Addiction as an allergy
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 1,416
Addiction as an allergy
When I was in rehab, we were taught that alcohol addiction is due to an allergy of sorts, that alcoholics do not process alcohol the same as non-alcoholics. So, given that the particular rehab facility I went to didn't just treat alcoholics but treated addicts of all kinds, a heroin addict asked an interesting question. He wondered if all addicts suffer from a similar "allergy" which sets them up to become addicted if they use a particular substance.
The instructor gave the sort of answer I would have given, being a layman in the science of addictions. He urged us not to dwell on that aspect of addiction but just focus on the fact that we are addicted and to work the program to manage our addictions. I'm just curious what others here think about it.
The instructor gave the sort of answer I would have given, being a layman in the science of addictions. He urged us not to dwell on that aspect of addiction but just focus on the fact that we are addicted and to work the program to manage our addictions. I'm just curious what others here think about it.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
Allergy may be useful as a metaphor, but it is not an allergy by any medical standard of meaning. In the medical sense, the body has a unique and harmful reaction that involves the release of histamine which causes runny nose, water eyes, constricted airways, swelling and itching, or even anaphylaxis. I didn't have any histamine issues with alcohol, and I doubt that alcoholics do either.
There are a very few who actually do have an allergic reaction to alcohol, requiring an epi pen, that sort of thing. They can't become alcoholics, obsessed with its consumption, drinking to blackout etc.
There are a very few who actually do have an allergic reaction to alcohol, requiring an epi pen, that sort of thing. They can't become alcoholics, obsessed with its consumption, drinking to blackout etc.
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 1,416
What we were told was that alcoholics lack certain enzymes to process alcohol the same as non-addicts. But it is a good point that we don't all become addicted right away. It was many years before I became physiologically dependent. The psychological craving was there, but there were no withdrawals whenever I stopped. That all started around 8 years ago.
It's probably a pointless topic. It's just something they put a lot of emphasis on, but I think that may have been in an attempt to appease those who wanted scientific proof that alcoholism is a disease. To me, it doesn't matter all that much anymore whether or not it's called a disease. I know from experience it certainly "behaves" as one and follows a predictable path if left untreated.
It's probably a pointless topic. It's just something they put a lot of emphasis on, but I think that may have been in an attempt to appease those who wanted scientific proof that alcoholism is a disease. To me, it doesn't matter all that much anymore whether or not it's called a disease. I know from experience it certainly "behaves" as one and follows a predictable path if left untreated.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
If you look at Pharmacogenetics, the theory says that without certain enzymes (in the liver) we process drugs differently (slower, in fact.) We can have some but not a lot - a lot becomes toxic.
I actually had DNA testing done due to problems I have with SSRIs and some other drug classes. I metabolize certain drugs slower than the average person. They build up in my system and become toxic. Regularly prescribed doses of certain pharmaceutical drugs cause me to have really bad reactions to them after extended use. That's why there are drug-reaction warnings - a certain percentage of humans have variances/mutations in their DNA (and it is Cytochrome P450 2C9 for me) that cause the liver to not process some substances efficiently. Different genotypes have issues with different drug classes. Some drugs in normal therapeutic doses can kill some people.
The tests are available...genetic testing is becoming more accepted in general medicine. It's just a matter of time (or enough lawsuits) before testing will be commonplace.
I actually had DNA testing done due to problems I have with SSRIs and some other drug classes. I metabolize certain drugs slower than the average person. They build up in my system and become toxic. Regularly prescribed doses of certain pharmaceutical drugs cause me to have really bad reactions to them after extended use. That's why there are drug-reaction warnings - a certain percentage of humans have variances/mutations in their DNA (and it is Cytochrome P450 2C9 for me) that cause the liver to not process some substances efficiently. Different genotypes have issues with different drug classes. Some drugs in normal therapeutic doses can kill some people.
The tests are available...genetic testing is becoming more accepted in general medicine. It's just a matter of time (or enough lawsuits) before testing will be commonplace.
Canine Welfare Advocate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 10,962
Light can be explained with both particle theory and wave theory. Neither is wrong.
Addiction, too, can be explained by a number of theories. In the end, light is still light and addiction is still addiction. I leave the "why" to theorists.
Addiction, too, can be explained by a number of theories. In the end, light is still light and addiction is still addiction. I leave the "why" to theorists.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
There definitely is a certain incompatibility with alcohol that I have, the causes and whys I have no idea on, it's like someone with a nut allergy, the solution is to not go and buy a bag of nuts or try to eat nuts moderately, it's simply a no go area.
For me alcohol is the same, parting ways with alcohol is the solution to my problem regardless of the reasons!!
For me alcohol is the same, parting ways with alcohol is the solution to my problem regardless of the reasons!!
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
Allergy is a useful metaphor at the least, setting aside the aspect of liver function.
I am prone to attacks of hayfever. I have had this all my life and there does not appear to be any permanent cure.
There are two treatment options:
1) Avoid the allergen.
2) Take anti histamine to treat the symptoms, but this does not cure the allergy.
Though suffering from hayfever a few days ago I have since recovered. There is no allergen around at the moment though I used the treatment on the day to relieve the symptoms.
With hayfever I do not continuously take antihistamine as a preventive. It doesnt seem practical and the symptoms are not life threatening. The medication works quite quickly.
There is no medical treatment for the alcohol "allergy", only complete absitinance.. The factors that might cause alcohol to reactivate the allergy can be managed by willpower (except in my case) or psychological or spiritual methods where we learn to live and think in a different way that has no room for alcohol. Unlike antihistamines, these methods usually work best as a preventive.
I am prone to attacks of hayfever. I have had this all my life and there does not appear to be any permanent cure.
There are two treatment options:
1) Avoid the allergen.
2) Take anti histamine to treat the symptoms, but this does not cure the allergy.
Though suffering from hayfever a few days ago I have since recovered. There is no allergen around at the moment though I used the treatment on the day to relieve the symptoms.
With hayfever I do not continuously take antihistamine as a preventive. It doesnt seem practical and the symptoms are not life threatening. The medication works quite quickly.
There is no medical treatment for the alcohol "allergy", only complete absitinance.. The factors that might cause alcohol to reactivate the allergy can be managed by willpower (except in my case) or psychological or spiritual methods where we learn to live and think in a different way that has no room for alcohol. Unlike antihistamines, these methods usually work best as a preventive.
Laozi Old Man
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 6,665
All I know is that when I was young, it only took me 15 minutes to feel the effects of taking one drink. Near the end of my drinking career, it took as much as an hour before I felt the effects of my first drink.
By then, I had already taken 5 more. It was already too late to stop at where I had originally planned. Kind of like the "Lemmon Quaaludes" scene in Wolf of Wall Street.
By then, I had already taken 5 more. It was already too late to stop at where I had originally planned. Kind of like the "Lemmon Quaaludes" scene in Wolf of Wall Street.
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NC
Posts: 1,416
Originally Posted by Boleo 
All I know is that when I was young, it only took me 15 minutes to feel the effects of taking one drink. Near the end of my drinking career, it took as much as an hour before I felt the effects of my first drink.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
The allergy is just an analogy here for the sake of highlighting that some people are more sensitive/vulnerable to getting addicted to alcohol and experiencing adverse effects due to it than others. And once we have developed the addiction, we will always need to keep an eye on being "primed" for it. Just like someone with a real allergy. I've heard of examples where someone had a true allergic (immune) response to alcohol, but these are extremely rare.
What does exist without doubt is individual vulnerability to developing addictions, and there is more and more evidence from science demonstrating the many different ways how this can work. Individual genetics, how we respond to environmental effects and experience, etc. It's far more complex and complicated than just a few enzymes. These are all intriguing studies and I obviously am very interested since it's part of my professional area, but all that research and knowledge never helped me quit my own alcohol abuse. I did such research for years and was very active reading everything I could, participating in the scientific community doing this work, but it did not save me personally. The knowledge only started to be helpful in my personal life once I stopped drinking for good and started working on my recovery.
What does exist without doubt is individual vulnerability to developing addictions, and there is more and more evidence from science demonstrating the many different ways how this can work. Individual genetics, how we respond to environmental effects and experience, etc. It's far more complex and complicated than just a few enzymes. These are all intriguing studies and I obviously am very interested since it's part of my professional area, but all that research and knowledge never helped me quit my own alcohol abuse. I did such research for years and was very active reading everything I could, participating in the scientific community doing this work, but it did not save me personally. The knowledge only started to be helpful in my personal life once I stopped drinking for good and started working on my recovery.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakeside, Ca
Posts: 10,208
Allergic ?
When one has allergies they at many times will break out with a rash.
I must admit that when I drink I sometimes break out in handcuffs ?
A connection there I do see.
Mountainmanbob
When one has allergies they at many times will break out with a rash.
I must admit that when I drink I sometimes break out in handcuffs ?
A connection there I do see.
Mountainmanbob
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sonoran Desert & Southeast Asia
Posts: 6,561
Originally Posted by freshstart57
Allergy may be useful as a metaphor, but it is not an allergy by any medical standard of meaning. In the medical sense, the body has a unique and harmful reaction that involves the release of histamine which causes runny nose, water eyes, constricted airways, swelling and itching, or even anaphylaxis. I didn't have any histamine issues with alcohol, and I doubt that alcoholics do either.
There are a very few who actually do have an allergic reaction to alcohol, requiring an epi pen, that sort of thing. They can't become alcoholics, obsessed with its consumption, drinking to blackout etc.
There are a very few who actually do have an allergic reaction to alcohol, requiring an epi pen, that sort of thing. They can't become alcoholics, obsessed with its consumption, drinking to blackout etc.
Left the bottle behind 4/16/2015
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Originally Posted by haennie
The allergy is just an analogy here for the sake of highlighting that some people are more sensitive/vulnerable to getting addicted to alcohol and experiencing adverse effects due to it than others.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 3,062
I've learned in my experience as an alcoholic and drug addict as well as someone who works in the field of chemical dependency that there are many many many different theories and research studies that attempt to explain the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual "happenings" as a result of our use. My understandings of such have changed over time and I expect will continue to change. What does not change is my acceptance that I cannot put a drug/alcohol in to my body because bad things happen on a whole variety of levels
Into the Void
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: California
Posts: 931
Alcohol is an addictive drug. Some people are predisposed to be addicted to it, others are not. But some people who are not predisposed drink enough to become addicted anyways. The allergy analogy is weak. People with true allergies have no desire to ingest the thing they are allergic to.
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