No matter how you look at it, drugs change a person’s behavior. People use drugs to alter their state of consciousness, and in doing this, their behavior changes as well. As far as the drug user or drinker is concerned, these changes in consciousness are positive enough to justify continuing to use.
Drinking and drugging tend to ‘loosen you up’ by reducing inhibitions. Reduced inhibitions can be enjoyable, but they can also create risks and dangers. Our inhibitions serve to keep us acting within an acceptable threshold; reducing these inhibitions can push you past the threshold. Sometimes people can act so irrationally that they decide to stop using drugs entirely with the help of a drug abuse rehab program.
Call us today at (866) 916-1139 or fill out our online form to start your recovery journey.
What Are Inhibitions? How Do Substances Affect Inhibitions?
Inhibitions are a sort of mental wall that prevents us from acting out spontaneously.
Inhibitions can be healthy by preventing us from acting out spontaneous sexual or violent urges. However, inhibitions can also be unhealthy, such as those caused by chronic anxiety or social withdrawal.
The latter type of inhibition is the type that people wish to overcome by using drugs and alcohol. Instead of putting in the necessary therapeutic work to overcome one’s inhibitions, drugs and alcohol provide a short-term and immediate solution.
Unfortunately, sometimes these substances work too effectively for reducing inhibitions. They don’t just eliminate anxiety, for example. They’ll eliminate anxiety as well as one’s ability to discern what sort of behavior is acceptable and what isn’t.
At the heart of this disruption lies the alteration of the brain’s delicate neurochemical balance. Many substances, particularly those with addictive potential, exert their effects by mimicking or manipulating key neurotransmitters:
- Dopamine: This neurotransmitter is a central player in the brain’s reward pathway. Substances like alcohol, opioids, and stimulants trigger a surge of dopamine, creating intense feelings of pleasure and reinforcing the behavior that led to its release. This dopamine flood can overwhelm the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for rational decision-making, leading to a prioritization of immediate reward over future consequences.
- Serotonin: This neurotransmitter plays a vital role in regulating mood, impulse control, and social behavior. Substances like alcohol and MDMA (ecstasy) can acutely increase serotonin levels, contributing to feelings of euphoria and disinhibition. However, chronic use can deplete serotonin, leading to long-term mood dysregulation and a diminished capacity for self-control.
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): This is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, responsible for calming neural activity and reducing anxiety. Depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines enhance GABA activity, leading to a sense of relaxation and sedation. However, this enhancement can also suppress the neural circuits that govern judgment and restraint, making it harder to inhibit impulsive actions.
The prefrontal cortex (PFC), located at the forefront of the brain, is particularly vulnerable to the disruptive effects of substance use. This critical brain region is responsible for:
- Executive Functions: Planning, working memory, and decision-making.
- Self-Control: The ability to regulate impulses, delay gratification, and resist urges.
- Social Cognition: Understanding social cues, norms, and the consequences of our actions on others.
Substance use, especially chronic abuse, can impair the PFC in several ways. It can:
- Reduce PFC Activity: Diminishing its ability to effectively modulate impulses.
- Disrupt Communication: Interfering with the communication between the PFC and other brain regions involved in reward and motivation, further prioritizing immediate gratification over rational thought.
- Alter PFC Structure: Long-term use can even lead to structural changes in the PFC, weakening its overall capacity for self-control and contributing to a state of disinhibition.
The result of this neurochemical disruption and PFC impairment is a compromised ability to weigh potential consequences, adhere to social norms, and regulate behavior according to long-term goals. The immediate desires and impulses, normally held in check, are given free rein, leading to the risky and often harmful actions associated with substance-induced disinhibition.
How Alcohol Lowers Inhibitions and Impairs Judgment?
Among the various substances that can erode our self-control, alcohol stands out due to its widespread use and its multifaceted assault on the brain’s regulatory systems. Understanding the specific biological and psychological pathways through which alcohol dismantles inhibitions and distorts our capacity for sound judgment is crucial for grasping the risks associated with its consumption.
The Biological Pathway: Rewiring Restraint
At a biological level, alcohol orchestrates a complex dance with key neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that govern brain activity. One of its primary actions is to amplify the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), the brain’s natural tranquilizer. By enhancing GABAergic signaling, alcohol promotes a state of relaxation and reduces the neural activity responsible for anxiety and restraint. This neurological “loosening” can disinhibit behaviors that are typically held in check by conscious thought and social norms.
Simultaneously, alcohol interferes with the delicate balance of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter vital for cognitive function, including learning, memory, and judgment. By disrupting glutamate receptors, alcohol impairs the brain’s ability to process information efficiently and to engage in rational decision-making. This neurological interference weakens the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s command center for executive functions like planning, self-awareness, and the evaluation of consequences. As blood alcohol content rises, this disruption intensifies, progressively eroding the capacity for thoughtful consideration and increasing the sway of impulsive urges.
The Psychological Landscape: The Illusion of Freedom
Psychologically, alcohol’s influence extends beyond mere neurochemical alterations. It triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter central to the brain’s reward pathways, generating feelings of pleasure and euphoria. This surge of positive reinforcement can override the internal signals of caution and the anticipation of negative outcomes that typically underpin our inhibitions. In the pursuit of this pleasurable state, individuals may become less concerned with potential risks, social disapproval, or the long-term ramifications of their actions.
Furthermore, the perceived effects of alcohol can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The expectation that alcohol will “loosen you up” or reduce social anxiety can lead individuals to interpret their feelings and behaviors through this lens, further reinforcing disinhibited actions. This psychological anticipation, coupled with the direct neurochemical effects, creates a powerful cocktail that weakens the internal “brakes” on impulsive behavior and compromises the ability to make sound, reasoned judgments. The immediate gratification offered by alcohol often overshadows the potential for future regret or harm, leading to choices that would be consciously avoided in a sober state.
Risks & Dangers Caused By Reduced Inhibitions
Drugs and alcohol can reduce inhibitions to a level that is outright dangerous. These dangers may affect the individual who is using substances, or they may affect those who are in close proximity to them. Reduced inhibitions can lead to social, legal, sexual, and domestic problems.
Here are a few examples of problems caused by reduced inhibitions.
Sexual problems and assault
Our inherent sexual inhibitions serve as crucial boundaries in navigating complex social and personal interactions. However, the disinhibiting effects of substances can dramatically alter these boundaries. For instance, studies have indicated a significant correlation between alcohol consumption and instances of non-consensual sexual activity. Research suggests that in situations involving sexual assault, a substantial percentage of perpetrators, victims, or both were under the influence of alcohol. This highlights how reduced sexual inhibitions fueled by substance use can lead to increased vulnerability and a higher likelihood of sexual coercion and assault, underscoring a critical danger often overlooked.
Legal problems
The internal “mental wall” of our inhibitions also plays a vital role in upholding legal boundaries. Many laws are designed to temper impulsive behaviors and desires that might otherwise lead to societal disruption or harm. When substance use lowers inhibitions, the capacity to foresee and avoid legal repercussions diminishes. Data reveals a strong connection between alcohol and drug intoxication and arrests for offenses ranging from public intoxication and disorderly conduct to more serious crimes like assault and property damage. The impulsive actions fueled by reduced inhibitions can lead to a cascade of legal consequences, significantly impacting an individual’s future and standing within the community.
Social problems.
Alcohol, in particular, is well-known for its ability to reduces social inhibitions. The carefully constructed “filter” we typically employ in social interactions can dissolve after even a few drinks. While this might initially feel like increased sociability, it can quickly lead to the expression of thoughts and feelings that would normally be kept private, often resulting in misunderstandings, confrontations, and damaged relationships. Furthermore, the impulsivity associated with substance use and lowered inhibitions can manifest as aggressive or erratic behavior in social settings, leading to isolation and further interpersonal difficulties. These breakdowns in social conduct illustrate the tangible risks associated with losing one’s self-restraint under the influence.
Conclusion
If your drinking or drugging is causing you to lose your inhibitions, you may want to reconsider your substance use. If you continue to live unrestricted then you’re bound to encounter problems with other people or the law.
If you’re having difficulty overcoming these problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to drug rehab center in San Diego. Call us today at (866) 916-1139 or fill out our online form to start your recovery journey.
