When you think of brain injuries and alcohol, you might imagine someone falling down or getting into an accident as a result of being drunk or otherwise intoxicated, and this is a frequent occurrence. However, the converse can also be true – a traumatic brain injury in childhood or adolescence can lead to substance abuse later in life.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that mice who had experienced brain injury early in life consumed more alcohol as adults. They then began to look at older studies involving humans and determined that brain injuries could make people more vulnerable to alcohol addiction. The results suggested that children under five years of age who suffer a traumatic brain injury are more than 3.6 times more likely to suffer from substance abuse as teenagers when compared with children who had not suffered brain injuries.
Some of the explanations for this phenomenon are not because of a direct link between the two but have more to do with the quality of life for people with brain injuries. For example, a child with a brain injury would not be allowed to play most sports, which could result in feelings of being ostracized or an inability to make many friends. If their mental acuity is impaired, they might find it difficult to do well in school and later find a job, further limiting their social interactions and negatively impacting their financial situation as adults. These effects could also make it more difficult to form lasting romantic relationships. All of these factors can cause depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders that the sufferer might then try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Traumatic brain injuries can also make people more impulsive or reckless and impair their ability to make informed decisions. People who act without thinking of the consequences are more likely to try drugs.
There are also physical effects on the brain that can make people more vulnerable to addiction. After a traumatic brain injury, the brain is more sensitive to alcohol, meaning it takes less to become intoxicated. It’s also possible for the pathways in the brain that control dopamine – which is particularly vulnerable while still developing in childhood – to be damaged. This means the reward and pleasure centers in the brain are affected, which can make addiction more likely.
It’s not only an injury in childhood that can lead to substance abuse. It’s harder to say for sure when brain injuries in adults lead to alcoholism because many adults are already drinkers, but there is some evidence suggesting a causal link. A study of discharged military personnel in 1992 found that of the roughly 2,000 who had suffered a traumatic brain injury, those with a mild injury were 2.6 times more likely to be discharged for alcoholism or drug use, while those with a moderate injury were 5.4 times more likely.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
