Recent research has shown that even a single dose of nicotine can have a temporary effect on the reward system in the brain, enhancing the influence of alcohol. In simple terms, this means that people who constantly smoke and consume alcoholic beverages are at a significantly increased risk of developing an addiction called alcoholism.
Scientists from the American Baylor College of Medicine conducted a large-scale experiment in which they exposed laboratory rats to nicotine, adding alcohol to it. The results of these experiments showed that rats exposed to nicotine tended to consume alcohol more frequently than their counterparts. In addition, there were obvious changes in the reward system of the animals' brains. The signaling (specifically - the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine, responsible for pleasure) was reduced in those animals that consumed alcohol under the influence of nicotine.
Causes of changes in the brain
In simpler terms - the brain's reaction to alcohol was decreased. As it turned out, this occurred according to the following scheme - first, the stress hormone was activated, and then the brain signals were inhibited. Thus, even after a small dose of nicotine, rats began to consume more alcohol.
The fact is that with the reduced dopamine reaction, the brain centers receive much less satisfaction from alcohol under the influence of nicotine. As a result, the body demands to increase the dose of alcohol in order to receive enough pleasure neurotransmitter. For people who regularly combine smoking with drinking, this leads to a constant increase in the amount of alcohol and its degree, and then to alcoholism.
Possibly it will be interesting for you to read the notes of former smoker, which were written by the author of the website.
Results of these studies allowed scientists to conclude that smoking is especially dangerous in adolescence, as it increases the risk of future alcohol problems. Therefore, the prevention of childhood and youth smoking is very important. Another result of the aforementioned experiments was the assumption that alcoholism could be treated by influencing the stress hormone. It is hoped that the work of American scientists will help not only to understand the interaction of nicotine and alcohol in the body, but also contribute to a successful fight against this dangerous addiction.