We all know, often from direct experience, that drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes seem to go hand in hand. There is now scientific evidence that offers an explanation for this connection. Apparently smoking really does help you to be able to drink more! Join us as we look into a new study explains link between drinking and smoking.
Previous studies have shown that more than 85 percent of U.S. adults who are alcoholics also smoke cigarettes. Although this statistic was well-known, the cause for the linkage was unclear, at least from a scientific standpoint. Researchers have now found that nicotine cancels out the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol, which they believe sheds light on the reason alcohol and nicotine usage are so closely linked. In a recent study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine titled Smoking Is A Gateway – To Alcoholism, researchers placed sleep-recording electrodes on rats to measure their sleep patterns. Doctors then gave the rats alcohol and nicotine. The key result of the study was that nicotine acts via the basal forebrain to suppress the sleep-inducing effects of alcohol.
This sheds light on the reason alcohol and nicotine usage are so closely linked – smoking while drinking helps keep you alert. “One of the adverse effects of drinking alcohol is sleepiness,” said the study’s lead author Mahesh Thakkar, Ph.D., associate professor at the MU School of Medicine. “However, when used in conjunction with alcohol, nicotine acts as a stimulant to ward off sleep. If an individual smokes, then he or she is much more likely to consume more alcohol, and vice-versa. They feed off one another.” The researchers hope the findings can be useful in helping people break bad habits. “By identifying the reactions that take place when people smoke and drink, we may be able to use this knowledge to help curb alcohol and nicotine addiction,” Mahesh Thakkar said.
So now we have some real evidence of the previously intuitive connection between booze and smoking. Maybe this is why a large number of people quit smoking when they get sober? Perhaps that is another study.
Regardless of the reasoning behind each addiction, neither are beneficial for your health. The negative effects of both nicotine addiction and alcohol addiction can cause long term health and mental issues for most users. It is best to get help for these addictions early, before suffering from long-lasting effects of addiction.
Treating Alcoholism and Other Addictions
It is important to know what addiction issues you need to address before you can experience a complete recovery when a new study explains a link between drinking and smoking. No matter what issues you may be struggling with, we have a program that can help you today. These programs include:
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program
- Men’s Rehab Program
- Women’s Rehab Program
- Residential Treatment Program
Addiction treatment is available at Oceanfront Recovery for those in need of help. You or your loved one can get the help necessary by calling our addiction experts at (877) 279-1777. We are here to help from the beginning of the process to the end. You and your treatment are a priority to our staff. Make the call for a better tomorrow.