Alcohol, Food & Dopamine

What happens to people drink alcohol, sometimes lasting for days on end and stop for a time and begin to over eat fast foods? In trying to respond to this question, I will use the analogy to the experience of craving a juicy hamburger. When the craving hits, one’s mind pictures the burger and there is an instant sense of arousal motivating the individual to make a beeline for their favorite burger joint where they order the burger(s), grab a table, and chow down. Little attention is paid to anything else other than the burger and satisfying the hunger. Once seated, the individual packs up and leaves with a smile and full belly. There is no looking back or even thinking about it again until the urge strikes next time when the pattern is repeated. They grow up on a diet of fast food designed to have high impact stimulating the brain's reward pleasure circuit (where dopamine is released, a feel-good neurotransmitter that stimulates the medial prefrontal cortex where the pleasure centers is located and which is also get activated by cocaine, heroin, and alcohol.

According to new research by several scientists, including Dr. David Kessler, former dean of Yale’s medical school and FDA commissioner from 1990-97 points to something even deeper than our ancient programming. He says, “‘Highly palatable’ foods — those containing fat, sugar and salt — stimulate the brain to release dopamine, In time, the brain gets wired so that dopamine pathways light up at the mere suggestion of the food, such as driving past a fast-food restaurant, and the urge to eat the food grows insistent. Once the food is eaten, the brain releases opioids, which bring emotional relief. Together, dopamine and opioids create a pathway that can activate every time a person is reminded about the particular food. This happens regardless of whether the person is hungry.” Alcohol is also closely tied to the release of dopamine.