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Drinking Alcohol To Excess Can Cost A Lot More Than You Think
How Alcohol Does The Hijacking
This is a tough subject because of the ubiquitous nature of alcohol in our culture. My goal here isn’t to lecture. I would point out that excess alcohol doesn’t just affect the physical nature of our being, though it does that. But it does other things. Subtle things to our minds and our souls.
Our Creator provides many chemicals and substances for us that can be helpful and even provide pleasure and enjoyment. But there are a lot of warnings about the abuse of substances, as well… including food. But alcohol sticks out. Here’s a few…
Proverbs 20:1 (NIV)
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Proverbs 23:29–35 (NIV)
“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”
Alright, you get it. Alcohol doesn’t just cause hangovers. It ruins lives, wrecks careers, and rewires your brain. For many, it starts with a single drink in a social setting—a way to relax, loosen up, and feel part of the group.
But what most people (especially the young) don’t realize is how quickly that drink can turn from a mild sedative into a dangerous dependency. The truth is, alcohol is a powerful psychoactive drug. It’s legal. It’s culturally accepted. And it’s killing more than three million people every year.
From Straight-A Student to Self-Destruction
One tragic example tells the story best: a high-achieving medical student—an “A-grader” with a promising career—spiraled into depression and self-harm, largely due to alcohol abuse. What started as social drinking escalated into dependency.
Despite his professional success, alcohol dragged him to a point where he wanted to die. This isn’t rare. In hospitals around the world, doctors regularly see patients whose lives have been shattered by alcohol. Orthopedic wards are filled with people who fell, crashed, or got into fights while intoxicated. Emergency rooms stockpile confiscated vodka bottles like contraband.
And yet, most people still make light of it. We joke about needing a drink after a long day. We see it as a cultural norm. But the joke, tragically, is on us.
How Alcohol Hijacks the Brain
Most drinkers never stop to ask: what exactly is alcohol doing in my body? When you take a sip, it starts a chain reaction. First, alcohol travels from your mouth to your stomach and into your bloodstream. Within ten minutes, it’s in your brain, altering your neurochemistry.
For new drinkers—especially young folks—the taste is bitter, even aversive. But repeated exposure creates an association between taste and reward. Eventually, people begin to crave that burn in the throat, the warmth in the chest, the mental fog that numbs worry and pain.
But alcohol doesn’t just numb stress. It disrupts the brain’s messaging systems. It tampers with dopamine, giving you a sense of euphoria, and reduces glutamate activity, dulling your reflexes. This is why it seems relaxing—but that relaxation comes at a price. It also interferes with judgment, memory, and motor control.
Solitary Drinking Is a Warning Sign
And here’s a hard truth: 15 to 20 percent of drinkers will become dependent. You can predict vulnerability, too. If alcoholism runs in your family… especially if your father or siblings struggled… you’re genetically at higher risk.
Drinking alone may seem harmless, even comforting. But solitary drinking bypasses the social component and goes straight to the drug’s effect on the brain. People who drink alone are more likely to use alcohol to medicate anxiety, depression, or trauma. That’s where addiction takes root—not in the party, but in the quiet moments of escape.
And here’s a hard truth: 15 to 20 percent of drinkers will become dependent. You can predict vulnerability, too. If alcoholism runs in your family—especially if your father or siblings struggled—you’re genetically at higher risk.
If you only feel confident or sociable when you’ve had a drink, you’re walking a dangerous path. What starts as a boost becomes a crutch. What once made you feel alive now starts to rob your ability to function without it.
Advertising, Conditioning, and Cultural Triggers
We’re bombarded with images of alcohol as sophistication, celebration, and reward. From summer beer ads to winter whisky promotions, alcohol is marketed as the solution to every emotional state. Feeling hot? Have a cold beer. Feeling cold? Warm up with a scotch. It’s a psychological trap.
Even before the first sip, your brain may already be responding to triggers—the sight of a frosty glass, the sound of a cork popping. This conditioning creates anticipation and primes the reward system, deepening the cycle of dependence.
Alcohol’s Grip on the Adolescent Brain
Teenagers and young adults are especially vulnerable. The prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for self-control and decision-making—doesn’t fully mature until around age 25.
When alcohol is introduced during this critical window, it disrupts development. It impairs memory, dulls academic performance, and increases impulsivity. Teens are also more sensitive to the dopamine rush alcohol brings, which accelerates the path to addiction.
If someone starts drinking before age 15, they are four times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder later in life. That’s why prevention isn’t just good policy—it’s a neurological necessity.
The Bigger Picture: Disease, Death, and Denial
Globally, alcohol causes more deaths than all illegal drugs combined, aside from cigarettes. In excess, it’s a known carcinogen, linked to cancers of the liver, colon, breast, and mouth. It damages the heart, raises blood pressure, and destroys the liver.
Over time, it shrinks the brain, erodes mental health, and sets the stage for dementia. And yet, most people drink with little to no understanding of these risks.
A Message to Those Who Don’t Drink Yet
If you haven’t started drinking, don’t. That may sound extreme, but it’s the sober truth. In medicine, there’s a principle called “informed consent.” You have the right to know the risks before you act.
So know this: the pleasure of alcohol is fleeting, but the damage can be permanent. For those already drinking, reflection is critical. Ask yourself: is this truly benefiting me? Or is it simply numbing something I don’t want to face?
Final Thoughts: Sobriety Isn’t Boring—It’s Freedom
There are countless books celebrating alcohol and many warning against it. But the truth lies in the stories of people who’ve walked the path, felt the damage, and found a way out. Using alcohol in a disciplined way or skipping it completely isn’t about missing out—it’s about reclaiming your mind, your time, and your life.
The next time you reach for your second drink, pause. Consider what it’s doing, not just in the moment, but to your future. Because once you understand the full power of alcohol, you’ll realize the most powerful choice you can make is disciplined enjoyment or not to drink at all.
For parents and grandparents, the goal would be teaching the next generation how to enjoy God’s gifts without becoming a slave to them. Remember, the devil is subtle. Be wise and teach young folks to be the same.
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