, including car crashes, other unintentional injuries, violence, liver disease, certain cancers, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases and both unintended and alcohol–exposed pregnancies.

Drinking too much, including binge drinking, causes more than 80,000 deaths in the United States each year, making it the third leading preventable cause of death, and was responsible for more than $223.5 billion in economic costs in 2006. Over half of these deaths result from injuries that disproportionately involve young people.

“Binge drinking causes a wide range of health, social and economic problems and this report confirms the problem is really widespread,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, adding, “We need to work together to implement proven measures to reduce binge drinking at national, state and community levels.”

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When will people learn that drugs, alcohol and marriage just don’t mix? Commitment is hard enough without adding substance use or addiction to the equation. Don’t take it from the treatment professionals, though. There are plenty of celebrity examples ready and willing to serve as cautionary tales, with new ones cropping up every day.

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor just announced that she is walking away from her 16-day marriage to fourth husband Barry Herridge. The couple tied the knot Dec. 8 in a drive-through Vegas ceremony, but it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing. Still, the planned union turned sour that first night, according to O’Conner’s account in Britain’s Sun newspaper.

In the interview, O’Connor admits she went on a frantic hunt for cannabis on their wedding night. “We ended up in a cab in some place that was quite dangerous,” O’Connor is quoted as telling the Sun. “I wasn’t scared — but he’s a drugs counselor. What was I thinking?” The night only got worse from there. “Then I was handed a load of crack,” O’Connor continues. “Barry was very frightened — that kind of messed everything up a bit, really.”

Still, it was O’Connor who ended the marriage, saying she did so out of “respect and love for the man.”

Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville rang in the New Year in Las Vegas by tying the knot with her good friend Darin Harvey, a mixed martial arts manager. It’s a union she confirmed with multiple Twitter posts that seemed alcohol-fueled, to say the least.

“I’m married again – suuuuuuck it!” Glanville tweeted, adding, “It wasn’t planned and we will handle it, but good times!” She also posted pics of the nuptials on the social media site. The newlyweds then headed to a strip club to celebrate.

By Monday, the alcohol had worn off and the groom tweeted it was just a “drunken BFF thing.” Glanville went further, denying the marriage was even legal and tweeting, “We were just having fun!”

Glanville was previously married to actor Eddie Cibrian, with whom she has two children. The couple divorced in late 2010 and Cibrian wed LeAnn Rimes in 2011.

While adults are free to marry and divorce whomever they please, incidents like these (along with the quickie Vegas marriages of Britney Spears and Jason Allen Alexander, Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra, Nicky Hilton and Todd Meister) help make the case that heavy partying and lifelong commitment don’t mix well. Drugs and alcohol aren’t just dangerous, they also impair the ability to make good decisions. You don’t need to have a substance abuse problem or be battling an alcohol addiction to be negatively affected, either.

Substance Abuse Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction or substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Any death is sad, and death as a result of a disease — especially one that could have been treated — is especially tragic. As 2011 comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the famous faces we lost this year to the tenacious disease of addiction. Some deaths were directly traced back to current substance use, while others were the result of poor health related to past substance abuse.

While 27-year-old singer Amy Winehouse had accomplished so much in her young life, her talent was often overshadowed by her alcoholism and drug use. The performer was reportedly working to overcome her addiction when she was found dead July 23 in her London apartment. The cause of death was determined to be alcohol poisoning.

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr had a very public battle with drug addiction, chronicled in part on the third season of VH1′s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. He was found dead March 8, at age 44.

Another bassist, Mikey Welsh, who had played with the rock band Weezer before retiring to pursue an art career, died in Chicago on Oct. 8. He was found dead in his hotel room from a suspected drug overdose that led to a heart attack. Two weeks earlier, Welsh predicted his death in a Twitter post, saying, “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.” followed by “correction – the weekend after next.” Welsh played on Weezer’s 2001 Green Album, featuring the hit song “Hash Pipe.”

Jeff Conaway was best known for his roles in the movie Grease and the TV series Taxi. In later years, he also became known for his longtime battle with addiction. Conaway died May 27 after two weeks in a medically induced coma. The official cause of death for the 60-year-old was pneumonia, but his problem with pain meds surely played a role.

Jackass fans were stunned to hear of the death of 34-year-old Ryan Dunn, known for his dangerous stunts and tricks. He was killed June 20 in a fiery car crash that police later said resulted from alcohol and driving at high speeds. Dunn tweeted pictures earlier in the evening that appeared to show him drinking at a Pennsylvania bar.

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol addiction or substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

Longtime fans of MTV’s The Real World may remember watching in shock as cast member Ruthie’s alcohol problem surged out of control during 1999’s Hawaii-based season. Over on Survivor, Jessica “Sugar” Kiper was reportedly suicidal following the show and engaged in several addictions, landing her on the fifth season of Celebrity Rehab. Reality TV’s meteoric rise in popularity has come with an interesting side effect: A firsthand view of addiction. Many of these programs have inadvertently showcased meltdowns by reality stars that continue to publically spiral downward or enter treatment.

The latest reality TV personality to hit bottom while the cameras rolled is Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kim Richards. A former child star and aunt of celebutante Paris Hilton, Richards entered treatment last week for what People magazine called “alcohol abuse and other problems.”

As with many who struggle with addiction, it isn’t her first time seeking professional help. Last season, her substance abuse issues were the subject of a major blow-up between Kim and her sister Kyle, who also appears on the show. This season, her erratic behavior has continued. In one episode, Richards seemed to be slurring her words, causing co-stars to question her sobriety. The official explanation was that she was taking anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, along with an anti-seizure medication, which can be used to treat alcoholism.

According to the People article, Kim’s family is relieved she’s getting help and fans of the show are wishing her well. It also raises the question of whether these reality shows expose people’s weaknesses and pain. Obviously, reality star wannabes don’t sign up to appear on TV, thinking their biggest problems will be made public. On the positive side, the pressure cooker that is reality TV may bring simmering issues to the surface faster than they would if the cameras weren’t there. If this results in individuals getting help, that’s a good thing.

Alcohol Addiction

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Former Miss USA Rima Fakih is just the latest public figure to face drunk driving charges. She was arrested in early December 2012 and originally seemed to be trying to do damage control by insisting it was actually another Rima Fakih who had been charged with DUI. The arrest happened Friday night in Highland Park, Mich. Fakih then took to Twitter the next day to insist not just that she was innocent, but that she was never even there.

“Let’s clear things up now. … I’m NOT in Michigan and I’m NOT in jail! Wrong Fakih,” she tweeted. The post was removed within 24 hours and by Sunday her lawyer was confirming her arrest. The attorney went on to remind the public that Fakih had a clean record up to that point and was “very saddened and very apologetic for the situation that she’s in right now.”

Fakih, 26, is the first Arab American ever to win the Miss USA title, capturing the crown in 2010. Unfortunately, the former beauty queen is just one of a large number of individuals who drink and then get behind the wheel. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 30 million Americans drive drunk each year. That means that 13.2 percent of people 16 or older drive under the influence of alcohol. This is actually a slight decline from recent years, but the numbers are still alarming.

Alcohol Addiction

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In Hollywood, a DUI arrest has become a publicity opportunity, but in many career fields, it’s still a liability (thankfully!). The Department of Transportation is certainly one of those fields.

His alleged lack of judgment didn’t take place in the air, but it still cost Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt his job. Babbitt resigned this week, just three days after he was arrested on a drunk driving charge near his suburban Washington, DC home. While he didn’t speak publically, he did release a brief statement to the media announcing that he submitted his resignation to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Babbitt’s boss.

If anyone understands the dangers of driving or flying while impaired, it’s Babbitt. The 65-year-old is a former airline pilot and president of a major pilots’ union, said serving as FAA administrator had been “the highlight of my professional career,” adding, “But I am unwilling to let anything cast a shadow on the outstanding work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by my colleagues at the FAA.” Missing from his statement was any reference to his arrest, although they were obviously related.

Earlier in the day, Secretary LaHood told reporters he had learned about Babbitt’s arrest only after the Fairfax City, Virginia, police department issued a news release about the incident. Fairfax City police arrested Babbitt late Saturday night after they allegedly saw Babbitt driving on the wrong side of the road. Babbitt was alone in the car, and was cooperative, police said. The police department also said Babbitt failed a sobriety test, but they did not release the results of any blood-alcohol test.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment

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You’ve heard the saying, “laughing on the outside, crying on the inside”? So many of our most popular comedians have dark secrets in their pasts that seem to drive their need to entertain. Saturday Night Live cast member Darrell Hammond recently revealed he definitely falls into that category.

In his raw, honest new memoir, God If You’re Not Up There, I’m F–ked, SNL’s longest-running cast member admits to struggling with alcoholism, crack and cutting. Some of the more shocking admissions include being taken from the NBC building in a straightjacket, keeping a pint of Remy in his desk at work to quiet the disturbing images in his head, and cutting himself when alcohol didn’t work to numb the pain.

Hammond, who appeared on the show for 14 seasons — 270 appearances – found fame with his hilarious impressions of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Sean Connery and others.

Cocaine use turned to addiction in 2002 for Hammond, escalating to crack use in 2009, during his final season on SNL. After finding himself in a crack house in Harlem, he went to rehab. Like so many who seek help for addiction, Hammond faltered in 2010, relapsing with Vicodin. He re-entered treatment and this time it stuck.

Hammond doesn’t blame the popular comedy show for any of his issues. His demons date back much further than his SNL days, stemming from an abusive childhood, which he also addresses in the book. “I don’t have anything bad to say about anyone [at SNL],” he told the New York Post, adding, “They all really went above and beyond the call for me.”

His newfound sobriety has led to a fulfilling second act for Hammond. He starred this past summer as Truman Capote in a one-man show in New England, and is now making the rounds promoting his book. He’s also involved in fellow comedian Will Ferrell’s “Funny or Die” website.

Addiction Treatment

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Usually parents are concerned about finding ways to keep their children from drinking when they are underage, but a Connecticut mom recently pleaded guilty to charges the she forced her 4-year-old son to drink beer and gave her 10-month-old daughter beer and cocaine.

The mother, Juliette Dunn, 29, pleaded guilty to the risk of injury to a child, acknowledging that she doesn’t agree to the facts but agrees the state has enough evidence to win a conviction, according to The Connecticut Post. A companion of Dunn’s pleaded guilty to the same charges.

The crime was discovered when police officers were waved down by a neighbor who complained that a woman was feeding children beer at a playground. Authorities took the children to the hospital where the son tested positive for alcohol and the daughter for alcohol and cocaine, local station WVIT reported.

According to the warrant, Dunn admitted to giving her son a bottle of beer every day, and when questioned by a social worker, the preschooler was able to list off brands he liked and ones he didn’t.

The children were turned over to the Department of Children and Families and their mother could face up to two years in prison when she is sentenced in December. It isn’t clear what the mother’s reasoning was or if she struggled with an alcohol addiction or a cocaine addiction.

Alcohol Addiction

If you or someone you love is in need of help with alcohol addiction or treatment for other substance abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.