Question by Olympic fan: “Does alcohol kill brain cells?
Just wondering, are brain cells really killed when alcohol is consumed?

Best answer:

Answer by C H R I S (Philippines)
“Usually brain cells are not killed. For 16 years, Roberta J. Pentney, professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University at Buffalo, has studied chronic alcohol abuse and brain function. She concludes that alcohol does not kill brain cells but rather damages dendrites–the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cell.

Alcohol surely affects the brain, as we all know, causing slurred speech, clumsiness, slow reflexes, and a loss of inhibition. But alcohol doesn’t destroy the brain cells to cause these problems.

Rather, alcohol dilates the channels in the cellular structure that regulates the flow of calcium. More calcium than normal flows into the cells and stimulates increased activity. Somehow this abnormal “turning on” of activity causes a loss of the end segments but does not kill the whole cell. Losing the end segments, however, means losing incoming messages, which disrupts brain function.

The good news is: the damage to the brain cells, for the most part, isn’t permanent. The brain repairs itself but the recovery process does change nerve-cell structure. So most function returns to normal but some does not.

Another researcher, working independently finds similar results: Alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells; instead it slows communications. Richard Gross, professor of medicine, chemistry, and molecular biology and pharmacology at Washington University in St. Louis, discovers alcohol combines with the brain’s fatty acids and forms compounds called fatty-acid-ethyl esters. These compounds, in turn, change the flow of electric and chemical signals in the brain. A change in this flow alters how the brain works.

A molecule of fatty-acid-ethyl ester latches onto and enters a nerve cell. Inside the cell, the compound speeds up a release of potassium ions, which inhibits the release of neurotransmitters, and that slows down communication between cells.

A drink doesn’t kill brain cells. It damages the way brain cells communicate and the damage is largely reversible.

(Are you a heavy drinker? If you don’t mind? Anyway good question!)

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Topiramate: Personalized Treatment of Alcohol Abuse
Researchers at Penn Medicine have shown that the anticonvulsant medication, topiramate, previously shown to reduce drinking in patients committed to abstaining from alcohol, can also be helpful in treating problem drinkers whose aim is to just curb …
Read more on WWSB ABC 7

More over 50s in Wales being treated for alcohol misuse
New figures for substance misuse, released by the Welsh Government, show that the number of people over the age of 50 being referred for alcohol misuse treatment increased from 23.8% of all referrals in July-September 2012 to 25.2% in the same period …
Read more on WalesOnline

Empty Rehabilitation Centre breaks Toowoomba hearts
The city, like many others is also dealing with the devastating fallout from drug and alcohol abuse. It's taken a toll on individuals, families and the community. So on the Downs, people came together to build a solution a live-in Rehab centre. But …
Read more on ABC Online

Question by Puddy: Question about Inpatient Alcohol/Drug Rehab Places:?
I was at one for a month last year… and it did me a WORLD of good!

Even though I did not like the constant groups which I found boring, I DID appreciate the constant medical care and meds monitoring I got there, and the care actually helped to (miraculously for me!) END my nearly 20 year batle w/ the bottle; (HALLELUJAH!)

My question is : Was the rehab unit or freestanding a locked setting? Mine was, but I wonder if it was just the one I went to or are they all or most of them “closed settings”?

And even though I was relatively well treated by the staff and all the others signed in voluntarily, so what’s w/ the locks as if if it were a psych unit or jail?

Best answer:

Answer by Narconon
Not all rehab places are equal. A locked unit is not necessary at all if it is for voluntarily committed addicts and the addiction center has a proper technology on how to handle each case that comes in.

Apparently you went to a place that gives you meds–and, by the way, most do. This kind of “rehab” has its own medical requirements to operate, like insurance, etc. This makes them wary of accidents or incidents and makes them take extreme measures, like the lock-down. Unfortunately this facilities operate more like a psych unit or jail.

I’m glad this worked for you but I’m afraid that there is an option in which they won’t give you meds, they won’t lock you up, there are no “groups” nor psychs to evaluate for you, folks move through the drug or alcohol abuse rehab program at their own pace and are referred to as students, not patients. Also, they won’t substitute one drug for another, etc., etc. This is the Narconon program.

Narconon is the most effective rehab–by far, I know as I was an addict for nearly 20 years too and went through several rehabs until I found the one that handled ALL my specific problems. And not only handled all my “reasons” and problems but it handled some I did not know I had until I discovered them by myself with their amazing courses and practicals. For example I handled my honesty, my integrity and my communication and as if this was not enough this little courses and practicals gave me the ability to confront life and situations with confidence.

There is not one day that I do not use the life skills learned there to help myself or help others. Today I have been drug and alcohol free for over 15 years and I’m very successful at what I do and love, art. Also, I made a point of helping others and when I’m not writing or helping someone with their addiction I’m also volunteering in another non-profit organization. This is my way to thank Narconon for their invaluable help.

When you have a chance visit their website and/or pass this info to someone who might need help with their addictions. The Narconon program is delivered around the world by many organizations and it is the most highly regarded drug rehabilitation due to its effectiveness. Oh, and I forgot to mention their detox is the best in the world too. Not only it handled my cravings but my eyesight improved and I felt so fresh and full of energy when I finished it.

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Vermont gets M grant for drug treatment program
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Gov. Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Harry Chen announced on Friday that Vermont will get a $ 10 million federal grant to expand early intervention and treatment programs for young adults at risk of alcohol and drug abuse.
Read more on Sacramento Bee

Maryland Addiction Recovery Center Makes Addiction Treatment More …
This program, supported by the increased mental health and substance abuse benefits of the Affordable Care Act, will aid in making addiction treatment more accessible and affordable for those in need. The program is an initiative of the founders of …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Vt. gov. to substance abuse treatment program
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Harry Chen have announced a $ 10 million federal grant to expand early intervention and treatment program for young adults at risk of alcohol and drug abuse. They said Friday …
Read more on San Francisco Chronicle

Question by CreatioN: Is past extensive cocaine use and alcohol abuse treatable?
Im sorry if my question did not come out right, i’ll do the best i can to explain my situation.

My mother is 54 going on 55. In the past back in the 80s up to the 2000s, she did extensive coke use and was(or is) an alcoholic. She appears to be lack confidence and can be so controlling at times. She can never calm down nevertheless hold a job i think. When you do alot of cocaine, i know you lose your mind. You go a bit insane and paranoid. Is there any long-term treatments or options that i should take that can calm her down? She smoke cigarettes every day, so many packs and it will not improve her heart and medical conditions at all. Im very very close to sending her to a nursing home or have her seek counseling, but im trying to find out what other options that i can take that dont involve her leaving the house. Im so extremely lost, please help and God bless.

Best answer:

Answer by Techwing
It sounds like she has a personality that is very prone to addiction. She sounds like she may have other issues as well, which might benefit from professional help.

You can recover from addictions, but they don’t really go away, in the sense that you cannot resume use of a substance to which you’ve previously been addicted without running the very real risk of falling into addiction again. Thus, alcoholics (for example) remain alcoholic for life, even though they may recover from their alcoholism by abstaining permanently from alcohol. A recovered addict is, for all practical purposes, the same as anyone else, except that he can never touch the substance to which he was previously addicted without the risk of a major relapse.

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