New Alcohol Addiction Finding Could Benefit Alcohol Rehab Centers in Indiana
Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine recently discovered that the taste of alcohol can trigger addiction by increasing dopamine activity in the reward center of the brain. This new finding could help healthcare professionals and alcohol rehab centers in Indiana develop new treatments that could lower alcohol addiction rates in the state.
If you think you might have a problem with alcohol abuse or addiction, get help now before it’s too late. Call our confidential helpline at 888-414-2380 to speak with one of our caring specialists who can review treatment options and help you find alcohol rehab centers in Indiana.
How the Taste of Alcohol Fuels Addiction
The taste of alcohol activates the reward centers in the brain.
The IU School of Medicine study involved 28 males who regularly drank beer. All men were instructed to drink their favorite beers while undergoing brain imaging.
The purpose of these tests was to determine how the men’s brains reacted physiologically to the taste of beer. The study was the first of its kind to use two different advanced brain imaging techniques to study pathways in the brain that drive addiction.
Brandon Oberlin, Assistant Research Professor of Neurology, says the taste of beer signals to the brain that intoxication is coming, and increases activity in the reward center of the brain. This can fuel addiction as individuals drink more to further satisfy their brain’s reward centers.
Oberlin says that being able to understand cravings on this level can help physicians and scientists develop new treatments for addiction. The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Health and the Indiana Alcohol Research Center.
Current Treatments for Alcohol Addiction
Inpatient rehab centers, also known as residential live-in rehab facilities, offer treatments and programs designed to help addicts overcome alcohol addiction. Most inpatient rehab centers offer 30, 60, or 90-day programs, as well as ongoing aftercare programs that may involve going to 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and learning new effective ways to avoid relapse.
Shortly after joining an alcohol rehab program, patients spend several days going through detox to remove all traces of alcohol from the body. During the detox stage, patients may experience one or more mild to severe withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate. Medications may or may not be prescribed to help minimize alcohol withdrawal symptoms, depending on treatments offered at the rehab center.
After patients have successfully completed detox, rehabilitation begins in the form of counseling and therapy, education on addiction, and other treatments as offered by the rehab facility. Some inpatient rehab centers offer various therapies that can satisfy patients who have diverse interests. For instance, some rehab facilities offer art therapy, yoga, nature hikes, and more.
Overcoming alcohol addiction isn’t an easy feat, and shouldn’t have to be done by yourself. If you are currently struggling with alcohol abuse, enrolling into an alcohol rehab center is one of the best decisions you can make for your health, future, and overall well-being.
Call our helpline at 888-414-2380 to talk with an addiction specialist who can help you find alcohol rehab centers in Indiana that will guide you toward lifelong sobriety.
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