Happy Hours for Men

Dopamine released in the brain after drinking alcohol may contribute to the development of alcoholism and explain why more men than women are alcoholics, suggests a study published in Biological Psychiatry.

Dopamine released in the brain after drinking alcohol may contribute to the development of alcoholism and explain why more men than women are alcoholics, suggests a study published in Biological Psychiatry. The study examined 21 men and women between the ages of 21 and 27 over two days. Half of them were given a drink containing the equivalent of three shots of vodka, and the rest, a placebo. None were aware of what they were drinking and the groups were switched on the second day of testing.

After having a drink, each subject was given a PET scan, which showed the release of dopamine in the brain region associated with experiencing pleasure and reward. The study found this release of dopamine to be higher in men. In the US, the risk of men developing alcohol disorders is nearly twice as high as of women. But the researchers also found that once alcohol intake becomes a habit, dopamine is no longer released as much, if at all. That suggests that when a person turns alcoholic, he may be hard-wired to continue his compulsive behaviour.