Endorphins Could Explain Why Heavy Drinkers Drink More

Brain chemistry could have a lot to do with why you were drinking Dewar's at 3 a.m. this morning belting out Rihanna songs.

American researchers have determined that one of the main reasons some people are prone to drinking heavily is that they get a lot more pleasure out of knocking back a few. Brain scans of heavy drinkers and casual drinkers were compared to determine what, if any, differences there were in the brain chemistry of the two types of people. Heavy drinkers were found to have a greater release of endorphins in their brains – the same feel-good proteins released when exercising or laughing – than less-heavy drinkers, leading them to enjoy their staggering levels of drunkenness far more so than their lightweight friends. The researchers say these findings could explain why some people are more prone to alcoholism (basically, because drinking makes them feel more awesome than it ought to) and perhaps lead to better treatments for the disease.